The Bangles

Unlike The Go Gos, The Bangles could actually play their instruments and sing.

Susanna Hoffs recorded "Something That You Said" for an unreleased solo album, but ended up recording it later with the band.

Jane Wiedlin left because she wanted to sing lead on a song she wrote. But Belinda refused because she was the lead singer, so Jane left.

I liked both bands. I was listening to some of their stuff recently and it has aged pretty well.

Prince onstage with the band

I like The Bangles radio songs but I’ve never listened to an album. Did they write their own songs? They had so many different sounds (Egyptian, Hazy Shade, Eternal Flame, etc)—which sound represents the “real” Bangles?

Their original name - The Bangs -was much cooler. They had to change it to the Bangles for legal reasons since there was another band with that name.

I saw them live once, they could play pretty well. Did not know the story behind the name, thanks, R7.

I saw The Bangles AND Mr. Mister in concert.

One of my faves. They had so many better songs than The Go-Go's.

They were heavily influenced by ‘60s bands like Love, Cream, and The Mamas & the Papas. This is most evident on their first album, All Over the Place.

They wrote several of their own songs. Susanna wrote Eternal Flame. But their most famous ones generally came from others.

Walk Like An Egyptian sucks

Their EP was really good too. That and All of the Place is the more the sound the band itself wanted to do. The rest of their 80s albums were pushed towards a pop sound by the record label and the producers they worked with. They also really pushed Susanna, focusing more on her and had her do most of the singing for the singles released. All of that lead the band to break up in 1989.

Walk Like An Egyptian is definitely their worst hit song. The whole band hates the song (though Debbi probably the most, with good reason), but still perform it out of obligation. In one of the early live performances of the song, Michael Steele was rolling her eyes as she starting singing her lead verse.

Susanna Hoffs version of I'll Keep It With Mine for the 1984 album Rainy Day is pretty awesome.

Michael Steele was the original bass player for The Runaways. The band's initial lineup was Joan Jett, Sandy West and Micki Steele. The first two were lesbians, I'm not sure about Micki but she did give me the pings as a baby dyke.

I love both, but The Bangles racked up more classic pop hits than The Go-Go’s.

R17, perhaps in quantity, but I can’t think of any Bangles song that comes close to Our Lips Are Sealed.

The best thing they did was reworking Juke Sher’s if She Knew What She Wants.

“Our Lips Are Sealed” is the best song by either band, but “Manic Monday” and “If She Knew What She Wants” are pretty great too. And I loved The Bangles’ version of “Hazy Shade of Winter.”

Michael Steele did one of the best disappearing acts after leaving in the band in 2005 (although she last played with them in early 2004). Rumor has it that her parents were wealthy (her step-dad owned car wash franchise in the LA area) and they left her a lot of money when they died and along with her Bangles money, could afford to retire. Other rumors abound that she moved to Canada.

Apparently she had a problem with a crazy fan or two and is wary about being in the spotlight. She does have some very devoted fans, to say the least (check out youtube and social media comments).

The original bassist (during The Bangs and very early Bangles days) Annette Zilinskas recently returned to the band. She just plays bass because she can't sing Bangle-style harmony vocals.

Was and am a fan. One of my favorites by them is "Let it Go," with all four of them singing together. Simple but true lyrics: "When it's over, when it's done, let it go."

Their reunion concert DVD from 2001 or so is pretty good.

Michael Steele and Kathy Valentine both had a druggy, juvie delinquent look.

I don't think Michael was a druggy though, the Bangles were notoriously "straight edge" when it comes to drugs.

Here is the concert mentioned by R23. A good selection of their hits, not so well known songs, and a few previews from their comeback album.

I really don't think the Bangles are in the same echelon as the Go-Go's.

BTW: If you want to see a steaming pile of poo, watch "The All-Nighter" staring Ms.Suszanne Hoffs and Joan Cusack. For real. They along with a third (Could give two shits and not going to IMDB for her) decide their last night of college they need to experience it all...including love. SH is the valedictorian and her speech, at the end of the film is three lines long.

We can thank SH's mother, because she was the director.

My Favorite lines: The girls are arrested. They are in the paddy wagon with some "hookers': Friend #3: You can't arrest us! I know my Miranda warning!" Hooker #1: You know that bitch Miranda? Hooker #2: That bitch Miranda is MY best friend!

Susanna still looks great, although I'm sure she's had work done.

SH looks great.

Susanna and Matthew Sweet - "Different Drum"

[quote]The best thing they did was reworking Juke Sher’s if She Knew What She Wants.

Absolutely. My favorite song of theirs. They did a US version of the video and a UK version as well, but it never took off like "Walk Like an Egyptian."

