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Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles
The authorized biography of the quintessential ’80s pop band The Bangles, who scored massive hits with “Manic Monday,” Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Hazy Shade of Winter,” and more From their first meeting in 1981, the Bangles were ambitious, focused, and intentional; their hard-work and determination resulted in millions of records sold across the globe, before becoming the first all-girl band to have five “Top 10” hits. Not long after coming together, they toured the world, released #1 records, and collaborated with the biggest artists of the day. They seemed unstoppable—until tensions within the band, artistic differences, and the pressures of sudden celebrity tore them apart less than a decade later.
ETERNAL FLAME is the story of those eight of a diverse and vibrant Los Angeles music scene, unfettered work ethics and self-belief, the dawn of MTV, the unpredictable consequences of fame, life as a touring band, and their rapid rise to global domination--then imploding at the height of success. But it’s also a story of the very real challenges faced by women attempting to follow their artistic dreams in a media and music industry ecosystem which seemed set up for their failure from the start.
With unprecedented access to founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson, ETERNAL FLAME is the first authorized biography of this iconic group, featuring exclusive stories, input, and interviews from the pioneering band members themselves as well as those that knew them best. From playing the club circuit in 1980s' LA to bunking with Sting during a PR trip to the UK to topping the Billboard charts, to interludes with Prince and appearances on the definitive MTV, ETERNAL FLAME traces the band’s rise to superstardom, taking readers behind-the-scenes and sharing with them never-before-shared anecdotes and personal ephemera.
As Debbi herself notes, “I think it's about time that our true story was told. People only see certain aspects of the Bangles, especially as the media has twisted the past and we have been misrepresented for a long time. Plus, certainly in the eighties, we were women making it in a man's world. I think that needs to be celebrated.”
Dynamic, daring, and deliciously entertaining from start to finish, ETERNAL FLAME is a tribute to one of the greatest pop bands of the 20th century—and a long-overdue corrective that restores The Bangles to their rightful place in music history as feminist trailblazers.
ETERNAL FLAME is the story of those eight of a diverse and vibrant Los Angeles music scene, unfettered work ethics and self-belief, the dawn of MTV, the unpredictable consequences of fame, life as a touring band, and their rapid rise to global domination--then imploding at the height of success. But it’s also a story of the very real challenges faced by women attempting to follow their artistic dreams in a media and music industry ecosystem which seemed set up for their failure from the start.
With unprecedented access to founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson, ETERNAL FLAME is the first authorized biography of this iconic group, featuring exclusive stories, input, and interviews from the pioneering band members themselves as well as those that knew them best. From playing the club circuit in 1980s' LA to bunking with Sting during a PR trip to the UK to topping the Billboard charts, to interludes with Prince and appearances on the definitive MTV, ETERNAL FLAME traces the band’s rise to superstardom, taking readers behind-the-scenes and sharing with them never-before-shared anecdotes and personal ephemera.
As Debbi herself notes, “I think it's about time that our true story was told. People only see certain aspects of the Bangles, especially as the media has twisted the past and we have been misrepresented for a long time. Plus, certainly in the eighties, we were women making it in a man's world. I think that needs to be celebrated.”
Dynamic, daring, and deliciously entertaining from start to finish, ETERNAL FLAME is a tribute to one of the greatest pop bands of the 20th century—and a long-overdue corrective that restores The Bangles to their rightful place in music history as feminist trailblazers.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 1, 2025
I received a free copy of, Eternal Flame, by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Bangles are a great band, Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson, and Debbie Peterson. I will always love the song, Manic Monday. I really enjoyed this book.
July 23, 2025
Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is an American writer with a PhD in cultural studies who specializes in topics including fandoms and pop culture (as her previous books attest). Her 2025 work Eternal Flame is an authorized biography of '80s all-female pop/rock group The Bangles, including extensive interviews with three of the group members, Susanna Hoffs (singer/rhythm guitar) and sisters Debbi (singer/drums) and Vicki Peterson (singer/lead guitar). Interestingly, while The Bangles first disbanded in 1989, they have reunited many times since then, even releasing several more albums of original songs.
I opened this book being vaguely familiar with the Bangles only via their mainstream hits -- songs like Manic Monday, Walk Like an Egyptian, and Eternal Flame that give the misleading impressions that 1) this was a group focused on singing, but not really on playing instruments, and 2) that Susanna Hoffs was the front woman/lead singer, with the other members providing backup vocals and presence (a frequent arrangement for the girl groups around in the '90s/'00s when I was growing up). I appreciate how Bickerdike presents further context, explaining how the group was founded on the concept of a band playing instruments and in theory eschewed the idea of one member being seen as the lead vocal/leader, but that the group's technical prowess and the showcasing of other members' talents were often sidelined for various reasons. I would say the book comes off as more sympathetic to the Peterson sisters than Hoffs (the three seem to still have beef about their past), and former member Micki/Michael Steele apparently declined to be interviewed for the book.
Both a positive and negative attribute of this book is that Bickerdike is a big Bangles fan. On the positive side, this work seems thoroughly researched and enthusiastically written (albeit repetitive in many parts); on the negative side, it reads similarly to fanzines I remember from the '90s and '00s, with an overly glowing narrative and lack of impartiality, and a tendency to focus on sensationalism. I appreciated how Bickerdike included some interviews and comments at the end on how self-described Gen Z all-female bands have been influenced by the Bangles, though I think there was a missed opportunity to analyze this area further and elaborate on the pedigree of the instrument-playing all-female bands from the '80s to the present day and how The Bangles influenced them (or not). I'm quite familiar with (usually self-assembled) all-female pop/rock bands as well as (usually highly manufactured) girl pop groups of the '00s, and it was quite rare for a group to cross over into both areas like The Bangles did.
Definitely an interesting read -- I always prefer with artists tell their own stories, though with the interpersonal dynamics of the Bangles where there are multiple sides to every story, it seems unlikely that that would improve the situation here.
Further reading: female musicians of the '60s through the '90s
The Other Fab Four: The Remarkable True Story of the Liverbirds, Britain’s First Female Rock Band by Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders | my review (the Liverbirds, an all-female instrument-playing cover band who were fellow Liverpool contemporaries of the Beatles)
Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart)
Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s by Tanya Pearson | my review (various '90s female-fronted alt rock bands like Hole, Veruca Salt, etc.)
My statistics:
Book 227 for 2025
Book 2153 cumulatively
I opened this book being vaguely familiar with the Bangles only via their mainstream hits -- songs like Manic Monday, Walk Like an Egyptian, and Eternal Flame that give the misleading impressions that 1) this was a group focused on singing, but not really on playing instruments, and 2) that Susanna Hoffs was the front woman/lead singer, with the other members providing backup vocals and presence (a frequent arrangement for the girl groups around in the '90s/'00s when I was growing up). I appreciate how Bickerdike presents further context, explaining how the group was founded on the concept of a band playing instruments and in theory eschewed the idea of one member being seen as the lead vocal/leader, but that the group's technical prowess and the showcasing of other members' talents were often sidelined for various reasons. I would say the book comes off as more sympathetic to the Peterson sisters than Hoffs (the three seem to still have beef about their past), and former member Micki/Michael Steele apparently declined to be interviewed for the book.
Both a positive and negative attribute of this book is that Bickerdike is a big Bangles fan. On the positive side, this work seems thoroughly researched and enthusiastically written (albeit repetitive in many parts); on the negative side, it reads similarly to fanzines I remember from the '90s and '00s, with an overly glowing narrative and lack of impartiality, and a tendency to focus on sensationalism. I appreciated how Bickerdike included some interviews and comments at the end on how self-described Gen Z all-female bands have been influenced by the Bangles, though I think there was a missed opportunity to analyze this area further and elaborate on the pedigree of the instrument-playing all-female bands from the '80s to the present day and how The Bangles influenced them (or not). I'm quite familiar with (usually self-assembled) all-female pop/rock bands as well as (usually highly manufactured) girl pop groups of the '00s, and it was quite rare for a group to cross over into both areas like The Bangles did.
