Complicated Girls: What’s Become of the Bangles?

Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s soon-to-be-released "Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of the Bangles" sounds like a must-read for fans of the '80s band, who in short order had three platinum albums and eight Top 40 singles, including two chart-toppers. 

After an acrimonious breakup in 1989, the Femme Fab Four reunited in 1999 -- going on to tour over the next two decades and record two more acclaimed albums.

Mysteriously, however, the Bangles have gone quiet since 2019. What would have been an obvious next move -- reuniting to perform their signature cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter" for the televised Paul Simon tribute in 2022 -- shockingly saw Susanna Hoffs go it alone.

So why an "authorized" book now? Perhaps they have decided it's truly over, and this is their chance to document their history once and for all. (If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is listening, please refer to my first paragraph.)

But if, as reviewer Bob Ruggiero says, the book can't answer the most confounding question -- why they were all so miserable in their heyday -- might I hazard a guess? It could be the same reason they're not together now. (If Fleetwood Mac has taught us nothing else it's that bandmates can hold grudges for a lifetime!) 

What we've been told is that tension over Susanna Hoffs (rhythm guitar/vocals) being singled out as the lead singer is what led to the breakup. Indeed, of their eight hit singles, Hoffs was the primary vocalist on five and co-lead on two others, "Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Hazy Shade," which the label was undoubtedly behind. Still, it's hard to put the notion entirely on outside forces when the Bangles (as the Bangs) self-released their first single and opted to feature Susanna as the lead on the A and B sides, which suggests to me that even the Petersons saw her as their best bet for success.

But I've long theorized (with scant evidence) that Vicki Peterson (lead guitar/vocals) was relatively sanguine being wildly successful even with the Susanna situation so long as the group's round-robin lead vocals and shared songwriting remained intact -- but that her little sis, Debbi Peterson (drums/vocals), was having none of it, furious that they were being pushed into the background of "their own" band.

This, I surmise, then made Vicki -- peacemaker in chief -- miserable as well, ginning up her own Sue envy (now penning hits with outside songwriters) while at the same time forcing her to constantly run interference, protectively calming and comforting her angry kid sister. (I’d be miffed too!) Add to the disgruntledness the fact that Michael Steele (bass/vocals) -- the "serious Bangle" whom to nobody's surprise did not participate in this new book -- was bound to feel like the odd one out as the sole non-founding member, likely leaving Vicki to reassure Steele that she was a full member and that her songs would eventually be used. (Steele had zero writing credits or lead vocals on the debut album and just one writing credit on the second.) 

That the band's two non-Susanna-lead singles both featured Debbi on lead vocals ("Going Down to Liverpool" and "Be With You") rather than Vicki -- arguably the leader of the pack and its best songwriter -- has appeasement written all over it. (They're both great songs; but it definitely raised my eyebrows at the time.) 

(Another tea leaf: Vicki wrote the sublime "James" and "He's Got a Secret" and co-wrote "Dover Beach" -- the standout track on their debut "All Over the Place" LP -- yet allowed Susanna to sing lead on all three … what I see as further proof that Vicki just wanted more rocking and less drama.) 

Debbi is also known for having had dustups with Gina Schock (of the Go-Go's), producer David Kahne -- not saying she was at fault in either case, but perhaps a pattern? -- and her social media seems to go out its way to avoid photos that feature Susanna. Debbi has also openly mocked what she saw as Sue's "little sex kitten" persona back in the day: "I personally wanted the Bangles to be seen more as musicians and a band and not just little sex poodles up there."

Whatever the case, I'd like nothing more than for the women to reunite once again. That former bassist Annette Zilinskas had been playing live with them in recent years and was on their last recordings makes me even more sad that they've vanished.

Until then, if anyone knows what the truth is, please set me free. I love Debbi and all of them, but love gossip even more!

P.S. I ran my theory by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, author of "Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of the Bangles," and she replied: "Being in a band is difficult. Hope you enjoy the book and thank you for reaching out." 

Sounds like someone missed her calling in diplomacy! 

The Fans: Debbie [sic] Peterson, Lynn Elkind, Amanda Hills and Vicki Peterson 

UPDATE: I hadn't seen the band's "Behind the Music" since it first aired in 2000 so I just re-watched it. It confirmed much of what I wrote -- it undoubtedly informed some of my thoughts even if I'd forgotten -- and made me realize that Susanna had tired of the finger-pointing ("Eternal Flame? More like eternal blame!), so I have a feeling that if any of that began resurfacing she'd have had a much easier time walking away this time around. I'm guessing she and the Peterson sisters as well are at the age where they're thinking: "Who needs this, again?"... but what a loss for us fans.

And while I'm imagining Vicki took the latest split the hardest, it's nice to see that she and hubby John Cowsill have recorded an album together. New single above! Read more HERE.