Amanda Podany was the bass player brought back when Michael left. She left the pre-Bangles group to get her PhD. She’s one of the world’s experts in ancient Mesopotamia. Luckily she is off during the summer to fill in on that tour.

They played a free concert on the Santa Monica Pier a few years ago.

SH’s raps voice works on Different Drum,

Not impressed by these whores.

They're both great bands - why compare them?

The really great Bangles song is Hero Takes a Fall, but their version of Hazy Shade of Winter is enough to make them great in my book. (But Eternal Flame is appallingly bad.)

R34 I'm sure the feeling is mutual

I saw them both live.

The Bangles were the superior band.

The entire band can sing versus Belinda carrying the vocals for the GoGos..

Charlotte Caffey was the one musician that stood out for the GoGo's, versus everyone in The Bangles.

Jane Wiedlin ruined the Go Go's concert because she refused to play guitar when Belinda announced "Forget That Day." That's the song Wiedlin quit over because she couldn't sing lead. When the band had to stop playing that song, Belinda said "I guess we're NOT doing that song", and the band marched off stage. After 15 minutes of the crowd protesting loudly they came back on, played Cool Jerk, and marched back off. End of concert. Shortly after that show, they broke up.

The Bangles did a version of Nazz's Open My Eyes that was fantastic. They did a surprisingly bluesy version of Manic Monday.

The Go-Go's had more songwriters in the band. Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey wrote most of the big hits. Kathy Valentine wrote a lot on Vacation and even drummer Gina Schock receives songwriting credit on some. Charlotte has writing credit on The Bangles "Something That You Said" and Hole's "Reasons To Be Beautiful." Jane wrote a number one song for Keith Urban.

Charlotte Caffey singing an early demo of "Fading Fast" and sounding a lot like the B-52s.

Always hated The Bangles.

Jane Wiedlin and Susanna Hoffs are about equal as far as singing abilities.

Molly Ringwald, Susannah Hoffs, Belinda Carlisle

Nice cover:

Going Down to Liverpool

My favorite of theirs.

My favorite tue of the Bangles will always be "James" from the "All Over the Place" LP. Perfectly pure pop tune. "If She Knew..." is also great. I did like the Go Go's but Bangles were so much better. Hoffs' combination of looks and voice was knock out punch.

Their look and sound is more similar to the Shangri-Las.

GoGos for the win. Plus, Belinda married into Hollywood royalty.

And she has stayed married to him.

The GoGos had more of a retro (Vacation, We Got The Beat) feel to their songs while the Bangles were full on (contemporary?) pop.

As noted above, The Bangles were heavily influenced by 60's music. The Go-Go's were initially a punk band. To become more popular, producers moved both bands towards pop.

I like both, and don't see the need to pick one over the other. But I've grown tired of the Go-Go's "mean girls" antics, the lawsuits, the quits, throwing Kathy out, on and on and on. I love their music, but as humans, the Go-Go's are hard to enjoy.

My favorite songs change, but it's probably either "Hazy Shade of Winter", "September Gurls", or "If She Knew What She Wants".

I was eight when Walk Like an Egyptian came out and I remember it fondly. It was kind of dumb, but perfect for a kid my age and it started one of those little ppp culture dance craze moments that really made them stand out among all the 80s one-hit wonders who were in endless supply. I also loved Hazy Shade of Winter and Eternal Flame, which felt like “real music,” and Manic Monday was another fun song from my childhood soundtrack. The 80s was so full of songs I remember well without knowing who wrote or performed them. I remember The Bangles well. That says something about how they were marketed and their star power. I was probably too young to “get” them, but the Go Gos and Blondie never did much for me. I know that both were meaningul to a lot of people who were a little older. I think I was just too young for that zeitgeist.

Susanna Hoffs and Michael Steele skipping Debi's wedding after they were invited because they were "tired" was a bullshit mean girls move.

Yes, around the time of the break up of the band in 1989 until they reformed a decade later, they never stayed in touch much at all except for Debbi and Vicki, of course. They've gotten along fine since then, though. For band drama standards, it was minor. I think Vicki (at least) has stayed in touch with Michael after she left the band and subsequently retired.

There was some drama when they fired their touring bassist Abby Travis (who filled in Kathy Valentine for the Go-Go's after they fired her) who toured with them from 2005-2008. She implied that fired her in a cold way, but didn't go into details. She was a good bassist, but didn't fit into the group at all, in my opinion. Too young and alternative.

The two bands definitely had different influences, so in my mind, there isn’t a base for comparison other than they were both ‘80s girl groups. Which is enough for most people.

After the Go-Go’s broke up, Charlotte Caffey started a band called the Graces. They released one album, Perfect View, in 1989, but it flopped and they broke up soon after. Even though it wasn’t successful, I like it quite a bit. Belinda covered a song from it, “Lay Down Your Arms,” for her 1993 solo album Real.