Definitely an interesting read -- I always prefer with artists tell their own stories, though with the interpersonal dynamics of the Bangles where there are multiple sides to every story, it seems unlikely that that would improve the situation here.
Further reading: female musicians of the '60s through the '90s
The Other Fab Four: The Remarkable True Story of the Liverbirds, Britain’s First Female Rock Band by Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders | my review (the Liverbirds, an all-female instrument-playing cover band who were fellow Liverpool contemporaries of the Beatles)
Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart)
Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s by Tanya Pearson | my review (various '90s female-fronted alt rock bands like Hole, Veruca Salt, etc.)
My statistics:
Book 227 for 2025
Book 2153 cumulatively
January 15, 2025
Hachette Books provided an early galley for review.
I became a fan of the Bangles music in the mid-80's. So, this new book that encapsulates their history was something which very much interested me.
Bickerdike has several music-themed books to her credit, so she clearly has the credentials to deliver here. Having strong input from three of the four mainstays (a note in the foreword indicates that Michael Steele declined to be involved with the project) gives the book a more intimate voice. Debbi and Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs (among others) paint the picture of the group's rise from the LA music scene to become world-wide superstars.
For me, I learned a lot from the various configurations of line-ups before the dust settled with the configuration that most people know. I always enjoy the behind-the-scenes details about recording, touring and video production. I liked when the author was able to touch upon the personal dynamics between the band members; everyone cannot always get along all of the time so it was good to see how the tension played out as the band was achieving fame.
Of course, one of my favorite parts was the interactions of the band and Prince, which led to the song "Manic Monday" which he wrote and the band took all the way up the charts in the late fall of 1985. These fascinating insights to the enigmatic artist come from the Bangles themselves, Prince's drummer Bobby Z and others.
All in all, this was a very in-depth look into the band. I recommend it to any fans of 80's music.
I became a fan of the Bangles music in the mid-80's. So, this new book that encapsulates their history was something which very much interested me.
Bickerdike has several music-themed books to her credit, so she clearly has the credentials to deliver here. Having strong input from three of the four mainstays (a note in the foreword indicates that Michael Steele declined to be involved with the project) gives the book a more intimate voice. Debbi and Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs (among others) paint the picture of the group's rise from the LA music scene to become world-wide superstars.
For me, I learned a lot from the various configurations of line-ups before the dust settled with the configuration that most people know. I always enjoy the behind-the-scenes details about recording, touring and video production. I liked when the author was able to touch upon the personal dynamics between the band members; everyone cannot always get along all of the time so it was good to see how the tension played out as the band was achieving fame.
Of course, one of my favorite parts was the interactions of the band and Prince, which led to the song "Manic Monday" which he wrote and the band took all the way up the charts in the late fall of 1985. These fascinating insights to the enigmatic artist come from the Bangles themselves, Prince's drummer Bobby Z and others.
All in all, this was a very in-depth look into the band. I recommend it to any fans of 80's music.
March 10, 2025
Listening to this for hours is like nails on a chalkboard. Just read this book yourself.
June 26, 2025
Not the best biography I've read, and it was a little...short? The book describes the early days of the Peterson sisters, the famous ad that Susanna Hoffs put out that drew the attention first of Annette Zilinskas and then Vikki and Debbi Peterson, and then goes on to explain how they started what would eventually become The Bangles. Later, Michael Steele would join when Annette left the band.
And then we get the tale of their three studio albums, hits, tours, and the stress that was happening behind the scenes, until that day in 1989 when the band officially dissolved.
And the last chapter talks about how they got back together a few times to play again, and then ended up recording two more albums and Annette rejoined the group when Michael left. This is why the book is too short. There's two whole albums that got created, and we get all of one chapter. Actually, not even the full chapter. It's like three pages? To talk about two entire albums. With everything that happened with these women, they managed to come back together as a group and write all of this music. Where's that story?
It was good to have this look back at one of the big groups I remember from when I was growing up, but if you're going to be titling your book Eternal Flame, maybe you should be including the things that make them eternal, like getting past everything that happened in the '80s and coming back together to make two more albums. This band made FIVE studio albums. We're missing at least 40% of the story.
And then we get the tale of their three studio albums, hits, tours, and the stress that was happening behind the scenes, until that day in 1989 when the band officially dissolved.
And the last chapter talks about how they got back together a few times to play again, and then ended up recording two more albums and Annette rejoined the group when Michael left. This is why the book is too short. There's two whole albums that got created, and we get all of one chapter. Actually, not even the full chapter. It's like three pages? To talk about two entire albums. With everything that happened with these women, they managed to come back together as a group and write all of this music. Where's that story?
It was good to have this look back at one of the big groups I remember from when I was growing up, but if you're going to be titling your book Eternal Flame, maybe you should be including the things that make them eternal, like getting past everything that happened in the '80s and coming back together to make two more albums. This band made FIVE studio albums. We're missing at least 40% of the story.
June 16, 2025
Tricky one to rate this. It very much depends upon why you are reading it. As source material for an essay this could be useful. As an intersting read it has its moments but is quite badly written and reads like a dissertation. The author has no doubt researched this well but it feels at times like a collection of quotes and i quite often lost track of who was being quoted. There's a lot of pain coming through this book, and it seemed like it would be going off message to describe any fun the Bangles may have had, certainly not without someone apologising for it. It also takes a long time to get to the Bangles actually forming and then its quite a race to them breaking up. Its a shame Michael wasnt more involved. It seems like theres some bigger story waiting to be told here.
May 16, 2025
If there was one thing I wish more people knew about the Bangles (a childhood and lifelong favorite band for me), it’s that what this band actually was and the kind of music they mostly made is very different from what people *think* this band is based on their most popular radio singles.
Fitting, I suppose, that even their authorized biography ends up titled after the song that really cemented them in 1980s mainstream pop but sounded the least like most of and the best of their work, which is pure rock and roll.
I’m grateful to Jennifer Otter Bickerdike for finally doing justice to this underrated and misunderstood band. This is a pretty complete biography, and that can be a bit of a slog for those like me who are picky about the genre and don’t love a lot of early life/purely biographical content. It’s to Bickerdike’s credit that her enthusiastic and conversational style makes these parts a lot more readable than they usually are in a biography.
To that end, the author’s thorough research and appealing writing style went a long way toward elevating this beyond a typical “about the band” bio.
If I had a gripe about this book, it’s that we get way too much behind the scenes from All Over the Place and not nearly enough for Everything. But mostly this feels very complete and both fair to and honorable toward the band. In all, a pleasant, informative read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Fitting, I suppose, that even their authorized biography ends up titled after the song that really cemented them in 1980s mainstream pop but sounded the least like most of and the best of their work, which is pure rock and roll.
I’m grateful to Jennifer Otter Bickerdike for finally doing justice to this underrated and misunderstood band. This is a pretty complete biography, and that can be a bit of a slog for those like me who are picky about the genre and don’t love a lot of early life/purely biographical content. It’s to Bickerdike’s credit that her enthusiastic and conversational style makes these parts a lot more readable than they usually are in a biography.
To that end, the author’s thorough research and appealing writing style went a long way toward elevating this beyond a typical “about the band” bio.
If I had a gripe about this book, it’s that we get way too much behind the scenes from All Over the Place and not nearly enough for Everything. But mostly this feels very complete and both fair to and honorable toward the band. In all, a pleasant, informative read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
April 19, 2025
I LOVED the group The Bangles. Their music was amazing [I went and bought their Greatest Hits CD whilst listening to this book when I realized I had NONE of their music!! ], their talent obvious [at least to me and my friends - apparently not everyone was on board or aware of their talent; sometimes professional reviewers are crueler than 13-year old mean girls, but I digress... ], and so I went into this will some previous knowledge of how the band broke up [because of how gleefully the reviewers spewed about it ], but was excited to read the whole story.