And if you don't now about John's family history, I highly recommend watching "Family Band: The Cowsills Story." It's a fascinating story -- they were the inspiration for "The Partridge Family" -- although I might warn that it should probably have every trigger warning known to man on it.

Song of the Day: 'Starry Eyes' by the Records

This one is for the great John Wicks -- singer/songwriter/guitarist of the little-remembered British power-pop band known as the Records --  who in the course of 30 minutes this weekend I learned had begun a collaboration several years ago with Debbi Peterson of the Bangles -- and that he had died of pancreatic cancer in 2018 at just 65. RIP.

Their biggest song.

The band re-formed in 1990 to record this for a Brian Wilson tribute album.

Debbi and John at an autism benefit in 2016

Song of the Day: 'Live' by the Bangles

It was less than a year ago I posted "Live," Emitt Rhodes's cult classic with the Merry-Go-Round, as my Song of the Day when I learned my friend Russell had passed away. Now comes word that the singer/songwriter has died at 70. (No cause of death was given.) Here is the Bangles' take on "Live" -- and read tributes to Rhodes HERE.

Sung by the great Debbi Peterson.

Song of the Day: 'Ask Me No Questions' by Kindred Spirit

Have been down a bit of a Bangles rabbit hole recently -- well, more than I normally am -- and have wound up in the era of the gals' post-breakup endeavors. Everyone but Susanna Hoffs went the band route -- I remember Michael Steele's Crash Wisdom and that Vicki Peterson joined the Continental Drifters -- but it was sister Debbi whose adventures I was least familiar with. Turns out she briefly teamed up with fellow girl-band drummer exile Gina Schock to form a duo called Smashbox. In addition to the former Go-Go, the group also featured Sara Lee (Gang of Four, B-52's) and Wendy & Lisa of Prince fame. This lineup didn't last long and by 1991 the group was reduced to Peterson and Schock, who signed with IRS Records (original home of the Go-Go's) and renamed themselves Kindred Spirit. After recording some demos with producer Humberto Gatica, Schock decided to quit. (I haven't gotten too many details about what the friction was about, but I've been told Gina had nothing nice to say about Debbi on a recent podcast hosted by Abby Travis, who played with the Bangles after Michael Steele retired then All About Eved her way into the Go-Go's for a few years during the spat with Kathy Valentine.)

According to Wikipedia, Peterson looked for a replacement and found Siobhan Maher, who had just split with her group, the River City People. In late 1992 they released the single "Here in My Eyes" in Europe and went on tour as the opening act for Joan Armatrading. 

 Their self-titled album was set to be released in early 1993. The songs Peterson and Schock had written together were slated for the album, however Schock sued the group to "regain control of her material." 

The lengthy legal battle put the LP on hold and it wasn't until 1995 that it was released, preceded by the single "Ask Me No Questions."  The album, produced by Peterson and Maher, was a collection of acoustic and pop-rock songs. As with the Bangles, Peterson and Maher wrote their songs separately, singing lead vocals in their own songs and harmony vocals on one other's. The only song co-written by Schock included in the album was the single "Here in My Eyes," which Schock allowed as part of her favorable out-of-court settlement. The album bombed. And then other than one contribution in 1995 (a song called "Christmas Son") for a Christmas compilation album (that also featured Olivia Newton-John and Belinda Carlisle), the group never recorded again. IRS Records went bankrupt the following year and after unsuccessfully trying to land another record deal, the duo parted ways. (Siobhan Maher released a solo album in 2002, and Debbi Peterson rejoined the Bangles in 1999. She recorded a new version of "Ask Me No Questions" with the group in their 2003 album, "Doll Revolution.")

Question: If I didn't know about this, who did?

You'd be forgiven for thinking this was 1964 rather than 1994 ...

UPDATE:

Just listened to the podcast and my source was correct -- Gina does not mince words. She claims that it's "not her fault" if someone can't play their instrument, referring to Debbi -- who she describes as being a "good vocalist" --  and says the younger Peterson sister got upset that producer Humberto Gatica (of Michael Jackson "Bad" fame) picked more of Gina's songs for the proposed album than hers. ("The politics were f**king ridiculous. It was the first time I've ever walked away from something.” For her part, Abby claims that while she toured with the Bangles, they stopped allowing her to have a stagelight on her.) I have no reason to question Schock's feelings. But if she can play drums and Debbi can sing, wouldn't that be the perfect situation for two drummers in one band? Also: Schock has described her former House of Schock collaborator Vance DeGeneres as a "total asshole," formed various bands with Kathy Valentine -- including joining the Delphines -- and had an extremely short-lived band in the late '90s called K-Five, all of which didn't work out. So you have to ask yourself: What is the common denominator here? 