After listening to Susanna's vocals on Different Drum, she has a more layered and resonant singing voice than Jane Wiedlin.

I've never liked Jane's voice much at all. Susanna has a much more versatile voice.

All of these Bangles songs named in this thread as favorites were written by big stars. I could have a top ten hit if I recorded Manic Monday.

Can music fans love a band that doesn’t write their own songs? The Bangles are pretty and look good in videos but the songwriting talent isn’t there.

I remember one of my peers in middle school droning on and on about how horrible Susanna’s voice was and I just thought it was so odd. He was clearly parroting some adult or older sibling or something, but it stands out in my memory. Up until then I just liked music that I like; his rant made me hyper-aware of technical prowess of different musicians or singers and it ruined a lot of music for me.

Far prefer Bangles to Gogos.

They've written a lot of their songs. Most of the album tracks were written or co-written by them. Most of the hit singles were written by others. They couldn't control which singles were released, the record companies have the say over that.

Why not be a fan? They can all sing and play at least one instrument well. That's more than you can about most modern artists.

They had a few listenable songs, but seemed far more manufactured than the Go Go's, and I liked the Go Go's songs more. "Beauty and the Beat" is an undeniable New Wave classic, although their next album "Vacation" did suck aside from the title track. I had no idea Susanna Hoffs had a solo career, nothing like Belinda's though of course. Belinda had Madonna-level popularity for awhile in Europe, in the early 90s.

[quote]The Bangles are pretty and look good in videos but the songwriting talent isn’t there.

You need to listen to Hero Takes a Fall again. The lyrics in particular are pretty sharp.

The GoGos not manufactured?

You may want to compare pre-record contract Punk Rock GoGos to the version you like.

Yes the Go Go's producer gave them their polished pop sound, and mentioned they weren't great musicians. All that matters to me is the music that ended up on their albums, not how it got there. And the Go Go's had a truly great songwriter in Jane Wiedlin.

R62 Susanna and Vicki wrote that one too. It's surprising that never became a hit.

People should listen to their EP and first full album All Over the Place. Edgier and much different than their last two 80s albums that most people are much more familiar with. Most of the songs were written by Susanna, Vicki or Debbi.

This early performance on American Bandstand cracks me up. Thank goodness they changed their looks after this. Funny that the original bassist Annette looked the best here, even better than Susanna. Allegedly, the head of the first record company they were signed to wanted to bang Annette and even promised to let her sing lead if she slept with him. She didn't and quit and joined her boyfriends band, Blood in the Saddle. They did some quirky, but interesting music.

I love this song though, so different than their usual sound.

I noticed Rodney Bingenheimer in the photo @OP. Does anyone know if he is still alive?

It would have been cool for the Go-Go's to let Jane sing some songs. like The Cars did. Rush Hour and Mad About You could have been Go-Go's songs, like they say now when they play them live.

Wiedlin wanted to sing lead on "Forget That Day" because it was about a relationship ended. It was very personal to her.

The entire band voted her down on the ground the Belinda was the lead singer. So, Belinda got the album lead vocal.

Honestly, I don't understand why they couldn't just let her sing lead in concerts. It wouldn't have killed them to give her that one song.

I'm the one who posted about that concert which ended them with walking off the stage because of that song.

It still seems like such a petty ending to a career that was gaining steam with each album.

Years later when they reunited, the GoGos made up other excuses about the break up.

Kathy Valentine's excuse was the funniest when she said "Society wasn't ready for an all girl group."

Always hated them. The blonde, the red, the brunette and whatever the fourth one was, barf. Hoff's nasal voice. "Walk like a fucking Egyptian" (with the cutesy WHISTLING!) just has to be used for torture in Guantanamo or beneath the Denver airport.

I want to like the Go-Gos(or however the fuck you spell it) better but I don't. The Bangles are much better. Their cover of Hazy Shade of Winter is the best song between the two bands. Though they only had one album if you threw the Graces in their they would win. I forget where they got their members from. The Go-Gos or the Bangles. That one CD the Graces put out is perfection from first track to last.

I was a big fan of both The Bangles and the Go-Go's. Each had some great hit singles but also both released albums full of good music. Neither was the bubblegum pop singles machine some people think.

Someone mentioned "If She Knew What She Wants" above. A great cover of a song from the underrated Jules Shear. In that category of "shoulda been a bigger hit," I'd add "Turn to You" and "Good Girl" from the Go-Go's

Rodney is still alive. He's friends with Alison Martino, who runs Vintage LA on Facebook.

Why no Bangles vs Go Go’s poll?