Unfortunately, after the first half of the book [which gives us a bio of each girl BEFORE the band, including the very early days/iterations of what eventually became The Bangles, and was really intersting and funny and feel-good ], the book then devolves into pettiness and the miserableness of the band members when Susannah Hoffs was signaled out by the media and their own management [who seemed to THRIVE on causing chaos in the group between the women, which was NOT Susannah's fault, AND is something she STILL speaks out against; in her mind, they were *AND* are A BAND ], as well as song-writers [I was today's year old when I read about Prince, with Appalonia, writing the song "Manic Monday" for the group!! ], and how they never seemed to see what a struggle it was for Susannah as well as themselves.
The sisters [Debbi and Vicki; the 4th band member, Michael Steele chose to not be a part of this biography, and when they reunited for two later albums and several concerts, previous bass players joined the group when Ms. Steele chose not to ] were *AND* are particularly resentful [this was shown over and over again in this book; hardly a page goes by without one or both of them talking about how miserable they were *AND* clearly they still are, as you can tell that they are not just speaking about the past when referring to Susannah ], and after awhile, the constant resentment and mindless repetition of it [amongst other things; the editing of this book could have been better IMO ], I was drained, frustrated, and honestly, glad I loved the band before this, because the crappy attitudes would have had me running away from them, in SPITE of the excellent music they produced. I have no idea how Ms. Hoffs stayed as long as she did; the raging resentment must have been completely draining.
Overall, this was pretty disappointing; perhaps with better editing, writing that wasn't so clearly skewed in Debbi and Vicki's favor [the author clearly favors them and it shows in the writing, especially when we get to the miserable and resentful parts ] , it might have been a more enjoyable read. For a book I was seriously excited about, I am left very disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Hachette Books/De Capo for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, after the first half of the book [which gives us a bio of each girl BEFORE the band, including the very early days/iterations of what eventually became The Bangles, and was really intersting and funny and feel-good ], the book then devolves into pettiness and the miserableness of the band members when Susannah Hoffs was signaled out by the media and their own management [who seemed to THRIVE on causing chaos in the group between the women, which was NOT Susannah's fault, AND is something she STILL speaks out against; in her mind, they were *AND* are A BAND ], as well as song-writers [I was today's year old when I read about Prince, with Appalonia, writing the song "Manic Monday" for the group!! ], and how they never seemed to see what a struggle it was for Susannah as well as themselves.
The sisters [Debbi and Vicki; the 4th band member, Michael Steele chose to not be a part of this biography, and when they reunited for two later albums and several concerts, previous bass players joined the group when Ms. Steele chose not to ] were *AND* are particularly resentful [this was shown over and over again in this book; hardly a page goes by without one or both of them talking about how miserable they were *AND* clearly they still are, as you can tell that they are not just speaking about the past when referring to Susannah ], and after awhile, the constant resentment and mindless repetition of it [amongst other things; the editing of this book could have been better IMO ], I was drained, frustrated, and honestly, glad I loved the band before this, because the crappy attitudes would have had me running away from them, in SPITE of the excellent music they produced. I have no idea how Ms. Hoffs stayed as long as she did; the raging resentment must have been completely draining.
Overall, this was pretty disappointing; perhaps with better editing, writing that wasn't so clearly skewed in Debbi and Vicki's favor [the author clearly favors them and it shows in the writing, especially when we get to the miserable and resentful parts ] , it might have been a more enjoyable read. For a book I was seriously excited about, I am left very disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Hachette Books/De Capo for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2025
Huge fan of The Bangles and I always felt they were the most misunderstood band… ever. This book… it felt very top heavy … and then rushed and confused at the end. Mostly rewriting and quoting the last quarter of the VH1: Behind the Music episode. And the regrouping of the band and their last two albums…boiled down to a paragraph! It felt sloppy in the end and was really disappointing. Even the title of the book… Eternal Flame? I mean… really?! They might as well have called it “Walk like an Egyptian” (by the way - I am a fan of both songs - but this was simply a lazy title for this book. Seriously.)
Lopsided story telling that completely fell apart into an “abridged” version in the end.
Did the grant money run out? Seriously.
I’d love to read a bio written by the band members.
Much respect to the Bangles. Their artistry and music, particularly the “Sweetheart of the Sun” album, is powerful, impeccable and undeniably shines with a love for music when they are doing what they do best: Making sounds for the sheer joy of of it. And you can hear it when they are at their best. Sadly - I return to the same thought I always return to with The Bangles and it frustrates the hell out of me as someone who respects them as musicians: They simply deserved better.
Lopsided story telling that completely fell apart into an “abridged” version in the end.
Did the grant money run out? Seriously.
I’d love to read a bio written by the band members.
Much respect to the Bangles. Their artistry and music, particularly the “Sweetheart of the Sun” album, is powerful, impeccable and undeniably shines with a love for music when they are doing what they do best: Making sounds for the sheer joy of of it. And you can hear it when they are at their best. Sadly - I return to the same thought I always return to with The Bangles and it frustrates the hell out of me as someone who respects them as musicians: They simply deserved better.
April 4, 2025
You think you know the Bangles?
After finishing this book you'll see how wrong you were! Maybe not but Bickerdike does a great job of creating a full and fair picture of each of the Bangles, humanizing a band that at times seemed distant, aloof, or enigmatic, all words used to describe them at one point or another. It's also the first I've read of Debby Peterson's struggles as a singing drummer, which is an often thankless role that I played in my band. Great read.
After finishing this book you'll see how wrong you were! Maybe not but Bickerdike does a great job of creating a full and fair picture of each of the Bangles, humanizing a band that at times seemed distant, aloof, or enigmatic, all words used to describe them at one point or another. It's also the first I've read of Debby Peterson's struggles as a singing drummer, which is an often thankless role that I played in my band. Great read.
January 26, 2025
Today is Sunday. When you think about the next day on your calendar, does a specific tune pop into your head? If you're like me, it's probably "Manic Monday." This and a handful of other memorable and fun songs made the Bangles a hit in the 1980s. In Eternal Flame by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, you'll find out how the Bangles, previously known as the Bangs, came together to form a short-lived but spirited rock band.
Some wouldn't classify the Bangles as a rock band, but once you read the story, you may beg to differ. They started out as a garage band by sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, influenced by punk and alternative bands, but most significantly, by the Beatles. Once they met Susanna Hoffs who also held the Beatles in high esteem, they were on their way toward something great. Vicki and Sue wrote songs together and determined that they had the same goal in mind. Once they got going, though, they were pigeonholed as a knock-off of the Go-Gos yet they actually wrote more songs and had more musical prowess.
That fight for relevance defined them until they charted hits like Manic Monday and Walk Like an Egyptian. You would have thought that those achieved goals would make them happy and show the naysayers that they were for real. Unfortunately, their massive hits weren't written by the Bangles for the most part, including the Prince-penned Manic Monday, even though they wrote and recorded many of their own creations. With misogyny and the corporate machine in charge, they barely had a chance, and they weren't even allowed to play their own instruments for the Different Light album. Plus, they continued to receive comparisons to the Go-Gos who weren't really similar at all to what the Bangles were producing and had left the music scene in the mid-1980s.
Things worsened when Sue was the focus of all the attention. Jealousy didn't necessarily break them up but changing goals for the band and said jealousy caused many rifts between the sisters and Sue and Michael Steele who played bass for them after their original bass player chose a quieter life. To me, it seemed like the sisters were blindsided, which stopped their momentum. Although they reunited for the first Austin Powers movie, it was never the same.
