The Bangles (formed 1981-89, 1999) The Bangles are an all-female rock band that released a stream of hit singles throughout the 1980s, before returning a decade later to continue releasing music.
Formation: Vocalist and guitar player, Susanna Hoffs, met with Peterson sisters, Debbi and Vicki in December 1980 in Los Angeles. Assuming the name, The Bangs, the trio began working in the LA underground music scene. In 1981, they released their debut single, 'Getting Out Of Hand'. With the addition of bassist Annette Zilinskas, the group began working on their debut EP to be released in the following year. In 1982, a matter of weeks before the release of 'The Real World' EP, the band changed it's name due to legal issues, from The Bangs to Bangles. Zilinskas left the band soon after, to be replaced by Michael Steele.
Career: In May, 1984, The Bangles released their first full-length album, 'All Over the Place', through Columbia Records. The album received good reviews and featured two singles. The music video for 'Liverpool' featured Leonard Nimoy, which helped attract attention to the band.
Amongst those who became aware of the band, was 'Prince', who had written a song named 'Manic Monday' for another band, but offered it to them instead. The song shot to number 2 in US, UK and German charts. The single appeared on their second studio album, 'Different Light', which was released in the US in January, 1986. Hoffs was quickly becoming the best known member of the band by the media, after Columbia Records focusing on the release of singles which featured her vocals. On 18th October, 1988, they released the album 'Everything', which was another top five album, which contained the chart-topping single, 'Eternal Flame'. The band had been suffering a breakdown in their relationship, and soon the band broke up.
Hoffs went on to pursue a solo career, with the other members joining other bands. Hoffs married director Jay Roach during this time, and he asked her and Vicki Peterson to write a song for his upcoming film, 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'. The rest of the band came together in 1998 to record the song, called 'Get The Girl', with the band officially reforming to release the song in 1999. On 9th September, 2003, The Bangles released their fourth studio album, entitled 'Doll Revolution', recorded over the course of three years from the 2000. The album performed well in Germany, but was not too successful in the US or UK.
The Bangles began working on a new album in 2009. On 27th September, 2011, The Bangles released 'Sweetheart of the Sun', their fifth studio album. The band toured throughout 2011 to promote the album, and later toured in 2013, performing a compilation of their greatest hits.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
