Overview
Wild Things is the first release by British duo the Creatures (singer Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie). It was issued on 25 September 1981 by Polydor Records as two 7" single records in a "double-album" style card cover, and is usually referred to as an EP. It peaked on the UK Singles Chart at No. 24, and the pair performed "Mad Eyed Screamer" on Top of the Pops. The EP was entirely remastered in 1997 and reissued as part of the A Bestiary Of CD compilation – which was also released on Spotify.
History
The initial idea for Wild Things, and the Creatures, came about during the rehearsal sessions for the Siouxsie and the Banshees album Juju. While bassist Steven Severin and guitarist John McGeoch took a break, Siouxsie and drummer Budgie created the song "But Not Them". Deciding that it was complete as a drum-and-voice piece, they left it as it was, and recorded four more tracks to accompany it. The result was the Wild Things EP (so named by Severin, who upon hearing it, said it sounded like something the creatures in the book Where the Wild Things Are would have danced to on their island). The only cover version on the EP was the Troggs' "Wild Thing"; Siouxsie added extra angry lyrics to the original; "Wild thing, I think I hate you/but I wanna know for sure/so come on, hit me hard/I hate you". "So Unreal" drew inspiration from the novel The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, and "Mad Eyed Screamer" from local characters met in Hyde Park, London. The duo incorporated the songs "But Not Them", "So Unreal" and "Thumb" into Banshees concerts for many years afterwards.
The erotic sleeve art featuring Siouxsie and Budgie half-naked under a shower was inspired by the pictures of Man Ray; the artwork caused some controversy. Another shoot, inspired by the John Millais painting Ophelia, featured the singer naked under many flowers and shallow water.
Legacy
Singer Kate Jackson of the Long Blondes rated "So Unreal" as one of her favourite tracks, saying: "Siouxsie [has got] sharp lyrics and staccato vocals. Budgie is one of the most interesting drummers in the world. He uses drum sounds melodically as well as rhythmically which makes this drum/vocal duo work. You can hear their passion for each other in these recordings, they are so alive, despite being so minimal".
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).