I really loved the enthusiasm the author had for the band and how she uncovered that these women were a force in rock. I gained more respect for them, especially Vicki and Debbi. I don't necessarily blame Susanna Hoffs for bowing to stardom and her own career. It didn't seem like she did it intentionally, but it must have been flattering and a dream come true to know that you're reaching the masses. Plus, she does stand out when you watch the videos and any concert footage--she knew how to work the camera. However, from Sue's account, it made her physically ill and gave her incredible amounts of stress. The women couldn't outwardly complain because who would feel sorry for this incredibly successful band.
While I enjoyed this book, I would have loved finding out what they ended up doing once the band broke up as well as about their personal lives. In the book, you do get an account of Debbi's marriage to one of their sound guys in England. It does figure into the break-up because Sue and Micki, as Michael Steele was known to them, failed to attend, citing physical and mental health issues. Plus, even though you get the straight dope from Vicki, Sue, and Debbi, Micki did not participate. Her background sounded intriguing, and I would have been interested (nosy?) to read why she appeared so aloof and dark.
If you're a fan of 1980s music, particularly songs from the Bangles, this book brings you back to the early 1980s through the late 1980s. I loved taking that ride and hearing what these talented ladies had to say.
Thank you, Hachette Books | Da Capo, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
Some wouldn't classify the Bangles as a rock band, but once you read the story, you may beg to differ. They started out as a garage band by sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, influenced by punk and alternative bands, but most significantly, by the Beatles. Once they met Susanna Hoffs who also held the Beatles in high esteem, they were on their way toward something great. Vicki and Sue wrote songs together and determined that they had the same goal in mind. Once they got going, though, they were pigeonholed as a knock-off of the Go-Gos yet they actually wrote more songs and had more musical prowess.
That fight for relevance defined them until they charted hits like Manic Monday and Walk Like an Egyptian. You would have thought that those achieved goals would make them happy and show the naysayers that they were for real. Unfortunately, their massive hits weren't written by the Bangles for the most part, including the Prince-penned Manic Monday, even though they wrote and recorded many of their own creations. With misogyny and the corporate machine in charge, they barely had a chance, and they weren't even allowed to play their own instruments for the Different Light album. Plus, they continued to receive comparisons to the Go-Gos who weren't really similar at all to what the Bangles were producing and had left the music scene in the mid-1980s.
Things worsened when Sue was the focus of all the attention. Jealousy didn't necessarily break them up but changing goals for the band and said jealousy caused many rifts between the sisters and Sue and Michael Steele who played bass for them after their original bass player chose a quieter life. To me, it seemed like the sisters were blindsided, which stopped their momentum. Although they reunited for the first Austin Powers movie, it was never the same.
I really loved the enthusiasm the author had for the band and how she uncovered that these women were a force in rock. I gained more respect for them, especially Vicki and Debbi. I don't necessarily blame Susanna Hoffs for bowing to stardom and her own career. It didn't seem like she did it intentionally, but it must have been flattering and a dream come true to know that you're reaching the masses. Plus, she does stand out when you watch the videos and any concert footage--she knew how to work the camera. However, from Sue's account, it made her physically ill and gave her incredible amounts of stress. The women couldn't outwardly complain because who would feel sorry for this incredibly successful band.
While I enjoyed this book, I would have loved finding out what they ended up doing once the band broke up as well as about their personal lives. In the book, you do get an account of Debbi's marriage to one of their sound guys in England. It does figure into the break-up because Sue and Micki, as Michael Steele was known to them, failed to attend, citing physical and mental health issues. Plus, even though you get the straight dope from Vicki, Sue, and Debbi, Micki did not participate. Her background sounded intriguing, and I would have been interested (nosy?) to read why she appeared so aloof and dark.
If you're a fan of 1980s music, particularly songs from the Bangles, this book brings you back to the early 1980s through the late 1980s. I loved taking that ride and hearing what these talented ladies had to say.
Thank you, Hachette Books | Da Capo, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
March 4, 2025
If you've ever wondered how much truth there was to the rumors surrounding the end of The Bangles, this is the book for you.
It needed a strong editor. There's so much repetition, including just a few paragraphs away. What's the point of having eight people say the exact same thing about a situation with virtually the same words?!
The band got an unfair shake from the media. Music journalists came to them with an assumption that they couldn't play their instruments or write songs - neither of which was true. They were saddled with a mysogynistic producer for two albums. And they made some bad decisions regarding management late in the game. But ultimately, this was an implosion over jealousy. I mean, imagine, the beautiful lead singer of the hit songs got more attention than the others - what a shocker!! One of the members refused to take part in this official biography but it still seems thorough without her.
It needed a strong editor. There's so much repetition, including just a few paragraphs away. What's the point of having eight people say the exact same thing about a situation with virtually the same words?!
The band got an unfair shake from the media. Music journalists came to them with an assumption that they couldn't play their instruments or write songs - neither of which was true. They were saddled with a mysogynistic producer for two albums. And they made some bad decisions regarding management late in the game. But ultimately, this was an implosion over jealousy. I mean, imagine, the beautiful lead singer of the hit songs got more attention than the others - what a shocker!! One of the members refused to take part in this official biography but it still seems thorough without her.
August 21, 2025
This might be the worst audio book ever. The author’s reading was peppered with mispronunciations and bad accents. The story had some wild transitions too.
I love The Bangles. They deserve better.
I love The Bangles. They deserve better.
January 12, 2025
An advanced review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a non biased review.
Introduction
"Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles" by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a comprehensive dive into the life and times of one of the most iconic all-female bands of the 1980s. Bickerdike, a well-known cultural historian with a penchant for music history, particularly in rock 'n' roll, brings her expertise to this detailed narrative. This book not only chronicles the journey of The Bangles from their inception in the vibrant Los Angeles music scene to their global stardom but also delves into the personal stories behind the band members, their struggles, and triumphs.
Summary
The book follows The Bangles from their first meeting in 1981, highlighting their ambition and focus which led to massive hits like “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like an Egyptian.” It discusses their ascent to fame, the dynamics within the band, the influence of MTV, and how they navigated the male-dominated music industry of the era. "Eternal Flame" also covers the band's split in the late 1980s due to internal tensions, artistic differences, and the pressures of fame. Bickerdike uses exclusive interviews and insights from founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson to offer an authentic portrayal of their journey.
Key Quotes from the Book
On their Beginnings:
"From their first meeting in 1981, the Bangles were ambitious, focused, and intentional; their hard-work and determination resulted in millions of records sold across the globe..." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 1).
On the Impact of Fame:
"They seemed unstoppable—until tensions within the band, artistic differences, and the pressures of sudden celebrity tore them apart less than a decade later." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 150).
On the Music Industry's Gender Dynamics:
"Certainly in the eighties, we were women making it in a man's world. I think that needs to be celebrated." (Debbi Peterson, as quoted by Bickerdike, 2025, p. 200).
The Role of MTV:
"The dawn of MTV was pivotal, offering them a platform unlike any before, showcasing their music and style to a global audience." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 104).
On Legacy and Influence:
"Dynamic, daring, and deliciously entertaining from start to finish, ETERNAL FLAME is a tribute to one of the greatest pop bands of the 20th century—and a long-overdue corrective that restores The Bangles to their rightful place in music history as feminist trailblazers." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 350).
Conclusion
Jennifer Otter Bickerdike's "Eternal Flame" is not just a biography but a homage to The Bangles' enduring legacy. It provides a nuanced look at the band's journey, their cultural impact, and the challenges they faced as women in music. Bickerdike's narrative is engaging, filled with personal anecdotes, and enriched by direct access to the band members' stories. This book is essential for fans of The Bangles or anyone interested in the history of music, particularly in understanding the complexities of fame and the music industry from a feminist perspective.
