The Bangles

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The Bangles were one of the new generation of independent all-women bands that followed The Go-Go's in the early 1980s. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981 as The Supersonic Bangs, later shortened to The Bangs. They were forced to change their name to The Bangles when a band from New Jersey, also named The Bangs, threatened to sue. <ref>The Punkpopmod Archives The Bangs biography. Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref>

[edit] History

The original lineup was Susanna Hoffs (guitar, vocals), Debbi Peterson (drums, vocals, bass), and Vicki Peterson (guitar, vocals, bass); this lineup made one 45' (vinyl single-recording): "Getting out of Hand" b/w "Call on Me". Annette Zilinskas took over bass duties in 1982 and also played harmonica. This lineup put out an extended play disc titled Bangles that same year. Zilinskas left in 1983 and was replaced with Michael Steele, formerly of The Runaways - also featuring Joan Jett & Lita Ford.

The Bangles debut album on Columbia All Over the Place (1984) captured their power-pop roots and attracted the attention of Prince, who later wrote "Manic Monday" for the group.<ref name="amg-manic">Greenwald, Matthew. "Manic Monday: The Bangles: Song Review". All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2006-09-08. </ref> "Manic Monday" went on to become a U.S. #2 hit, outsold at the time only by another Prince composition, his very own "Kiss". The accompanying album Different Light (1986) was more polished than its predecessor and, with the help of the worldwide #1 hit "Walk Like an Egyptian", saw the band firmly in the mainstream as radio and MTV stalwarts.

There was friction among band members after the media began singling out Hoffs as the lead singer of the group. <ref name="walmart">Muze UK Ltd, Biography of The Bangles Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref>. In 1986, Hoffs starred in a film The Allnighter, which was directed by her mother, Tamar Simon-Hoffs, and was critically panned. That, and the firing of their manager Miles Copeland, further exacerbated the dissent among the band members. <ref>The Bangles Collective Biography. Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref> But they soon had another #2 hit with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade Of Winter" from the soundtrack of the film Less Than Zero which they produced on their own.

1988's Everything was another multi-platinum smash and included their biggest selling single in the soft ballad "Eternal Flame" which was inspired by Elvis Presley's eternal flames and one at a local synagogue in Palm Springs which co-writer Billy Steinberg attended. <ref>Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, 500 Nr. 1 hits uit de Top 40, page 261, 9023009444</ref>

The working relationships within the band had broken down however, and they split shortly after <ref name="walmart"/>, with Hoffs embarking on a solo career and Vicki Peterson touring as a member of the Go-Go's and the Continental Drifters.

[edit] Bangles go their separate ways

Hoffs released a solo album When You're a Boy, produced by former Bangles producer David Kahne. The album spawned a minor hit "My Side of the Bed", but it stalled, and Hoffs was dropped from Columbia during the recording of her second solo album <ref>nndb.com Biography Susanna Hoffs Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref>. The second solo album Susanna Hoffs, released in 1996, fared better critically <ref name="bbc">BBC Biography The Bangles Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref>, but it too had disappointing sales. Hoffs married film director Jay Roach (Austin Powers and Meet the Parents), and their union led to the Bangles' reunion of 2000. <ref name="bbc"/> Vicki Peterson joined and contributed songs to the New Orleans band the Continental Drifters, which received rave reviews. Debbie Peterson had a short-lived career with Siobhan Maher under the name of Kindred Spirit, while Steele lived in semi-retirement in California.

[edit] Bangles join forces again

In 2000, they reformed to tour. The group was also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. <ref>Vocal Hall of Fame The Bangles page. Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref> In 2001–2002 they recorded a new album Doll Revolution. A cover version of "Eternal Flame" was a 2001 UK #1 for Atomic Kitten. Doll Revolution, featuring such songs as "Stealing Rosemary", "Ride the Ride", "Nickel Romeo", and the single "Something That You Said", was released in early 2003. The title track was written by Elvis Costello, who initially recorded it for his 2002 album When I Was Cruel. The Japanese version of the album featured as bonus tracks both sides of their debut single. Though it sold poorly, due to lack of promotion, the album received rave reviews.

In 2005, the Bangles announced the departure of Michael Steele. Abby Travis replaced her. <ref>theage.com.au "Bangles shake again" Retrieved: Sept 15, 2006</ref> On December 31, 2005, they reunited to play their hit "Hazy Shade of Winter" in front of Times Square and later played "Eternal Flame" as part of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2006.

[edit] Band members

• Susanna Hoffs - vocals/guitars
• Vicki Peterson - guitars/vocals/bass
• Debbi Peterson - drums/vocals/bass
• Annette Zilinskas - bass/vocals (1982-1983)
• Michael Steele - guitars/bass/vocals (1983-2005)
• Abby Travis - bass/vocals

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] DVDs, films

[edit] Trivia

• In 1985, The Bangles contributed 1 song for The Goonies: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: "I Got Nothing"; and also made a small-cameo (appearance) in the Cyndi Lauper's music-video, "Goonies 'R' Good Enough", playing/appearing in small-roles as Pirates aboard "Rowdy" Roddy Pipper's Pirate boat.

• The Bangles are the subject of an irreverent tribute song by The Saw Doctors entitled "I'd Love to Kiss the Bangles".

• Susanna Hoffs is the subject of Robbie Fulks' "That Bangles Girl".

• Appeared on a season one episode of Gilmore Girls entitled "Concert Interruptus" and performed parts of "Hero Takes a Fall" and "Eternal Flame".

• Known as the main test media content for Discretix OMA DRM implementation.

• In July 2004, The Bangles were made Companions of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

• In 2006,The Bangles recorded "Good Day Sunshine" for the kids compilation "All Together Now"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Bangles official website
• Abby Travis interview at BassGirls.Com
• Allmusic.com Entry
• 'The Bangles' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Pagede:Bangles

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