Because Vivian Vance singing Friendship would have beaten them both. No poll needed.

R43, great choice. Weirdly enough "Going Down to Liverpool" was released first by Katrina and the Waves, right? Before Walking on Sunshine?

When I saw the Bangles live, they were doing a cover of the Mamas & Papas "Creeque Alley," speaking of 1960s influences..."John and Mitchie were gettin' kind of itchy just to leave the folk music behind...and no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass"

Mmmm. Nice song serving, R62. Exposed hero, delicious fall. That pissy poster who said "the songwriting talent isn't there" needs to take the dildos out of his ears. All four of these women can write, sing, and play their wonderful little asses off. Love them.

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SH’s dip in If she knew wants she wants us cute.

[quote]Plus, Belinda married into Hollywood royalty.

Which, of course, has absolutely NOTHING to do with either band's MUSIC.

This thread is about the bands' MUSIC not their lovers or marriages.

I'm sure Belinda sings at home.

Punk early days of the Go-Gos

Belinda had/has a very pretty face. Amazing her weight was so high with the heavy coke use.

.........

The Bangles wrote/co-wrote most of their material.

Susanna had a semi-successful solo career (with "My Side of the Bed" and "All I Want" both charting), but she married in the early 90s, and started a family, so that sidetracked things.

She also jumps around with various projects, and it seems like she's more about working on what interests her as opposed to trying to achieve stardom or commercial success like she had in the 80s. She does solo stuff, Bangles reunion shows, her collaboration with Matthew Sweet (Sid n' Susie), material for the movies her husband's involved with (Austin Powers director Jay Roach), etc. If you read interviews with her, she's appreciative of The Bangles' huge success, but not really interested in trying to return to that lifestyle.

Her last solo album was about 5 years ago. She sounds (and looks) amazing for a woman in her 50s. You can definitely hear the influence of the Southern California/60s music.

Of their album tracks that weren't released as singles, I think "James" is my favorite. Written by Vicki Peterson, and originally performed by her, although re-recorded with Susanna Hoffs as lead.

I actually liked the fact that The Bangles would rotate the vocals, sometimes even with a song ("Egyptian"). It's been said that The Go-Go's never did that because it would give Belinda nothing to do... I don't know how true that is, but the line always made me chuckle. Certainly the other Go-Go's members could have handled some vocals. (Quick side story: I remember going to the record store as a teenager back in '88 and purchasing the cassettes Fur, by Jane Wiedlin, and House of Schock, which was Gina's new band. The cute guy behind the register, probably in his mid to late 20s, looks at them and says: "Go-Go's fan, huh?". Had I been braver, I would have asked him out.)

Anyone else see Jane's band Frosted play live?

Belinda could've played the tambourine.

Hoff's My Side of the Bed is one of my all time favorite songs.

Hazy shade of winter was my favourite song of theirs. It was just full of so much spunk and rhythm.

Too bad Less than Zero was so fucking miscast in every way imaginable.

[quote]Too bad Less than Zero was so fucking miscast in every way imaginable.

Yes - was just going to comment - great video/song for a bad movie. I forgot about all the soundtrack videos that also served a purpose as being a movie trailer.

I love Simon & Garfunkle and in general would place them above the Bangles, but might like the Bangles Hazy Shade of Winter better.

Susana Hoffs really had/has expressive eyes.

In A Different Light is a great album. Some of the non-singles like the title track, Return Post, Standing in the Hallway and Following are fantastic.

In my opinion, SH vocals on "If She Knew What She Wanted" is her best cover vocal performance.

I think Belinda Carlisle's best cover performance is "Submission". It's a wild punk ride going back to her roots.

"I Feel Free" from her biggest album comes in second.

It's a pretty popular opinion that The Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter is the best version of the song.

When they do covers, they made the song their own. My favorites are HSoW, September Gurls (prefer Michael's over Susanna's though), Manic Monday, Live, and Pushing too Hard are my favorite ones.

"My Side of the Bed" is a great solo single from Susanna, and I wish it had taken off on radio and MTV more strongly. Remember when the Bangles videos were joked about, because she was always casting her eyes to one side or the other, never looking straight ahead? It was funny because it was true. Look right, close eyes, open looking left. It was her signature move.

Belinda broke thru hugely with the gorgeous solo hit and video "Mad About You," still one of my favorites. That look--the black turtleneck, the gold hoop earrings, the beachside setting...timeless and ahead of its time.

When I first saw the video for My Sid of the Bed I thought it was going to be huge.

I think if Susanna started her solo career a few years earlier, she would've been more successful. Around that time that she put out her first solo album, the music landscape was starting to change, favoring other types of music.

The Bangles were superior to the Go-Gos in every way. And "Hazy Shade of Winter" is one of the best covers ever, probably better than the original (and I love Simon and Garfunkel).

