Tattoo (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)
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| "Tattoo" | |
|---|---|
 UK single B-side label | |
| Song by Siouxsie and the Banshees | |
| from the album Downside Up (compilation) | |
| Released | 23 September 1983 |
| Recorded | 1983 |
| Genre | Post-punk, proto-trip hop[1] |
| Label | Polydor |
| Songwriters | Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie |
| Producers | Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mike Hedges |
"Tattoo" is a song written and recorded by Siouxsie and the Banshees and co-produced by Mike Hedges in 1983. Its proto-trip-hop arrangements and production predated the trip-hop genre that would appear in the mid-1990s.
"Tattoo" was composed and performed as a three-piece by singer Siouxsie Sioux, bassist Steven Severin and drummer Budgie.[2] During this era, the band experimented other ways of recording and orchestration when they were in the studio to record extra-tracks for their singles.[2] For "Tattoo", producer Mike Hedges made them use the mixing desk as an instrument.[2]
Afer watching the movie Tattoo (1981), Siouxsie wrote out the lyrics and did the vocal. It was all done in one day.[2]
Release
The song was first released as the B-side of the "Dear Prudence" single in 1983.[2] It was included on two compilation CDs: 2004's Downside Up and 2015's Spellbound : The Collection.
Aftermath
Siouxsie said in 1998 that it was her "all-time favourite Banshees track" and she played it that year with the Creatures.[3] Severin shared a similar view in 2004: "Probably my favourite B side of all."[2]