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“Manic Monday,” “Walk Like An Egyptian,” “Hazy Shade Of Winter,” “Eternal Flame,” “In Your Room”…The hits of The Bangles not only live on, but still sound great all these years later. Since regrouping in 1998 for the first Austin Powers soundtrack, The Bangles –- which includes vocalist/guitarist Susanna Hoffs, drummer/vocalist Debbi Peterson, and guitarist/vocalist Vicki Peterson -– has remained active with a proper tour every few years. There were also new Bangles studio albums in 2003 (Doll Revolution) and 2011 (Sweetheart Of The Sun), keeping the band current and interesting.
On Jun. 24, The Bangles will be releasing Ladies And Gentlemen…The Bangles — a re-release of the quartet’s debut single plus demos, rarities and live tracks — via Omnivore Recordings. The 16-track compilation includes some tracks not available since 1982. Several weeks later, The Bangles make a New York area return with an Aug. 19 show at Long Island’s The Paramount and an Aug. 27 gig at Irving Plaza.
In advance of the new release and the August performances in our area, guitarist Vicki spoke to Downtown. Bangles aside, Vicki stays active with other bands, which she discussed within our Q&A. Vicki is on Twitter via the handle @VickiBangle, while band tweets come from @TheBangles. More info can be found at www.thebangles.com.
What do you remember about the first time you ever performed on Long Island?
Vicki Peterson: I believe the first time was in the 80’s, but…I remember very little about the 80’s…
Aside from touring, have you ever spent time on Long Island?
V: No, and I think that should change, don’t you?
Sure — so what was the impetus behind the upcoming release Ladies And Gentlemen? Did the masters revert back to the band? Or were these old recordings discovered by someone in the Bangles camp?
V: I’ve wanted to re-release the Bangs’ EP for ages, and we finally came up with an idea and a way to do it. We released these recordings last year for download, but got so many requests for physical versions, we partnered with Omnivore to make that happen.
For your upcoming shows in New York, will the emphasis be on the songs from Ladies And Gentlemen? Or will the setlist be more career-spanning?
V: We’ve been dipping into the early songbook for awhile now, mostly just because it’s fun. So we’ll definitely be playing some of the songs off Ladies And Gentlemen…But don’t worry. You’ll hear the hits.
“Bitchen Summer/Speedway” from Ladies And Gentlemen has a 1960s surf influence. Was surf-rock among your early influences as a guitar?
V: Not specifically, but it was fun to try that on. I’m sure that surf music is somehow genetically implanted in me, being a second-generation native Californian, and it always seems to make me smile and want to dance like a girl in a go-go cage.
Something often overlooked is that you once filled in for Charlotte Caffey on a Go-Go’s reunion tour. Was there ever talk of The Bangles and The Go-Go’s hitting the road together?
V: It was talked about several times over the years. We did do a couple of shows with them back in the olden days…but we never found the right time and way to tour. I did have a blast filling in for Charlotte – it was my first time being “side-chick” and I found it oddly liberating. I’ve sung on Belinda’s records, Sue’s worked with Belinda [Carlisle] recently, we wrote a song with Charlotte, Kathy [Valentine] filled in on bass for us at The Whiskey last year, Debbi was briefly in a band with Gina [Schock] – see? Lots of Bangle/Go-Go action!
V: I’m not sure why, but there was a wave of Big Star consciousness floating around L.A. in the early 80’s. Everyone I knew was infatuated with them and I soon was as well. There was something so lush and heartbreaking about their sound; it seemed to fit in with what we were all doing – or trying to do. I think it was Micki’s [former bassist Michael Steele] idea to record “September Gurls” and she did a beautiful vocal on it.
What’s ahead for you after this upcoming run of Bangles shows has wrapped?
V: I’m helping put the music together for a film which will shoot later this year, and I’m still writing for that. Also working on a couple of other writing projects.
Is there more in the works from The Psycho Sisters? Or a recorded project with your husband John?
V: Yes! I’m making a record with John and our friend Bill Mumy. We’ve been fitting sessions in around John’s touring schedule with The Beach Boys, and if Bill hasn’t given up on us entirely yet, we’ll be finished with recording before the Bangles’ tour. Action Skulls is the name of that group. Yup. Not my fault. We laugh a lot…
And the Psycho Sisters have no concrete plans at the moment, but that could change by the time I finishing typing this. I would drop anything for an excuse to sing with Susan Cowsill, my Psycho Sister.
When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
V: I’m ridiculously domesticated and like to grow things and then cook them. I also love to read and cannot figure out how I’m going to find time to read all the wonderful books in the world. And more keep coming. Same thing with films. So, really, the question is, with all the growing and cooking and reading and watching, how do I find time for a career? Ah. Good question…
Finally, Vicki, any last words for the kids?
V: Vote. That’s just one word, but it’s an important one.