Detailed Ratings Breakdown
Content: 5/5 - The depth of research and personal insights from band members make this an invaluable resource for understanding The Bangles' story.
Writing Style: 4/5 - Bickerdike's style is both academic and engaging, though at times the narrative could be more concise.
Historical Accuracy: 5/5 - With authorized access, the book is a reliable source of The Bangles' history from their own perspective.
Entertainment Value: 4/5 - Engaging for fans, though the detailed recounting of events might be dense for those less invested in the subject.
Cultural Impact: 5/5 - Successfully places The Bangles in the broader context of music history, emphasizing their role as trailblazers.
Overall: 4.6/5 - A highly recommended read for its comprehensive coverage and insightful commentary on an influential band's journey.
This review encapsulates "Eternal Flame" as not only a biography but a significant cultural document, celebrating The Bangles' contribution to music and highlighting the often untold stories of women in rock.
Introduction
"Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles" by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a comprehensive dive into the life and times of one of the most iconic all-female bands of the 1980s. Bickerdike, a well-known cultural historian with a penchant for music history, particularly in rock 'n' roll, brings her expertise to this detailed narrative. This book not only chronicles the journey of The Bangles from their inception in the vibrant Los Angeles music scene to their global stardom but also delves into the personal stories behind the band members, their struggles, and triumphs.
Summary
The book follows The Bangles from their first meeting in 1981, highlighting their ambition and focus which led to massive hits like “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like an Egyptian.” It discusses their ascent to fame, the dynamics within the band, the influence of MTV, and how they navigated the male-dominated music industry of the era. "Eternal Flame" also covers the band's split in the late 1980s due to internal tensions, artistic differences, and the pressures of fame. Bickerdike uses exclusive interviews and insights from founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson to offer an authentic portrayal of their journey.
Key Quotes from the Book
On their Beginnings:
"From their first meeting in 1981, the Bangles were ambitious, focused, and intentional; their hard-work and determination resulted in millions of records sold across the globe..." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 1).
On the Impact of Fame:
"They seemed unstoppable—until tensions within the band, artistic differences, and the pressures of sudden celebrity tore them apart less than a decade later." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 150).
On the Music Industry's Gender Dynamics:
"Certainly in the eighties, we were women making it in a man's world. I think that needs to be celebrated." (Debbi Peterson, as quoted by Bickerdike, 2025, p. 200).
The Role of MTV:
"The dawn of MTV was pivotal, offering them a platform unlike any before, showcasing their music and style to a global audience." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 104).
On Legacy and Influence:
"Dynamic, daring, and deliciously entertaining from start to finish, ETERNAL FLAME is a tribute to one of the greatest pop bands of the 20th century—and a long-overdue corrective that restores The Bangles to their rightful place in music history as feminist trailblazers." (Bickerdike, 2025, p. 350).
Conclusion
Jennifer Otter Bickerdike's "Eternal Flame" is not just a biography but a homage to The Bangles' enduring legacy. It provides a nuanced look at the band's journey, their cultural impact, and the challenges they faced as women in music. Bickerdike's narrative is engaging, filled with personal anecdotes, and enriched by direct access to the band members' stories. This book is essential for fans of The Bangles or anyone interested in the history of music, particularly in understanding the complexities of fame and the music industry from a feminist perspective.
Detailed Ratings Breakdown
Content: 5/5 - The depth of research and personal insights from band members make this an invaluable resource for understanding The Bangles' story.
Writing Style: 4/5 - Bickerdike's style is both academic and engaging, though at times the narrative could be more concise.
Historical Accuracy: 5/5 - With authorized access, the book is a reliable source of The Bangles' history from their own perspective.
Entertainment Value: 4/5 - Engaging for fans, though the detailed recounting of events might be dense for those less invested in the subject.
Cultural Impact: 5/5 - Successfully places The Bangles in the broader context of music history, emphasizing their role as trailblazers.
Overall: 4.6/5 - A highly recommended read for its comprehensive coverage and insightful commentary on an influential band's journey.
This review encapsulates "Eternal Flame" as not only a biography but a significant cultural document, celebrating The Bangles' contribution to music and highlighting the often untold stories of women in rock.
November 27, 2025
Eternal Flame was written with the cooperation of three of the four members of the all-female band The Bangles. They were a rock band at a time when the music industry basically didn’t know how to market female acts, especially those who were actually capable musicians. I have read interviews with Deborah Iyall, who was the lead singer of Romeo Void, that despite the obvious talent in that band, the record company didn’t know how to market them since she wasn’t exactly the “sexy lead singer” type. While the women who made up The Bangles didn’t have the same issues Iyall did, they still ran into a brick wall when it came to being judged based on their talent and not their looks.
The Bangles were the last in a string of bands that featured sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson. Even before her younger sister had graduated from high school, Vicki had the idea of being in a rock band together. Although it wasn’t her instrument, Debbi was the drummer while Vicki was the guitarist. They often practiced in the Peterson home and gigged in Los Angeles at a time when it had a burgeoning music scene. Other members came and went as life happened to them, with the two sisters making up the core of the band.
Susannah Hoffs joined and was immediately comfortable with the sisters. The Petersons were a middle-class California family, while Hoffs’ parents were well-off. They moved in different worlds but got along very well in the beginning. Susannah had the same drive that Vicki did and had connections that also helped them out. The focus for them was harmonizing like The Beatles had done, and the idea was that the band was four equal parts. Michael Steele, formerly of the band The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita Ford, joined them right when they got a record deal with Columbia.
Eternal Flame tells their story quite well. Everything seemed to be a battle for them, especially getting the recognition they deserved as musicians. They were naive in some ways and got pushed around by the record company and their first producer. It’s a story I’ve heard from many of those involved in music in the 1980s, with songs being recorded with an eye towards sales rather than the art itself. The first producer they worked with, David Kahne, was really hard on them and would bring in session musicians rather than work with the women. It wasn’t until they broke away from him that they felt better about the material they were recording, but by then, the damage had been done to the relationship between the four women.
The three who cooperated with author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike are honest in their versions of what happened. They don’t seem to harbor any resentment, except for the producer and those at the record company who seemed to have a different vision than that of the band. There’s a lot of resentment where the band saw themselves as equals and fought against a push to make Susannah the leader of the band. The music press also treated them as if they were vapid, asking silly questions during interviews they never would have asked of an all-male band.
Their stories here are all told, including how Prince gave them the song Manic Monday which was what catapulted them to fame. If you’re in any way acquainted with the music industry in the 1980s, what they went through will come as no big surprise. The story flows quite well without descending into nastiness. Some of what is expressed likely would have gone a long way toward keeping them together. The band broke apart in 1989 and didn’t record again until the early 2000s. If they’d been able to have an open dialogue, as they were all going through the problems with the producer and record company, they might have managed to keep it together. Instead, there was a lot of miscommunication and hurt feelings.
If you were a fan of the band, you’ll like Eternal Flame a lot. Even if you weren’t, there’s a lot of information here on what the music scene was like back then, especially for women. The Bangles were one of the bands that kicked the door open for the Taylor Swifts of today.
The Bangles were the last in a string of bands that featured sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson. Even before her younger sister had graduated from high school, Vicki had the idea of being in a rock band together. Although it wasn’t her instrument, Debbi was the drummer while Vicki was the guitarist. They often practiced in the Peterson home and gigged in Los Angeles at a time when it had a burgeoning music scene. Other members came and went as life happened to them, with the two sisters making up the core of the band.
Susannah Hoffs joined and was immediately comfortable with the sisters. The Petersons were a middle-class California family, while Hoffs’ parents were well-off. They moved in different worlds but got along very well in the beginning. Susannah had the same drive that Vicki did and had connections that also helped them out. The focus for them was harmonizing like The Beatles had done, and the idea was that the band was four equal parts. Michael Steele, formerly of the band The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita Ford, joined them right when they got a record deal with Columbia.
