The Bangles at the start of their career (Photo by Karen Filter)
If you were alive and watching television in 1986, and you previously did not know of The Bangles, MTV introduced them to a wider world with the music video for their hit “Walk Like an Egyptian,” which features a famously “sexy stare” from guitarist and co-vocalist Susanna Hoffs. In particular, if you were a young man of a certain age, those eyes were forever seared into your brain (in a good way).
Revisit the moment in the official music video for “Walk Like An Egyptian” (with famed stare around 2:45 mark):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk]
The Bangles formed as a quartet in Los Angeles and released their debut album in 1984, hooking many of us with their famous cover of “Going Down to Liverpool” by Katrina and the Waves. Embracing the psych-folk of the Paisley Underground, the ladies burned up the radio with other hits like “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter,” a terrific cover of the Simon & Garfunkel number recorded for the film Less Than Zero.
Today, sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson, along with Susanna, are revisiting their early days of the band with a collection, titled Ladies and Gentlemen… The Bangles! The album is a 16-track collection of remastered ’80s-era rarities, demos, live recordings, and more, including The Bangles’ debut single and all of the tracks from their self-titled EP (which has been unavailable since its initial release on vinyl in 1982).
Watch a cool trailer for the album!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbYTwylFm3s]
To celebrate the June 24 release of the album on CD via Omnivore Recordings, The Bangles have hit the road once again as a trio, and they will visit the 9:30 Club on Sunday, August 21, to play songs from across their amazing catalog.
Said Susanna of the new compilation: “I feel a very special connection to our early recordings. The garage of my parents’ house was our musical laboratory, and we took all the flavors of our favorite bands and mixed up a concoction of jangly guitars, McCartney-inspired bass parts, grooves powered by punk energy, and harmonies galore! These songs and recordings were our musical manifesto — all that mattered and inspired us, fueled by youthful energy, hope and blind ambition.”
L.A. rock trio Cardiac open for The Bangles. Tickets are available online.
The Bangles
w/ Cardiac
9:30 Club
Sunday, August 21
Doors @7pm
$35
All ages