Seeing the Bangles

[sunkidd]

I am going to see the Bangles this week with my daughter, she bought me a ticket , and was wondering if anyone here has seen them lately? all the ads and billboards for the show has just three of them in photo and no Michael Steele...
wondering what the lineup is? Berlin is opening for the Bangles...

My daugther has been a fan of the Bangles for a long time and sez that at her job, in the office, they play the three Bangle's CD's I gave her a few years ago....all the time and especially "Manic Monday" on....... you guessed it! Monday Morning....

[Anson Willis]

From The Bangles MySpace page: "In 2005, longtime bassist Michael Steele elected to leave the band, but the Bangles continue to tour and perform with guest bassist Abby Travis, and plans for a new album are underway."

However, their website seems to have a picture at the top that includes Steele.

[TG]

Mmmmmm...

[Acephspades]

Originally Posted by TG

Mmmmmm...

Oh yeah sweet Suzanna. One of my fondest memories of puberty. Her and Lita Ford's Album Cover with "Kiss Me Deadly". I was 13-14 years old so you can imagine, almost as good as the lingerie section in the JC Penny catalog!!!

"Hazey Shade of Winter" had some good guitar work and I still like that song.

[Tim73]

I really like the Sid & Suzy stuff she did with Michael Sweet on the Between the Covers album.

[mikespe]

I saw them back in the late 80's (around 1987-88) at Darien Lake (in between Buffalo & Rochester) and they were awesome! My friend and I got a whole group together and Walked Like Egyptians. It was an outdoor concert! We were so trashed. On the way home the hood on my friend pickup flew open while we were doing 70mph! (Remember that seen in Tommy Boy!!).

[zombywoof]

Never really listened to the Bangles much but I love their version of "Hazy Shade of Winter."

[tazzboy]

Kind of makes wonder who sings Michael Steeles line in this song

[Dad Gad]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Never really listened to the Bangles much but I love their version of "Hazy Shade of Winter."

yeah, I love playing that lead riff!!

[Tim Armstrong]

In 1987 or so, my bandmates and I went down to the Tower Records store in DC for a Bangles in-store appearance. It was in the morning, and let's just say that the girls were a little bleary, except for Mickey Steele. We gave them an autographed picture of OUR band, which amused her greatly (and confused Susanna totally). That morning, under those less-than-optimal conditions, Ms. Steele was the coolest, prettiest Bangle...

Cheers, Tim

[BLACKCAT69]

No harm done son. Chill.

[68tele]

While Hoffs is cute, I never thought she had sex appeal. She tried way too hard.

[JohnnyCrash]

I wasn't a huge fan of the Bangles, but I did enjoy their music. I think they're great musicians, but I'm "if-y" on how I feel about their songwriting.

Regardless, I think if you've got it, flaunt it.

There's no harm in women (or men for that matter) showing what they've got. It's Rock and Roll afterall!!

She's beautiful and I'm sure she'd be flattered... perhaps you missed that YouTube clip of Susanna posted a few weeks back - SHE was fully taking advantage of showing herself off... perhaps this was too racy or sexist for you as well, but it wasn't for her.

I was in a band with a female in my last band and I'm currently in a band with my girlfriend of nearly 10 years - perhaps you shouldn't worry as much as you are Anson... if Susanna has no problems with her body and TONS of other female rockers (famous or otherwise) feel the same way about their own, maybe you should too.

Let's relax and admire the music and/or beauty... how many '80s hair band dudes were objectified by women? It's all OK.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by Anson Willis

Why don't you show your post to your wife/girlfriend, if you have one, and see what she thinks? Maybe she could explain it to you.

My girlfriend is the bass player and co-lead singer in our band... you should hear what she says about firefighters.

Relax, read my previous post above and have fun.

[KRZ4TELE]

Mr PC is a hoot!!!

btw:
I heard why they called those girls the BANG-les...

[jonzer]

I really liked "Going Down To Liverpool". That's just a cool breezy song and kinda Beatleish.

[austintele]

I like the bangles. I dig the story they ran in vintage guitar mag a couple of years back. Suzanna was talking about how she got her Fritz brothers roy buchanan guitar. It's serial number 3 or something and roy sent in to her as a gift.

My love for roy grew a bit that day :)

[CharlieO]

Originally Posted by Skully

Sometimes. The Bangles sold themselves out to have hits. The band and/or their record company appeared to lose faith in their songwriting abilities -- which are in evidence on their first album -- and they turned to outside songwriters to get them on the charts. (BTW, of the artists you mention, only Elvis relied on the work of outside songwriters.)