Interesting about Michael Steele. I know she left the Bangles but I didn't know she retired.

R94, "Return Post" is a terrific song (writing credit to Susanna and Vicky, I believe). One thing the Bangles always had going for them, which the Go-Go's didn't necessarily ( as much as I love the Go-Go's) , was gorgeous harmonies. It's no wonder they covered Simon and Garfunkel and The Mamas & Papas.

Gina Schock is a better drummer than Debbi Petersen. They acknowledge in Behind the Music that she improved and elevated their sound when she joined and forced them to practice more to become a better band.

R100 Vicki Peterson mentioned in an interview a few years back that Michael is retired. She noted that she spoke with her also shortly before the interview took place and she was doing well.

That is her soon to be husband in the video, R97.

Is Michael a Lesbian?

R105 People on here seem to think she is (I can see why people think she is too), but some people elsewhere online who claim to know people who know her claim that she isn't. So who knows.

My favorite Michael song on lead (September Gurls is a close second though) and one of their better best comeback songs.

Another good Michael lead song.

Michael was looking pretty butch in the promo shots when they announced their comeback before she grew her hair out and dyed it. I bet she looks closer to this these days.

Gina Schock was a guest drummer on David Letterman back in the '80s, and she couldn't even play a roll for the Top Ten list. The Bangles were better musicians in every way than The Go Gos, r102.

Gina Schock was a good basic drummer who could keep the beat tight. That's about it. Going back to the 80's, it would've been stretch it she had made the top 20. Charlotte Caffey was the "good" musician in that band.

I was a fan way back...when they were the Bangs. Another band with that name sued them so they had to change to Bangles. I had their first single which was put out by the Bangs. Was able to sell it for quite a bit down the road as it was a collector's item.

SH is married to Jay Roach, director of Meet the Parents abd sequels. Jay has said that the Fockers remind him of his in laws.

This is from 2003, so just before Michael Steele left the group.

From the YT comments, sounds like she lost both her parents a couple of years ago. Not sure if I'm getting the timeline exactly right, but it was he best I could figure out. There doesn't appear to be any bad blood between her and the other Bangles, and while I don't imagine she'll perform with them again, maybe an appearance isn't out of the question. Here's hoping they can get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

No mention yet of the Bangles most recent album for which they wrote all the songs. “Sweetheart of the Sun” from 2011. Any fans?

How come the other members never had solo careers besides Susanna Hoffs?

I love "Walk Like An Egyptian" in and of itself, but I also love it because of the Del Rubio Triplets' version. I miss them.

R115, who wants to hear a drummer sing?

Which group had the worst smelling pussies?

No doubt the GoGos.

R113 Michael's parents died sometime in latter part of the 90s. It was talked about on their Behind the Music episode. She became very depressed and became reclusive. She was reluctant to returning to the band but agreed when the band said they intended to record new material and not just be touring and playing their old stuff.

Like I mentioned earlier, apparently her parents left her a good amount of money. Anything is possible, but I doubt she plays with the band again. She's 63 now and hasn't appeared publically anywhere in nearly 15 years. She just seems like she's done with it all.

R117 Foo Fighters fans

[R118] Which group had the worst smelling pussies?

That's easy. The New York Dolls.

R118 Hole of course!

Did the Bangles break up because they started hating each other like the GoGos? I hope not. I still like the GoGos music but after reading all about their bullshit I can't stand any of them now. They all seem so fucking insufferable. I hate people that are handed the world and then do everything they can to ruin it. It's just as bad when they talk about how much they hated it. The worst are the Heart girls. When they talk about how much they hate their Heart II days.

I preferred The Belle Stars.

Who were even better when they were still the Bodysnatchers.

R124 There was hard feelings when they broke up in 1989. They said they all avoiding talking about their various frustrations because they didn't want conflict. They were all tired from the almost non-stop touring and recording too. The record company and producers they worked with played a part in the while thing also.

They all genuinely like each other, though. Not like the Go-Gos where some just tolerate others for the financial benefits.

The Bangles have always been a closer unit. Michael Steele was the odd (wo)man out and remains so. But as others have mention, they never had quite the interband warfare that the Go-Go's have had.

I am still shocked that the Go-Go's have been playing as nice as they have, but it's only for the money they got from a few dates and from the Broadway show. Belinda's stunts with Kathy and the rest of the band a few years ago were over the line, and it killed most of my enjoyment of them.

Overall, I think both bands had two great albums: the Bangles had All Over The Place and Different Light, and the Go-Go's had Beauty and the Beat and Talk Show.

[quote] I preferred The Belle Stars.

I recently bought the vinyl LP - I remembered Sign of the Times from way back when - and it's really solid.

