Released 30 September 1988 Recorded 1988 Label Polydor
Geffen (US) | Format 7" and 12" vinyl
CD Genre Alternative rock | |
B-side "Something Wicked (This Way Comes)", "Are You Still Dying Darling?" | ||
"The Killing Jar" is a song written, produced and recorded by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1988 as the second single from the band's ninth studio album, Peepshow.
Contents
Music and reception
The song is an uptempo number which reflects the pop music direction Siouxsie and the Banshees were taking at the time. Still, the track contained alternative rock elements and the band's trademark cryptic lyrical content. According to Siouxsie, the song was inspired by a technique used by butterfly collectors to retain the beauty of the animals. "The Killing Jar" was remixed slightly for its radio version, most notably in the song's introduction and percussion throughout. The single version of "The Killing Jar" was featured on the Banshees' 1992 compilation Twice Upon a Time: The Singles.
Following the No. 1 success of their previous single, "Peek-a-Boo", on American modern rock radio, "The Killing Jar" nearly matched the feat, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single hit No. 41 on the UK singles chart.
In other media
"The Killing Jar" was also included in the soundtrack for the 2013 Canadian movie Haunter.