If we can compare The Beatles to the Rolling Stones or The Dave Clark Five, I think it's fair to make an oranges to oranges comparision of The Bangles to The Go-Go's, another all female rock group that came up around the same time. The Go-Go's wrote all their own songs (save for a cover of "Cool Jerk" on their second album) and played all their own instruments, no matter how many punch-ins it took! The Bangles relied heavily on outside songwriters and session musicians from their second album on, which is sad, given that they had a reputation for being tight live band. It sounds like they lost their nerve. And, yes, I have less respect for them because of it. From what I've read, it also caused them to lose respect for themselves as a band.

Well, Skully, I guess we could compare The Bangles' career and success as professional musicians to yours, but that's certainly not "oranges to oranges" either, is it? What's not to respect concerning what The Bangles accomplished? You admit that they have a reputation for being a tight band, it's a fact that they had hit records, and they're still out there today performing, selling concert tickets, and maybe even enjoying what they're doing.

I don't get what your problem is with them relying on outside songwriters. Many, many talented and successful performers have had great careers performing songs written by others. In some cases (you're definitely wrong about The Beatles and The Rolling Stones) they relied heavily on covers early in their careers, and in others they weren't afraid to do it at any point in their careers. Some performers choose to do covers out of respect for the person who wrote the song. Think about The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. They might not have gotten recording contracts if they hadn't performed covers of American blues or pop artists from the 50's.

In the case of The Bangles, they probably didn't make the decision to rely on outside songwriters after their first album. I'm sure that their recording contract gave control to the producer and/or label. Sure, the band could have tried to fight it, but why? They had something good going. Would you throw it away and break your contract, just so that your less-than-great songs might have a chance to be released and possibly "stiff?"

I'm sure that The Bangles lost some respect for themselves as a band, but it's a tough spot to be in. If you wrote the songs, you'd probably believe in them and think that your record label should, too. On the other hand, you've achieved some degree of success, which management and the record label have contributed to. There's nothing wrong with taking the path that The Bangles took. They're not perfect, and they might not be your ideal band, but respect them for what they accomplished.

[getbent]

Hey Skully, 0le Fuzzy loves that Hoffs video... i remember the first time it got posted in here I ended up hunting all over the internet to find the guitar player, Rusty Anderson....

Glad you still like the Carroll O'Connor story... I'm not much of a name dropper (mainly because I don't see people like you NO HO guys) but I think it is noteworthy to see Ms. Hoffs.... and I have to be honest, I'd probably comment on it had I seen it.... I would probably also comment on it if I saw Eddie Murphy parading with a she male.... If I saw David Hasselhoff or David Spade naked.... not so much....

Anson, once you get to know Skully, you'll realize he isn't sexist.... he's just an adept provider of lurid knowledge. I think that used to be his signature: Skully, an adept provider of lurid knowledge, not a sexist.

As to whether or not he should be allowed near young children... I would certainly allow him near my young children but never near my farm animals... there are limits to my trust!

[furrfurrfurr]

Originally Posted by getbent

As to whether or not he should be allowed near young children... I would certainly allow him near my young children but never near my farm animals... there are limits to my trust!

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by Skully

When I worked at Tower Video on Sunset in the mid-to-late '80s...

I used to work at Turner's ( not the Doheny store, the one on Larrabee) in the late 70's early 80's. Used to see Belinda and Peter Case all the time, or whoever was playing at the Whiskey. Don Adams, Dick Van Dyke, Rock Hudson came in all the time. Sunset was really cool back then. Tower video was The Classic Cat strip club, then it turned into a Univeristy Stereo store. I was long gone by the time it became Tower Video. I had some friends that were in a band called The Rain Parade, and Sue used to go to all of their shows. She's a nice girl.

[Skully]

I used to work at Turner's ( not the Doheny store, the one on Larrabee) in the late 70's early 80's. Used to see Belinda and Peter Case all the time, or whoever was playing at the Whiskey.

By the time I was there (fall of '86), the sign on the Larrabee store had been changed to Terner's, and I assume ownership had changed as well. Turner's on Doheny was the classy one. The Larrabee store and whatever the Tower Video location was at the time (probably the strip club) are on the cover of Sweet's "Desolation Blvd." album.

Don Adams, Dick Van Dyke, Rock Hudson came in all the time.

Was Van Dyke still drinking then?

