The Bangles Sunday Funday Hour
The Bangles Sunday Funday Hour
VICKI PETERSON
Self-described as "the kid who brought a guitar to every sleep-over in order to torture everyone with my newest creation", Vicki Peterson began writing songs in elementary school, and formed several bands in her youth, culminating in 1981's The Bangs alongside sister Debbi and singer guitarist Susanna Hoffs - which soon became the iconic chart-topping 80’s group The Bangles.
In the early 90’s, Vicki began writing songs with her good friend Susan Cowsill as the Psycho Sisters, and contributed to tracks by artists including Tom Petty, the Hoodoo Gurus, John Doe, and Belinda Carlisle, as well as replacing a pregnant Charlotte Caffey on The Go-Go’s 1994-95 reunion tour.
In the late 90's, Vicki moved to New Orleans to be a part of the critically acclaimed songwriters’ collective Continental Drifters, which included old friends Peter Holsapple (dB’s) and Mark Walton (The Dream Syndicate). Not long afterwards, the Bangles began recording and touring again, releasing 2003's DOLL REVOLUTION, 2011's SWEETHEART OF THE SUN, 2014's LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BANGLES!, and 2018's Paisley Underground compilation 3X4.
Concurrently, Vicki released 2014's Psycho Sisters first—and almost mythical--full-length recording UP ON THE CHAIR, BEATRICE, and in 2017 formed Action Skulls alongside husband John Cowsill and Bill Mumy, with releases ANGELS HEAR in 2017 and A DIFFERENT WORLD in 2020.
SUSANNA HOFFS
Boasting one of pop's most beloved voices, Susanna Hoffs was born and raised in Los Angeles with an ever-present soundtrack of '60s music. She loved to sing and play guitar, going on to study dance and art in college. Stirred by punk and new wave, Susanna started her first band with David Roback (Mazzy Star) while at UC Berkeley. Upon returning to L.A., she placed a want ad which led her to Vicki and Debbi Peterson. In December 1980, they met in the garage of Susanna's parents' home and a band was born. Blending ’60s garage rock, lush harmonies, and jangly guitars, the Bangles became a seminal band of the ’80s with a string of hits from three platinum-selling albums. Over the decades since, the Bangles continued to tour and release LPs.
In 1991, Susanna released a pop-heavy solo album, When You're a Boy, followed by her eponymous LP, which was met with critical praise. After working together in the Austin Powers films, Susanna and Matthew Sweet released three volumes of their acclaimed Under the Covers series. In 2011, she released Someday, a retro modern solo set that was a stylish homage to the '60s pop that she grew up on. Most recently, she worked with acclaimed producer Peter Asher on her album The Deep End. Susanna has collaborated with Rufus Wainwright, Tom Petty, Chris Martin, Mike Campbell, Jack Antonoff, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, Aimee Mann, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Maya Rudolph, and many others.
Susanna released her first novel “This Bird Has Flown” in April of 2023. The New York Times called it the “smart, ferocious rock-star redemption romance you didn’t know you needed.” NPR called it “a love story — and a valentine to music.” It was a Los Angeles Times bestseller.
Debbi Peterson
Drummer, Vocalist, and Guitarist Debbi Peterson began drumming in her sister Vicki's various bands at an early age. A natural talent, she only had one formal drum lesson, picking up her craft from watching other drummers, and devouring music voraciously - mostly through her older sister Pam's large record collection. By the time she and Vicki founded The Bangles with guitarist Susanna Hoffs, Debbi was already a seasoned pro.
Debbi sang lead on The Bangles' breakthrough 1984 single "Going Down to Liverpool" and 1989's "Be with You", as well as on myriad other tracks in the band's catalog. In addition Debbi made guest appearances with artists including Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Petty, The GoGo's, and Spinal Tap.
In the 90's Debbi formed Smashbox with The GoGo's Gina Schock, Sara Lee of The B-52's, and Wendy & Lisa, which eventually became Kindred Spirit - a partnership with River City People's Siobhan Mayer.
Signed by IRS Records, Kindred Spirit released their debut album in 1992, featuring the well-received singles "Ask Me No Questions", "Here In My Eyes", and "Christmas Son".
Since the resurgence of The Bangles in 2000, Debbi has toured and recorded regularly with them, as well as making appearances on other artist's albums and performing live with artists including the much-missed John Wicks, Band Of Their Own (B.O.T.O.), and, most recently, The No Ones.
Annette Zilinskas
Annette Zilinskas is an actress, author, musician, animation production assistant, singer, songwriter, and founding bass player of the Bangles. Annette Celia Genevieve Zilinskas (born November 6, 1962) is an American musician and singer of European ancestry, including Lithuania and Scandinavia, who was the original bass guitarist for The Bangles then later left the band to become the full time lead vocalist with influential roots-punk outfit Blood on the Saddle, whose juiced-up anthems inspired the cowpunk genre and paved the way for the No Depression movement and its related alt-country/Americana revivals. Zilinskas later lead the dream-pop group Weatherbell and the contrastingly punky all-girl garage-rock trio 3 Hole Punch, as well as collaborating with the experimental noise-pop auteur and Brad Lander to co create the band Medicine. She's a noted spoken word stylist and a longtime member of the celebrated spoken-word/music troupe the Ringling Sisters, whose debut album on A&M Records, 60-Watt Reality, was produced by the legendary Lou Adler. She's currently compiling a short-story collection with the working title Walking After Midnight." She's also released many short stories and poetry. She also wrote part of the book, More Fun in the New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of LA Punk. She's also an actress known for; Lovedolls Superstar (1986). Lovedolls Superstar. Switchblade Suzy. 1986 ; Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (1984). Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. She was one of the rare artist who helped start/create three bands, in three different genres, and part of two seprate musical movements out of L.A.
Michael Steele
Michael Steel is an artist, musician, singer, and songwriter. Bassist Michael Steele was born on June 2, 1955 in Pasadena, California and grew up in suburban Newport Beach. Steele was briefly in the 70's all-girl rock group, The Runaways, as both the lead singer and bass player, but got kicked out for being too old. She played in almost fourteen bands prior to joining The Bangles in 1983 (she replaced original bassist Annette Zilinskas). After The Bangles split up in 1989, Michael wrote songs and recorded demos for a possible solo album that sadly never materialized. In 1993, Steele fronted the band "Crash Wisdom", which subsequently broke up in late 1994. She left Los Angeles and moved to Northern California to concentrate on painting. In 1996, Michael became the bass player for the band Eyesore; this gig only lasted for four months. Steele has done some session work for Jan Krist, 'Kings X' guitarist Ty Tabor and Eliza. Moreover, Michael did a guest stint in fellow The Bangles band member Victoria Peterson's group, the Continental Drifters, in which she filled in for primary bassist Mark Walton. On November 21, 1998, Steele made a public appearance singing lead vocals on two songs at a Sandy Denny tribute show at St. Ann's Church in New York City. She subsequently performed on stage with the Continental Drifters at Acme Underground in New York City on November 23, 1998. In 1999, she was the last member of The Bangles to rejoin the group. In 2005, Michael Steele left The Bangles.
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