R69's comment is a good explanation as to why the Go-Go's won't play most of Talk Show in concert.

One of their best albums, but they still won't play anything from it except Head Over Heels.

And they wonder why they don't have a HOF nomination.....

Susanna and Michael blowing off Debbi's wedding is interband warfare in chick world.

Belinda doesn't care about a "HOF" nomination. She's traveling the world enjoying her money.

[R130] I'm the poster of R69. I am genuinely baffled by those women concerning ONE song that Wiedlin wrote that she wanted to sing. The issue is so petty. It's not even 1980s anymore, they're waaaaaaay past their prime, and they still act like a bunch of mean girls to each other. Wiedlin can't sing one song so they cut off their noses by refusing to play a lot of great songs from their one album that brushed with greatness. Then there's that disgusting stunt they pulled with Kathy Valentine just to increase their cut of the cash at her expense.

R133 That stunt pretty much killed my fandom of them.

And they were the first band I ever saw live. I'd seen them five times.

It was just gross.

[quote]There was hard feelings when they broke up in 1989. They said they all avoiding talking about their various frustrations because they didn't want conflict. They were all tired from the almost non-stop touring and recording too. The record company and producers they worked with played a part in the while thing also.

Just to add on, the original break up wasn't due to one factor. There was stress caused by their record company who was pushing Hoffs as "the face" or the leader of the band, even though the group saw themselves as equal contributors and shared vocalists. Plus, management kept pushing Hoffs to go solo and she wanted to give that a try. (Although she didn't care much for the experience. All of her work in the last 20 years has been in a group, or collaboration, including her 2012 solo work where she actually recorded and performed with an artist named Andrew Brassell.) Finally, I think all of the members needed a break form the "Bangle" experience - the tours, the marketing, the media, the appearances, etc.

Their break lasted less than 10 years, they were back working together in the late 90s, although under a much different structure. While they still considered themselves a "group", they're not exclusive. Kind of an open marriage, if you will, where all of them are free to work on other projects, or focus on their own families. Steele came back on the condition that they would continue to work on new material, not just be a retro band. And while they did produce new music, she ultimately left again. She's very much off the grid, and I don't think she's involved in the music business any more, although from all accounts the four remain on good terms. In 2018, the remaining Bangles reunited with Annette Zilinskas, their original bassist who preceded Steele.

If I were to draw a distinction between the Bangles and the Go-Go's - the bands, not the music - the Bangles always seemed to favor the performance over the celebrity. They seemed to love the process of creating and performing music, and reluctantly went along with the celebrity that came attached in the 80s. But I would suggest they prefer the current state of the band where they can perform for fans in much smaller venues, and not worry about appearances on MTV, or the cover of Rolling Stone. The Go-Go's always seemed to crave the celebrity of being rock stars, at least certain key members.

There's a warmth to the Bangles that I just don't see among the Go-Go's, who seem to just tolerate each other so they can continue to stay in the spotlight to some degree.

Women can never get along with each other in any field, especially the entertainment industry

R135 is spot on about the breakup. Michael was also promised a solo album if she left the band but the record company never delivered. Such a shame because she’s my favourite songwriter of the group. At that point you could tell they were all fed up with touring and jealous that Susanna was labeled the ‘lead singer’ and ‘hot one’. I felt like Susanna had started to believe the hype and as a fan I blamed her for the split. Her solo album was so slick I hated it. She should have gone with a different producer.

I’ve seen them live a couple times since they reunited and it looks like they are having fun. I wish Michael would tour with them again but I also love the air of mystery around her. Just to add she was linked with Brad Shepherd of the Hoodo Gurus back in the 80s but I always thought she pinged too.

Completely different band from the Go Gos. And the bangles are great songwriters but you need to listen to their albums to know that, not just list the hit singles.

I do think the record company pushed the Bangles to be something they didn't want to be, and were pushing Susanna as the lead. The last album (prior to breakup) was terrible - someone else's idea of the Bangles. I know Different Light wasn't their favorite, either, but I loved that album and thought it represented everyone's voices.

But yes, I agree with R135 - they seem to love the creative process.

R37 R69 It's hard to feel sorry for Jane W. & the "Forget That Day" fiasco since she has had many solo albums over the years & to my knowledge never recorded it for one of her own albums (she's listed as the sole songwriter so I don't think she needed permission from any of the other members to do it).

I can't find any YT video or even a mention that she sang it live as a solo artist. It makes her look like a hypocrite or a at the very least a whiner on the issue.

I think there is no real excuse to avoid singing the Talk Show songs in concert as long as they have.

Is there any band that doesn't end up hating their lead singer?

Belinda isn't the only one with a rich husband. Susanna's husband makes a shitload from directing.

