Agence France Presse (6.16.05)

Icon status bestowed on punkdom's Siouxsie Sioux

LONDON June 16

Siouxsie Sioux, spikey-haired siren of London's punk music scene in the 1970s, beat out the likes of David Bowie and The Ramones to collect Mojo magazine's Icon Award on Thursday.

Siouxsie, real named Susan Dallion, 48, was honoured by readers of the monthly music magazine for having "enjoyed a spectacular career on a global scale" with 21 hit singles in Britain alone.

She is best known for fronting the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, which helped to define the sound -- and the image -- of British punk with such songs as "Hong Kong Garden" and "Christine".

The band amicably broke up in 1996.

Others nominated for the Icon Award -- presented Thursday by U2 guitarist The Edge at Porchester Hall in west London -- included Bowie, The Ramones and John Lydon who as Johnny Rotten fronted the Sex Pistols.

Ska-influenced London band Madness were inducted into the Mojo Hall of Fame after a career spanning more than 25 years, while Paul Weller won the Songwriting Award.

Robert Wyatt was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while veteran US bluesman Dr John was crowned the Mojo Legend. Best New Act honours went to London band The Magic Numbers.

Contributed by Jerry Burch.