Let the music world gnaw on its flavorless pop tarts. Some of us prefer the original dark-side diva: the ferocious and feline Siouxsie Sioux

THE WITCH IS BACK Siouxsie Sioux's new solo album, Mantaray, hits stores this Tuesday

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Ever since barreling her way into the limelight on a bill with the Sex Pistols in 1976, Siouxsie Sioux has been a bona fide punk princess, influencing legions of doom merchants and accidentally inventing goth as we know it. The Cure, PJ Harvey, Shirley and Marilyn Manson, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and Arcade Fire have all borrowed the best bits of Siouxsie's juju, and no shortage of stylebiters have aped her signature look—vast amounts of eyeliner and Aqua Net.

Now, with her new solo disc, Mantaray, Sioux leaves her storied past behind. She's discarded all of her former band members, even her husband/drummer Budgie. Forget the Banshees, Mantaray is simply the Siouxsie Show, featuring industrial-strength guitar rock, smoky torch songs, earthy exotica, and even a gospel choir on the closing ballad, "Heaven & Alchemy."

While she was in New York recently we attended the party for Condé Nast's "Fashion Rocks," where Siouxsie mingled at the open bar with the likes of guyliner-wearing Jared Leto, Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, and Ashlee Simpson. We left early on ("Too many little blondies," Madame Sioux sneered, stalking out on four-inch dominatrix heels) and sat down to discuss her musical legacy, fearless fashion, and her new life as a freshly divorced single gal of 50.

Radar: So many different styles on Mantaray—was there a theme to the album? And was it odd to not have any familiar Banshees or Creatures around? Not even Budgie, your drummer for nearly 25 years?
Siouxsie Sioux: No, I just wanted to treat each song like it could be a potential single. It was unnerving to work with new people, but it was invigorating as well to try something different and to have it come out quite good. And you know what I found out? There are other great drummers out there. [Laughs.]

Where'd you find these new collaborators, Steve Evans and Charlie Jones?
Steve did this album The Mighty Rearranger with Robert Plant, who I am not the hugest fan of, but I found the music quite interesting. We did the album in short blocks, maybe two songs at a time, with these producers who also played on the album. They weren't just knob twiddlers, which was new to me. Plus, it was nice to do the album in the Bath countryside instead of London. We could focus with no distractions.

The first single, "Into a Swan," is quite the statement of intent, and I heard the video was hijacked and put on the Internet?
Some minion at Universal put it on fucking YouTube right after I approved the offline. Little bugger! Damn technology.

This anthem, with lines like, "I feel a force I've never felt before. I don't wanna fight it anymore. Feelings so strong can't be ignored," has caused some blog gossip that you are about to come out of the closet.
I've never hidden in the bloody closet! If I am in the closet it's because I'm looking at all the pretty clothes there. I think it's about me finding new confidence, facing fears, and moving on. Lots of change afoot. After 30 years, I realize I might just be a musician!
I've never hidden in the bloody closet! If I am in the closet it's because I'm looking at all the pretty clothes there.

Another track, "Here Comes that Day," is great—it's quite the vampy, go fuck yourself song.
Thanks, it's one of my favorites, too. A real Bond-meets-stripper burlesque. It will most likely be the next single in the UK. It would make a great video!

I also love "They Follow You." It has such a pretty melody married to these somber lyrics about emotional scars. Is that one about taking antidepressants?
It's about self-medicating with whatever you use—alcohol, drugs, work, anything to avoid confronting things. Eventually you have to face it, whatever "it" is. Life is hard.

Your lyrics aren't as obtuse or mysterious as in the past. Where does this newfound clarity come from?
I guess it comes from within. As you get older you need to make sense of the nonsense of your life, figure out why you're you—is it your genes, your environment? I'm trying to be more conscious of not repeating vicious circles.

People have bitten your style for decades. You should've patented your makeup and hairstyle. Do you ever feel like not putting on your face and showing up onstage in sweats with a ponytail?
Nevah! And I don't want to see someone onstage in a track suit. It's part of the magic, that eye candy. What's the point of looking like you're a slob at home watching telly?

Seeing that you inspire fashion designers from Lagerfeld to Galliano—I mean, Marc Jacobs currently has a $2,000 studded-leather handbag named "Siouxsie"—do you think you'd ever do your own line? Everyone from Beyoncé to Bowie is.
Well, since they are doing it I'll wait until they stop. I don't follow fashion so much. I tend to get things custom made for me anyway. And by the way, Marc, I don't see a dime from that bag!

What do you make of the modern rock star look in the era of the stylist? You managed to pull yourself together quite well in your day.
They aren't exciting, are they? It's because the same high-priced stylist does all of them! I don't need one, thanks. It makes me feel cheated because I want to see what that personality would choose to wear, how they'd do their hair. They all have the uniform look with none of the attitude. It's a little Stepford Pop Star out there.

Your old guitarist, Cure frontman Robert Smith, is set to do a duet with Ashlee Simpson. Do you think he should be killed for treason?
Who is Ashlee Simpson?

I love that you said that!
No, really, who is he?

It's a she. A bland, lip-syncing American pop singer. Sister of Jessica Simpson.
Hmm, Jessica Simpson.

You don't know her, either, do you?
I really don't know. One of the benefits of living in France. I'm totally out of touch. As far as Robert Smith, I mean, darling, really, do you own a mirror?

He does look like a potato with hair lately. I know that you hate reporters only dredging up the distant past, and I loved that you stormed out of that recent Mojo magazine interview. Give em hell, honey!
I get sooo bored. Can you imagine answering the same banal questions for 30 years? Bill Grundy, swastikas, blah blah blah. We wrote the band biography in 2003 and I thought that'd do it. Read the fucking book.

There's way too much retrospective going on all over the place. Stop looking backwards. Remakes of films, like The Omen and Halloween. Have you really run out of ideas? Imagination costs nothing. It's free and anyone can do it. It's the same with having someone style you. I mean, use your bloody head. That's the fun of it!