Eternal Flame tells their story quite well. Everything seemed to be a battle for them, especially getting the recognition they deserved as musicians. They were naive in some ways and got pushed around by the record company and their first producer. It’s a story I’ve heard from many of those involved in music in the 1980s, with songs being recorded with an eye towards sales rather than the art itself. The first producer they worked with, David Kahne, was really hard on them and would bring in session musicians rather than work with the women. It wasn’t until they broke away from him that they felt better about the material they were recording, but by then, the damage had been done to the relationship between the four women.
The three who cooperated with author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike are honest in their versions of what happened. They don’t seem to harbor any resentment, except for the producer and those at the record company who seemed to have a different vision than that of the band. There’s a lot of resentment where the band saw themselves as equals and fought against a push to make Susannah the leader of the band. The music press also treated them as if they were vapid, asking silly questions during interviews they never would have asked of an all-male band.
Their stories here are all told, including how Prince gave them the song Manic Monday which was what catapulted them to fame. If you’re in any way acquainted with the music industry in the 1980s, what they went through will come as no big surprise. The story flows quite well without descending into nastiness. Some of what is expressed likely would have gone a long way toward keeping them together. The band broke apart in 1989 and didn’t record again until the early 2000s. If they’d been able to have an open dialogue, as they were all going through the problems with the producer and record company, they might have managed to keep it together. Instead, there was a lot of miscommunication and hurt feelings.
If you were a fan of the band, you’ll like Eternal Flame a lot. Even if you weren’t, there’s a lot of information here on what the music scene was like back then, especially for women. The Bangles were one of the bands that kicked the door open for the Taylor Swifts of today.
July 4, 2025
This authorized biography of the iconic 1980s band The Bangles spilled a lot of beans. Reading about all the troubles these talented women experienced in the music business was shattering, disheartening and infuriating. Unbelievable that people thought they didn’t play their instruments and write their own songs. And how unacceptable and unfair that the male dominated recording industry refashioned their sound, molding it however way they wanted. All this disrespectful treatment caused these women anxiety, self-doubt, sadness and depression. Reading this book turned out to be a jarring, unnerving, tortuous, and depressing experience. It angered me reading about the horrible, misogynistic ways they were treated by the music industry and rock journalists, even female ones. I had no idea. How these women persevered to keep it all together and going is miraculous.
What was startling to learn is that as the band rose to stardom, their creative input was snatched from them by the male recording executives. Even the decision what songs to record were in the hands of the record company. The most heinous thing was record producer David Kahne bringing in other musicians into the recording sessions. An outside drummer replaced the band’s drummer Debbi on song that became a huge hit. How demoralizing for these female artists. Imagine the Beatles being barred from channeling their creativity. I now wonder whether The Bangles songs I love were truly their sound or created by their male record producers.
Author Bickerdike combines interviews and quotations from various publications all cited in the back. She interviewed Susanna Hoffs and the Peterson sisters Debbi and Vicki, yet not bassist Michael Steele, who left the group and disappeared permanently after “Doll Revolution”. Former bandmates, managers, band staff, and family members were also interviewed.
What resulted is a hodgepodge of different information and stories, often contradicting. One person says one thing, another says something else. The band members have different recollections of events and sometimes none at all. Sometimes I felt the book focused more on what others said, not enough of The Bangles’ viewpoint. I wanted more info about their music and creative process, which this book did not fulfill. What was frustrating too was author Bickerdike repeated the same things ad nauseam over and over, sprinkling them in different parts of the book. I felt as if I were running in circles.
Despite all this, I have a better understanding how misogynistic the music recording industry was at the time, how The Bangles became disenchanted, and why the group broke up by the late 1980s. There wasn’t any info, however, what brought them back together in the early 2000s, and there was no mention at all whatsoever why Steele left the group for good. The reader has no final word from elusive bassist, only what was published in the past.
The Bangles have been my music heroes since 1987 when I fell in love with their music listening to a friend’s “Different Light” cassette while living abroad so looked forward to reading this book. I didn’t have a chance to hear them live in concert during their heyday. I finally saw them perform during their “Doll Revolution” tour in 2003 and got my heroes to autograph my CD at a Virgin Record Store event. Little did I know what all happened in their earlier days which this book revealed to me now. I have the greatest sympathy for them now for all the hell they went through. I would have liked the author to have celebrated their musical talents instead.
The Bangles paid a huge price just wanting to do what they loved doing --- play music. I admire how they survived it all. I’d sure love to know if it all was worth it. And I wonder if female music artists are treated any better and given more musical freedom today by the music industry. Or is it more misogynistic than the 1980s.
What was startling to learn is that as the band rose to stardom, their creative input was snatched from them by the male recording executives. Even the decision what songs to record were in the hands of the record company. The most heinous thing was record producer David Kahne bringing in other musicians into the recording sessions. An outside drummer replaced the band’s drummer Debbi on song that became a huge hit. How demoralizing for these female artists. Imagine the Beatles being barred from channeling their creativity. I now wonder whether The Bangles songs I love were truly their sound or created by their male record producers.
Author Bickerdike combines interviews and quotations from various publications all cited in the back. She interviewed Susanna Hoffs and the Peterson sisters Debbi and Vicki, yet not bassist Michael Steele, who left the group and disappeared permanently after “Doll Revolution”. Former bandmates, managers, band staff, and family members were also interviewed.
What resulted is a hodgepodge of different information and stories, often contradicting. One person says one thing, another says something else. The band members have different recollections of events and sometimes none at all. Sometimes I felt the book focused more on what others said, not enough of The Bangles’ viewpoint. I wanted more info about their music and creative process, which this book did not fulfill. What was frustrating too was author Bickerdike repeated the same things ad nauseam over and over, sprinkling them in different parts of the book. I felt as if I were running in circles.
Despite all this, I have a better understanding how misogynistic the music recording industry was at the time, how The Bangles became disenchanted, and why the group broke up by the late 1980s. There wasn’t any info, however, what brought them back together in the early 2000s, and there was no mention at all whatsoever why Steele left the group for good. The reader has no final word from elusive bassist, only what was published in the past.
The Bangles have been my music heroes since 1987 when I fell in love with their music listening to a friend’s “Different Light” cassette while living abroad so looked forward to reading this book. I didn’t have a chance to hear them live in concert during their heyday. I finally saw them perform during their “Doll Revolution” tour in 2003 and got my heroes to autograph my CD at a Virgin Record Store event. Little did I know what all happened in their earlier days which this book revealed to me now. I have the greatest sympathy for them now for all the hell they went through. I would have liked the author to have celebrated their musical talents instead.
The Bangles paid a huge price just wanting to do what they loved doing --- play music. I admire how they survived it all. I’d sure love to know if it all was worth it. And I wonder if female music artists are treated any better and given more musical freedom today by the music industry. Or is it more misogynistic than the 1980s.
January 24, 2025
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Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was a tween and teenager when The Bangles hit it big, and I was obsessed with them! They were such positive role models for kids like me, a music group that had catchy, pop tunes, as well as some real rock ‘n roll Moxey. I was thrilled to get this ARC and dived right in.
Michael Steele declined to be involved with the project, which is too bad, because she was my favorite, but Debbi and Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs, as well as many others in the group’s orbit, provide details of the band’s formation, ascension, and ultimate breakup.
This very thorough and intimate look at the band and its germination, hard fought battles for gigs, changing lineup of members, and the slow road to success are covered in detail. I really appreciated this, as when I was a kid, I only read the fan magazines. I’m glad of that, though, because the author shares some really heinous, misogynistic quotes from articles covering the ladies at the time. Really sexist stuff. Constant comparisons to the Go-Go’s, who were a great group, but the pitting of women against women is ridiculous. Two “girl groups” could, and can, occupy the same space at the same time. I didn’t realize at the time, but the band was frequently accused of not playing their own instruments, much like another favorite of mine, The Monkees, and no number of live performances could shut down the naysayers.