According to the BMI database, the songs Debbi and Gina wrote were: 

1. Here in My Eyes (released) 

2. Minutes Away Miles Apart 

3.  My World Your World 

4.  Can't Stop Falling 

5. Conversations 

6.  Hideaway 

7.  I Want Everything 

8. In the Real Time

The one thing the duo did successfully do is star in a I-can't-believe-this-actually-happened commercial for Slice cherry cola! 

UPDATE:

Gina discussed her "House of Schock" album on Jon Lamoreaux's "Deep Dive" podcast in March 2023. The conversation is a riot, but unfortunately she hadn't actually listened to the album in ages so most of the specifics were more generalities. But more to the point: Her attempted collaboration with Debbi Peterson briefly comes up and she has as much rage and venom now as she did 30 years ago. She didn't go into specifics, but she made it sound like they got along face to face but that perhaps things were said (by Debbi, I presume) behind her back that caused her to walk away, "the one and only time she says she's ever abandoned a project." Listen HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Good Day Sunshine' by the Bangles

So it turns out obsessively (re)reading Wikipedia entries can actually pay off -- like discovering the Bangles covered "Good Day Sunshine" on a 2008 kids' album! Just imagine how thrilled Bea Arthur Michael Steele, Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs and Debbi Peterson must have been in when they met legendary Fab Four producer George Martin at the Hollywood Bowl back in 1999, shortly after reforming! I was just thinking how it seemed like the gals were broken up forEVER, yet the time they were apart (nine years) is a fraction of the time they've been back together ... or were even together in the first place. Getting older is funny that way.

P.S.

And because the gals can't get enough of Paul, John, George and Ringo, here's a 2012 radio appearance I'm also just discovering, posted in 2018. 

Song of the Day: 'When I Was Your Man' by Derrick Anderson

This one  is filled with emotions. First, I didn't realize the Bangles had actually "replaced" the great Micki Steele on bass -- with an actual man, no less! And that the replacement, Derrick Anderson, ended up releasing a solo album that featured the Peterson sisters plus Kim Shattuck of the Muffs, who we just lost ALS at just 56.

Plus outtakes!

The Bangles Return to the Sunset Strip

Order "Ladies and Gentlemen ... the Bangles!" HERE.

Great interview with the Bangles -- Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson -- about their upcoming three-night stand at the Whisky A Go Go HERE.

But will founding bassist Annette Zilinskas be there?

Girl(s) Gone Wild

Hello, my name is Kenneth and I'm an '80s girl-group addict. (Review of last night's Bangles show coming soon!)

Top: With Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey in Detroit, 1984 / GO-GO'S

Middle: With Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward in NYC, 2005 / BANANARAMA

Bottom: With Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs and Debbi Peterson in NYC, 2014 / BANGLES

The gals loved reminiscing about their first big tour, where I saw them with the Psychedelic Furs back in 1984!

Music Box: The Bangles

Today's (abbreviated) Music Box post was inspired by Bangles drummer Debbi Peterson, who turns the big 5-0 today. (Happy Birthday, Deb!) Besides being a world-class instrumentalist (she's quite handy on the guitar too), Vicki's little sister also sang lead on two the group's singles, "Going Down to Liverpool" and "Be With You." (Check her out singing from behind her drum kit on David Letterman circa 1984 below!)

With the Bangles back together, you probably won't be seeing a UB40 in Debbi's hands

As it would happen, I found out just last week that the Bangles -- now a trio since the retirement of bassist Michael Steele in 2005 -- are doing a concise tour of the East Coast this fall supporting a new album, "Sweetheart of the Sun," due out Sept. 27. (Pre-order HERE.)

The forthcoming single, "Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun)," is pure delight, much like "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)" was on the band's initial reunion album in 2003, only this one's penned by the group. (The sound is more EP than "Everything.") It was shame that the label -- or the band? -- relied on so many covers and outside writers and co-writers for the group's singles when the bulk of the albums were written by these incredibly talented women, including fan favorites "Hero Takes a Fall," "James," "Dover Beach," "Following" and "Bell Jar." ("Bell Jar" is Belinda Carlisle's favorite Bangles song, btw!) If the rest of the album is even half as interesting as the single -- and the recently released artwork -- we may have a winner.

(Read my full-length Music Box on the Bangles HERE.)

Sizzling songs

To Where You Are Lyrics Jackie Evancho	Concrete Angel Lyrics Jackie Evancho
You Can't Have Everything Lyrics Little Big Town	Something Good Coming Lyrics Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Why, Oh Why Lyrics Little Big Town	Love at First Sight Lyrics Vybz Kartel
Bun Fi Bun Lyrics Vybz Kartel	Street Pharmacist Lyrics Vybz Kartel
Saving Grace Lyrics JT Spangler	Do Anything Lyrics Matt Pokora

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