Burning The Ground Exclusive
“If your memory serves you well…”
Gothic meets psychedelic in this swirling, cinematic cover of the Dylan/Hudson classic.
In 1987, Siouxsie & The Banshees released a haunting, otherworldly take on “This Wheel’s On Fire,” a song co-written by Bob Dylan and The Band’s Rick Danko. Originally recorded during the Basement Tapes era, the song has always had a mysterious and foreboding undercurrent. But in the hands of Siouxsie Sioux and company, it becomes something entirely different—decadent, surreal, and even apocalyptic.
Released as a standalone single, This Wheel’s On Fire was part of a larger project: the soundtrack to the BBC series The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. The Banshees’ version climbed into the UK Top 20, peaking at #14, and marked one of the band’s most visible moments in the late ’80s, during a period of experimentation and reinvention.
The track opens with swirling backwards guitars and a slow-building tribal rhythm before Siouxsie’s commanding voice enters, dripping with theatrical menace. Producer Mike Hedges gives the mix a hazy, dreamlike quality—layers of reverb, echo, and glimmering effects wrap around the instrumentation like smoke.
The 12″ version (clocking in at 7:28) stretches the psychedelic elements even further. It’s more spacious, more hypnotic, and lets the slow burn of the arrangement unfurl at its own pace. It’s not just a cover—it’s a reimagining. Siouxsie takes Dylan’s cryptic lyrics and steers them into a post-punk fever dream that fits seamlessly into the Banshees’ sonic universe.
The B-sides are worth the needle drop as well. “Shooting Sun” is a glimmering, textured track that leans into the band’s experimental tendencies, while “Sleepwalking (On The High Wire)” plays like a surreal lullaby—both adding depth to this single’s dark beauty.
For fans of Siouxsie’s rich catalog, this track is a highlight from their “late period”—sophisticated, gothic, and still fiercely original. Nearly four decades on, This Wheel’s On Fire continues to burn.
SIDE A:
This Wheel’s On Fire (Incendiary Mix) 7:28
Written-By – Dylan, Danko
SIDE B:
Shooting Sun 4:46
Written-By – Siouxsie & The Banshees
Sleepwalking (On The High Wire) 5:10
Written-By – Siouxsie & The Banshees
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – 0-20609, Geffen Records – 9 20609-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Goth Rock
CREDITS:
- Design – Crocodile (London)*, Banshees*
- Lacquer Cut By – KP*
- Producer [Production] – Hedges*, Banshees*
NOTES:
Track A: Original version available on the forthcoming Siouxsie & The Banshees album “Through The Looking Glass” on Geffen Records
Made in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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