Harmful Elements in the Air

Siouxsie and the Banshees : Hong Kong Garden

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On October 18, 1978 Siouxsie and the Banshees released their debut single, "Hong Kong Garden". The UK#7 hit was written from the point of view of a racist punk visiting a Chinese restaurant by that name. Siouxsie Sioux often visited a London take away by that name.

"I'll never forget, there was a Chinese restaurant in Chislehurst called the 'Hong Kong Garden'," she said. " Me and my friend were really upset that we used to go there and like, occasionally when the skinheads would turn up it would really turn really ugly. These gits would just go in en masse and just terrorise these Chinese people who were working there. We'd try and say 'Leave them alone', you know. It was a kind of tribute"

It's a subtle thing, writing lyrics from the point of view of racists. Just ask Randy Newman. And lines like "Slanted eyes meet a new sunrise/ A race of bodies small in size" might startle those who aren't paying full attention.

The critics loved the single.It was selected as "Single of the Week" by NME, Melody Maker, Sounds and Record Mirror. The song was described by Paul Rambali of NME as "a bright, vivid narrative, something like snapshots from the window of a speeding Japanese train, power charged by the most original, intoxicating guitar playing heard in a long, long time" 

Symbols Clashing Everywhere

Siouxsie and the Banshees : Hong Kong Garden ( Peel Session)

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On February 6, 1978 Siouxsie and The Banshees performed "Hong Kong Garden" for a Peel Session on Radio 1. The Banshees had emerged from the Bromley Contingent, a group of Sex Pistols fans. In fact, it was to Siouxsie that interviewer Bill Gundy gave his lecherous attention setting in motion that infamous "filth and fury" moment on TV.  Future Pistol Sid Vicious played drums on the band's first performance ( featuring a very long version of "The Lord's Prayer"). By the time The Banshees released their debut single, "Hong Kong Garden", only Siouxsie and bassist Steve Severein were still in the band. The single would peak at U.K. #7 when it was released in August, 1978. 

Here, the Peel Sessions version features a toy glockenspiel playing the oriental riff.