The stories of what the record label and management would ask them to do, especially the styling of the ladies, is really frustrating. They were very much a “thrift store” chic that I admired, yet, there were constant pressures for tighter clothes, shorter skirts, bigger hair, tons of makeup, etc. Looking back on it all now, the women said they put up with it because they didn’t want to make waves with the label, and they should have fought for more stylistic control.
Speaking of control, some real knot head sexist producers help make their records. The experiences the band had making their classic album Different Light are upsetting to read about, because they were really psychologically messed with during the whole process, and it soured them on the process of creating great music. However, they asserted their control for their next album and had much creative success.
The struggles the band went through as they gained exposure and success makes me admire the band even more. Each band member dealt with it differently, and those thoughts are shared by the band members. While Michael did not participate in the creation of this book, her thoughts are relayed in various interviews she’s given through the years. Vicki, Debbi, and Susanna provide a lot of stories that weave the tales of the band.
The genesis of some of the band’s greatest hits, including Walk Like and Egyptian, Eternal Flame, Hazy Shade of Winter, and Prince’s Manic Monday, are all explored. In fact, the Prince stories really stand out. He was an early backer of the band and would frequently pop up when the ladies were performing and ask to come onstage with them. The ladies, to this day, have no idea why Prince took a shine to them, although they are appreciative.
All in all, this a great official biography of one of my favorite bands during a formative time of my life. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was a tween and teenager when The Bangles hit it big, and I was obsessed with them! They were such positive role models for kids like me, a music group that had catchy, pop tunes, as well as some real rock ‘n roll Moxey. I was thrilled to get this ARC and dived right in.
Michael Steele declined to be involved with the project, which is too bad, because she was my favorite, but Debbi and Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs, as well as many others in the group’s orbit, provide details of the band’s formation, ascension, and ultimate breakup.
This very thorough and intimate look at the band and its germination, hard fought battles for gigs, changing lineup of members, and the slow road to success are covered in detail. I really appreciated this, as when I was a kid, I only read the fan magazines. I’m glad of that, though, because the author shares some really heinous, misogynistic quotes from articles covering the ladies at the time. Really sexist stuff. Constant comparisons to the Go-Go’s, who were a great group, but the pitting of women against women is ridiculous. Two “girl groups” could, and can, occupy the same space at the same time. I didn’t realize at the time, but the band was frequently accused of not playing their own instruments, much like another favorite of mine, The Monkees, and no number of live performances could shut down the naysayers.
The stories of what the record label and management would ask them to do, especially the styling of the ladies, is really frustrating. They were very much a “thrift store” chic that I admired, yet, there were constant pressures for tighter clothes, shorter skirts, bigger hair, tons of makeup, etc. Looking back on it all now, the women said they put up with it because they didn’t want to make waves with the label, and they should have fought for more stylistic control.
Speaking of control, some real knot head sexist producers help make their records. The experiences the band had making their classic album Different Light are upsetting to read about, because they were really psychologically messed with during the whole process, and it soured them on the process of creating great music. However, they asserted their control for their next album and had much creative success.
The struggles the band went through as they gained exposure and success makes me admire the band even more. Each band member dealt with it differently, and those thoughts are shared by the band members. While Michael did not participate in the creation of this book, her thoughts are relayed in various interviews she’s given through the years. Vicki, Debbi, and Susanna provide a lot of stories that weave the tales of the band.
The genesis of some of the band’s greatest hits, including Walk Like and Egyptian, Eternal Flame, Hazy Shade of Winter, and Prince’s Manic Monday, are all explored. In fact, the Prince stories really stand out. He was an early backer of the band and would frequently pop up when the ladies were performing and ask to come onstage with them. The ladies, to this day, have no idea why Prince took a shine to them, although they are appreciative.
All in all, this a great official biography of one of my favorite bands during a formative time of my life. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read
June 22, 2025It is always entertaining to read how certain musical groups achieved their beginnings. One has to start somewhere, and somehow the path to fame and glory is not a straight line from beginning to end. In the book ETERNAL FLAME THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF THE BANGLES, we discover how this all-girl band went to from obscurity to fame. You could say it began with sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson who were interested in music from the get-go. Getting their first musical instruments when younger, their passion for creating a band never wavered. It wasn’t long before Susanna Hoffs and Michael Steele were the musical foursome and they had gone where no all-female bands had gone.
It should be noted that for the book, Debbi, Vicki, and Susanna were more than willing to add their experiences in the band, to the writing of the book. Only Michael begged off from adding anything of note. Before they were officially a foursome Debbi, Vicki, and another friend Amanda, watched the 60’s and 70’s band the Cowsills perform. They acted as mentors and teachers when the girls were first thinking of forming some sort of band.
It was not a easy road to making music professionally, as at the time female bands were as scarce as snow in July. There was at the same time the emergence of another girl band the Go-Go’s, which offered a different sort of musical style. But the foursome persisted, and it was not long before they were noticed as more than mere novelty act.
The author traces their history from a garage band to an important part of the musical landscape. Buoyed by hits like Walk Like An Egyptian, Eternal Flame, and the Prince-written classic Manic Monday, they definitely made their mark on the music world. One of their massive claims to fame was also the fact they were the only female band to sing and play their own instruments on five Top 10 Billboard hit singles. At one time they were known as the Bangs, which stayed in place until they added to the name and became the Bangles. They caught on in the music world with stars like Cyndi Lauper loving the band, and taking them on tour with her. Prince even came on stage during their performances, no secret he loved the band too, and as mentioned, wrote one of their best selling tunes.
The book talks of the highs and low of their career, the disagreements and ultimate break-up in 1989. They did reunite in 1998 to record one song for the Austin Powers movie. They did play again as a band and officially called it quits in 2019. Still, there is no question they offered a solid sound and great hits, knocking 80’s pop on its ears with a unique look and sound. They were much more than a mere novelty act, rather an important part of the music landscape.
It should be noted that for the book, Debbi, Vicki, and Susanna were more than willing to add their experiences in the band, to the writing of the book. Only Michael begged off from adding anything of note. Before they were officially a foursome Debbi, Vicki, and another friend Amanda, watched the 60’s and 70’s band the Cowsills perform. They acted as mentors and teachers when the girls were first thinking of forming some sort of band.
It was not a easy road to making music professionally, as at the time female bands were as scarce as snow in July. There was at the same time the emergence of another girl band the Go-Go’s, which offered a different sort of musical style. But the foursome persisted, and it was not long before they were noticed as more than mere novelty act.
The author traces their history from a garage band to an important part of the musical landscape. Buoyed by hits like Walk Like An Egyptian, Eternal Flame, and the Prince-written classic Manic Monday, they definitely made their mark on the music world. One of their massive claims to fame was also the fact they were the only female band to sing and play their own instruments on five Top 10 Billboard hit singles. At one time they were known as the Bangs, which stayed in place until they added to the name and became the Bangles. They caught on in the music world with stars like Cyndi Lauper loving the band, and taking them on tour with her. Prince even came on stage during their performances, no secret he loved the band too, and as mentioned, wrote one of their best selling tunes.
The book talks of the highs and low of their career, the disagreements and ultimate break-up in 1989. They did reunite in 1998 to record one song for the Austin Powers movie. They did play again as a band and officially called it quits in 2019. Still, there is no question they offered a solid sound and great hits, knocking 80’s pop on its ears with a unique look and sound. They were much more than a mere novelty act, rather an important part of the music landscape.
September 2, 2025
“The ultimate dream is that your music finds its way to someone who will go on to love that song.”