Gina is from Baltimore, and played drums for Edith Massey's punk-rock outfit the Incredible Edible Eggs.

I remember being disappointed by "Everthing" when it was released in 1988, and especially annoyed by the over-played and schmaltzy "Eternal Flame". But in re-listening today, the album, including Eternal Flame, isn't as bad as I remember. While not as good as "Different Light" or "All Over The Place", I did enjoy much of the music.

Here's a recent performance of Hoffs singing karaoke to her own song (along with brief commentary). I really think some time and space from the heavy marketing of Flame has done it some favors, and it sounds better with more straightforward/less slick production.

I know it is corny, but I liked Eternal Flame. I can see how it drove people crazy with how much it was played.

Susanna sounded AWFUL in that karaoke clip!

R145 = Belinda Carlisle, on another coke bender

Don't ever call me Bitchlinda. Hate that cunt.

I think BC was great on Coldplay's "The Scientist"

I love Belinda's music. Both GoGos and solo. I just can't stand her.

Belinda's version of the Connie Francis song "Lipstick On Your Collar"

The Bangles did beautiful harmonies live and delivered a surprisingly punchy show.

SH made a deal with the devil or something.

Susanna looks and sounds great in that karaoke clip, considering she's in outside/inside lighting and is not wearing much makeup.

Vicki Peterson played lead for the Go-Go's when Charlitte had her baby.

Abby Travis's stepdad was Jack Germond.

Vicki was in the folk-country group the Continental Drifters for a time with some of the Cowsills. I like her singing with them.

The Bangles song I like is, "In a Different Light". Written by the Peterson sisters.

I always confuse Eternal Flame with Seasons Change.

[quote]Vicki Peterson played lead for the Go-Go's when Charlitte had her baby.

And Kathy Valentine played bass on a Bangles tour after the Go-Go's shit-canned her.

I think Kathy just played a few shows with them. At that point they had a guy playing bass for them named Derrick Anderson. He was good, but glad they're back to being an all-female band again.

R150 as much as I hate Bitchlinda now, that was sort of interesting....but who she REALLY sounded AND looked like there was Patsy Cline, and that's the artist that she should cover - an album of songs.

This was always one of my favorite Bangles songs - my favorite from Different Light, for sure.

Sounds even better live.

RIP the Syria Mosque, a great venue.

Jane's (I think it's her) little solo in the middle of Our Lips are Sealed makes the song.

And I love this Bangles song, too. I wish more of their stuff had been like this.

Jane W was a classic ugly girl hating the pretty girl. She could write songs but couldn't accept the part of the GoGos appeal was the pretty girl being the frontwoman. As big a cunt as Belinda is. She was part of the package they were selling to make all those dollars.

Jane was hardly an ugly girl. She was getting some really good dick (and snatch).

It really did boil down to Jane vs Belinda the first time they broke up.

But this whole business with Belinda vs everyone else in this last business with the lawsuit....it's just staggering.

Belinda is and was a cunt. But she was the face of the GoGos. Yes Jane was more musically talented. But her homely ass wasn't gonna sell what Belinda could. Look at their solo careers for reference. Nobody was gonna buy a Jane record over a Belinda record. I feel bad for her but it's the business. The prettiest girl in the group was gonna be in the forefront. And she made plenty of money off that. Trust me I like Jane and know Belinda was a first rate cunt. But Belinda made all those other dykes plenty of cash.

Susanna's husband is directing the Fox News movie with Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly and Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson.

Belinda spends most of her time now in India, Asia, London, France. For such an LA/Valley girl, it's interesting she can live so far away from her son, parents, friends, and feel at home on the other side of the world.

R166 she can stay over there where they can tolerate her bitch ass

Hoffs covers the Go-Gos:

Jane was involved with Terry Hall from The Specials, Fun Boy Three and The Colourfield etc. They co-wrote "Our Lips Are Sealed". The Go-Gos first recorded the song before The Fun Boy Three's version,

According to Wiki:"In 1983, Hall's band, Fun Boy Three, released their version of "Our Lips Are Sealed". Issued as a single, the track became a top ten hit in the UK, and remains the best known version of "Lips" in that country — the Go-Go's version, while a hit elsewhere, only made #47 in the UK. The Go-Go's were supporting The Specials on the latter's 1980 United States tour. According to Wiedlin, she and Hall had a brief affair despite his having a girlfriend back in England and this led to their co-writing the song. The Go-Go's version is significantly more upbeat than Fun Boy Three's, which Wiedlin describes as "great" but also "gloomier"

I always thought Hall was gay?! He's likely bi. I enjoy both versions of the song, which proves what a great song it is. That's usually the proof of great songwriting, when a song can be interpreted many ways and performed in different styles.