Did you know a bookie named Charlie? Skinny guy with a New York accent. Drove a brown Rolls Royce.

Don Adams, Dick Van Dyke, Rock Hudson came in all the time. Sunset was really cool back then. Tower video was The Classic Cat strip club, then it turned into a Univeristy Stereo store. I was long gone by the time it became Tower Video. I had some friends that were in a band called The Rain Parade, and Sue used to go to all of their shows. She's a nice girl.

I don't doubt it. I remember the Rain Parade, but that whole Paisley Underground scene was before my time. By the time I got there, the Strip was in the grips of metal mania. Everybody wanted to be Poison or Motley Crue. Then Guns N' Roses came along, and everyone wanted to be Axl. (Axl worked at Tower Video right before I got there.) Every weekend, the Strip was jammed with crowds of dopey metalheads. But, eh... at least there was a lively scene back then.

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by Skully

Was Van Dyke still drinking then?

Did you know a bookie named Charlie? Skinny guy with a New York accent. Drove a brown Rolls Royce.



Then Guns N' Roses came along, and everyone wanted to be Axl. (Axl worked at Tower Video right before I got there.

He wasn't supposed to be drinking, but he always bought booze.

Didn't know Charlie...

Nikki Sixx (his name was Nikki London then) was a driver at Turner's along with the drummer from his band (London), Dane Rage. Dane's real last name was Pierce, never knew what Nikki's was. They used to play the Starwood all the time...

[Ben Harmless]

Originally Posted by Anson Willis

Sounds like a bunch of sour grapes, to me. The Bangles are out there doing it, making a living playing music, making CDs, touring, etc.

You guys are hanging out in the cyberspace boondocks, trashing them to make yourselves feel like your lives are worthwhile.

I'd like to see your pictures, then decide who I'd rather look at, The Bangles, or you.

Hmm... Let's see... This cyber-boondock-hanger-outer has recorded for transnational release, toured internationally, played in front of thousands, and had the precious experience of watching a sold-out house sing every word of my band's songs right back at me. I guess since I'm posting on the internet, I must have no life, success, or experience whatsoever.

You know what's great? I'm not even in the top 50 TDPRI'ers in terms of accomplishment. I suggest you put your brain into "learning mode" instead of "judging mode" and perhaps, like me, you'll log off of this page a slightly smarter person.

My picture is to the left. I don't care if you like it or not - and I'll bet the Bangles feel the same way.

EDIT: The Bangles rock, whatever the state of their gender/bodies/exposure.

[furrfurrfurr]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

He wasn't supposed to be drinking, but he always bought booze.

Didn't know Charlie...

Nikki Sixx (his name was Nikki London then) was a driver at Turner's along with the drummer from his band (London), Dane Rage. Dane's real last name was Pierce, never knew what Nikki's was. They used to play the Starwood all the time...

I believe Nikki Sixx' real name is Frank Ferrano. You MUST read Motley Crue's Autobiography called The Dirt. It is NON-STOP hysterics and a truly great read. One of my all-time favorites.

[ralphie]

General *****iness aside, this thread raises a semi-interesting point. I think it's perfectly valid (though perhaps not terribly classy) to critique a celeb's appearance if, and only if, it is a huge part of how they are marketed to us.

Ms. Hoffs wasn't unaware of her beauty. It's obvious she knew how to be cute and sexy and that pressing those buttons would enhance her earnings. Nothing wrong there. This here's a free country.

If someone were to post that they saw Chrissy Hynde the other day and Chrissy's hind was a tad flabby, or that Patti Smith's face could stop a train, I would consider those comments to be ridiculous, immaterial and flame-able.

But if someone's persona is all about how sexy they are, and you see them in person and disagree, that's valid. Like I said, maybe not necessary or tactful, but mildly noteworthy.

[dolfan19]

Thanks for mentioning Miss Hynde. Makes me think of a quote I read of hers in Dave Marsh's Book of Rock Lists, about RNR attitude: It's not F Me, It's F YOU!!!

[TDPRI]

I removed 23 posts so that I can review this mess and figure out my next steps.

Stop posting about the breasts of the band members. This is a music website. If you can't stay on course then you don't need to be posting here.

[TDPRI]

I'm going to close this thread. Those that think the TDPRI is a junior high locker room have gotten the wrong impression and should go post elsewhere with the other 14 year olds.

And the original poster started this thread thinking it would be a positive topic as a Dad -- taking your daughter to see a cool band, made up of women that his daughter admires.

But I guess you guys think that's stupid.