"The official music video for the song features sequences of the band members in carefree tableaux (riding around in a convertible, stopping at a lingerie shop, and splashing around in a fountain) interspersed with footage of the band playing a club booking.

Jane Wiedlin says the band was initially unenthusiastic about doing the video when Miles Copeland, president of their label, I.R.S. Records, told them they would be doing it. "We were totally bratty," she recalls. The video was financed with unused funds from The Police's video budget.

The concept was for the band to drive around and be followed by a camera. Belinda Carlisle would sing, and the other members would do cute things. They wanted an older-style convertible and found a 1960 Buick at Rent-a-Wreck. It was, says Wiedlin, the band's idea to end the video by jumping into the Electric Fountain on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards in Beverly Hills. "I thought, at any minute the cops are gonna come. This is gonna be so cool."

Wiedlin looks back on the video experience fondly. "I have horrible '80s poodle hair in [it]", she recalled in a 2011 history of MTV. "But there's a simplicity and innocence to the video that appeals to me." In one sequence, Belinda Carlisle can be seen trying to hide; she later admitted this was deliberate, as she thought the whole idea of a music video was ridiculous and unlikely to catch on."

btw, Miles Copeland is a total prick. A major asshole.

I wonder if they ever had a clam bake munching four-way

The All-Nighter is on Showtime tonight.

Dee Dee Pfeiffer was the other roommate in The All-nighter. I was so disappointed in that movie. It was the first time i thought Sue Hoffs wasn’t cool. Her acting was atrocious. I remember her mum being on ET (who directed) and saying she was a huge movie star in the making.

I would've loved to have been in the room with Jane when Heaven is A Place on Earth hit #1 and after Circle in the Sand became Belinda's 4th top 10 hit.

I was very supportive of Belinda's solo career, and enthusiastic about her success. Nothing but love.

BUY MY USED PANTIES!!

Susanna posts a lot on twitter.

Sue Hoffs is 60 on the 17 Jan!

[quote]The Bangles had more in common with the Go-Go's than just being all-female, LA-based rock bands.

you mean like stealing their sound, which lets face the Go-Go's were simply "the Beach Girls."

Performing a set the other day. Part 1.

Hazy Shade of Winter

Live

Manic Monday

Going Down to Liverpool

September Gurls

Part 2.

I Want You

In Your Room

Hero Takes A Fall

Oops. Link to part 2.

Backstage. They all still look pretty good, especially Susanna.

Thanks R178. They still have a lot of fun.

Love that they are going through the archives. Talking in my sleep is really good.

[quote]you mean like stealing their sound, which lets face the Go-Go's were simply "the Beach Girls."

The Bangles were based on 60s rock, like The Mamas and the Papas, with vocal harmonies playing a key role. The Go-Go's started as a punk band. The earliest material by the bands sounded nothing alike. Producers for both bands steered them towards 80s pop/rock, so ultimately they performed in the same genre, but the roots of the bands were very different, which always came through in their sound.

Is Susanna Hoffs a vampire or something? She looks amazing at 60. Madonna could only dream...

Susanna (60), Vicki (61), and Debbie (57) all look great.

Whoever took the video really gave short shrift to Annette, but I'm sure some don't know her as a Bangle, even though she originally preceded Michael Steele.

I think Susanna was lucky to have good genetics, plus she took good care of herself over the years and had good, subtle work done.

I feel bad for Annette. She seems like an afterthought for some since she left the band before they hit really big and rejoined when they only occasionally perform and some of the super devoted Michael fans have said some mean things about her. She's a good singer and bassist in her own right, so it's too bad. It would be great if they would let her sing a song once in a while. I think she could pull off "I Want You" very well since that one wasn't one of the typical harmony driven Bangles song or let her do one of the segments of Walk like an Egyptian or maybe even a song she did with one of her other bands. She seemed to have a blast playing harmonica when they did "How Is The Air Up There?" a few years back.

What does everyone think of the their 3 new cover songs from the 3 x 4 album. This is the first time the original band line up recorded together since their EP. I think it's very good and wish they would record more often.

Talking in my Sleep. Susanna on lead vocals.

Jet Fighter with Debbi on lead vocals.

That's What You Always Say with Vicki on lead vocals.

The lead singer's mom had connections, otherwise they'd all have been waiting tables at Hamburger Haven.

R190 If that were the case, they would've gotten a better record dead the first time around and their EP and first album would've been promoted much better.

190, Susanna Hoffs was indeed well-connected, but she is good-looking, talented, and a true music lover who is always making something in the studio, even in obscure circumstances with little commercial or fame payoff. There are many worse people who have benefited from good connections.

Michael Steele must have a lot of money to walk away from the band.