For decades, female musicians have had a raw deal. Opportunities are limited, they are paid less, are often promoted with sexuality rather than music at the forefront, and are under-represented in the industry. The Bangles were no strangers to these experiences, yet they were a hard working group of musicians who played their own instruments, and had to fight to record the music they wanted to make. Sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, and Susannah Hoffs contributed to this biography by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike in very honest and open way. Michael (Micki) Steele chose to not be a part of the development of the biography.
Musically they were right to feel the way they did: having to work with a music producer that didn't believe in them and their talent, as well as trying make a mark for themselves as musicians in a very patriarchal industry was draining for them all. They were criticised if they didn't note other female bands as an influence, and equally if they align themselves with female bands they limited themselves in the industry: “I felt like how dare I come out and compare ourselves in any way, shape, or form to the [all male bands].” They don’t seem to harbor any resentment, except for the producer and those at the record company who seemed to have a different vision than that of the band. I was equally drained from all of the despondency they were experiencing while reading. The press and music industry added to this stress by proclaiming Hoffs as the lead singer and band leader, and always asking questions of them that male bands would never be asked, such as whether they were jealous of each other, and calling them bimbos. This was explored in the interviews with the band members as well, but in some cases the author wasn’t really explore the feelings and emotions of the band, rather matching numerous quotes and interviews together to justify an event or incident in their collective history.
I feel that their later years and their last album were glossed over a lot (I was hoping for a mention of The Bangles in one of the earlier seasons of Gilmore Girls) but it seemed to speed through. It also did not mention much about life after The bangles, considering a sizeable amount of the book was devoted to their childhoods and origins as a garage band. All in all, this was a great trip down memory lane to revisit such a successful rock and roll band.
“That was the goal: to show up and deliver a kind of magic, whatever we could pull off.”
For decades, female musicians have had a raw deal. Opportunities are limited, they are paid less, are often promoted with sexuality rather than music at the forefront, and are under-represented in the industry. The Bangles were no strangers to these experiences, yet they were a hard working group of musicians who played their own instruments, and had to fight to record the music they wanted to make. Sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, and Susannah Hoffs contributed to this biography by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike in very honest and open way. Michael (Micki) Steele chose to not be a part of the development of the biography.
Musically they were right to feel the way they did: having to work with a music producer that didn't believe in them and their talent, as well as trying make a mark for themselves as musicians in a very patriarchal industry was draining for them all. They were criticised if they didn't note other female bands as an influence, and equally if they align themselves with female bands they limited themselves in the industry: “I felt like how dare I come out and compare ourselves in any way, shape, or form to the [all male bands].” They don’t seem to harbor any resentment, except for the producer and those at the record company who seemed to have a different vision than that of the band. I was equally drained from all of the despondency they were experiencing while reading. The press and music industry added to this stress by proclaiming Hoffs as the lead singer and band leader, and always asking questions of them that male bands would never be asked, such as whether they were jealous of each other, and calling them bimbos. This was explored in the interviews with the band members as well, but in some cases the author wasn’t really explore the feelings and emotions of the band, rather matching numerous quotes and interviews together to justify an event or incident in their collective history.
I feel that their later years and their last album were glossed over a lot (I was hoping for a mention of The Bangles in one of the earlier seasons of Gilmore Girls) but it seemed to speed through. It also did not mention much about life after The bangles, considering a sizeable amount of the book was devoted to their childhoods and origins as a garage band. All in all, this was a great trip down memory lane to revisit such a successful rock and roll band.
“That was the goal: to show up and deliver a kind of magic, whatever we could pull off.”
March 14, 2025
Five stars for the Bangles, a criminally underappreciated all-woman rock band, three stars for the writing in this authorized biography. I understand that there are different perspectives on the events in the band's history, but Bickerdike deals with that issue with direct quotes from each source. It quickly grows tiresome to read pages of [Person A]+ Roget's Thesaurus word for "said." So the Bangles (and friends and business colleagues) explain, reflect, recall, tell, remember, point out, clarify, etc. etc. Plus Bickerdike actually repeats the same anecdote, almost verbatim, in the space of a few pages.
But as a certified Banglophile I devoured the book anyway, despite the clunky writing. I knew about the tension between the women, which developed as journalists and record company execs increasingly focused on Susannah Hoffs, belying the "all for one" ethic that defined the band at its inception. The three women who were interviewed* disagree about how much Hoffs encouraged the attention, vs. how much she was a victim of a misogynistic, greedy music industry. Everybody pulls their punches a bit, but you can tell there is lingering animosity.
I didn't know about the emotional abuse The Bangles' record producer inflicted on them, constantly belittling their skills and bringing in session musicians when the band members didn't play the way he wanted their music to sound. Of course that elevated the tensions and frayed the bonds between the women, and their mental health deteriorated to the point where traumatized drummer Debbi Peterson considered dying by suicide. Then the whole Prince and "Manic Monday" thing happened, and all the press wanted to know was whether or not The Purple One was sleeping with Susannah. No wonder the Bangles broke up after just three albums.
I still remember the thrill of hearing "Hero Takes a Fall" for the first time, and I wore out their first album All Over the Place from repeated listenings. The Bangles deserve a biography by an author with more polish, but at least their story is being told by someone whose respect and love for them is obvious.
*Fourth Bangle Michael "Mickey" Steele declined to be part of the project.
ARC received from Net Galley and publisher in exchange for review.
But as a certified Banglophile I devoured the book anyway, despite the clunky writing. I knew about the tension between the women, which developed as journalists and record company execs increasingly focused on Susannah Hoffs, belying the "all for one" ethic that defined the band at its inception. The three women who were interviewed* disagree about how much Hoffs encouraged the attention, vs. how much she was a victim of a misogynistic, greedy music industry. Everybody pulls their punches a bit, but you can tell there is lingering animosity.
I didn't know about the emotional abuse The Bangles' record producer inflicted on them, constantly belittling their skills and bringing in session musicians when the band members didn't play the way he wanted their music to sound. Of course that elevated the tensions and frayed the bonds between the women, and their mental health deteriorated to the point where traumatized drummer Debbi Peterson considered dying by suicide. Then the whole Prince and "Manic Monday" thing happened, and all the press wanted to know was whether or not The Purple One was sleeping with Susannah. No wonder the Bangles broke up after just three albums.
I still remember the thrill of hearing "Hero Takes a Fall" for the first time, and I wore out their first album All Over the Place from repeated listenings. The Bangles deserve a biography by an author with more polish, but at least their story is being told by someone whose respect and love for them is obvious.
*Fourth Bangle Michael "Mickey" Steele declined to be part of the project.
ARC received from Net Galley and publisher in exchange for review.
May 23, 2025
The Bangles deserved better.
I’ve been a fan for a long time, since 1984 when I was 8, long before Walk Like an Egyptian. When I was a kid and there were no safe spaces in my abusive home, music was one of my safe spaces. The Bangles made up a great part of that space. I’m not here to regale you with the reasons why my opinions on this book are valid, why I’m a great fan of The Bangles. My opinions are my opinions and they are valid simply given the fact that they exist.
I listened to my comprehensive Bangles playlist that I curated the whole time I was reading Eternal Flame. I have lots to say about this book. 99% of it isn’t good. The book had great information and was poorly written. I appreciate that the author has written other books. She needed to have written 20 more books before tackling a subject like The Bangles. The author thanks an editor in the acknowledgments, that editor didn’t do their job. The author uses some huge words which are clearly out of her depth and then makes basic grammar and punctuation mistakes. The end of the book was very abrupt. I know for a fact there was more to say about the time between when The Bangles broke up and now. It’s as if the author were a student and she reached her word minimum for the assignment and just quit. Don’t be fooled by the almost-400 page count. 20% of the book is acknowledgements, references, and an index. I cannot believe that this book was named after a song that at least 1/2 of the band hated - a fact which the author documents in her book. The author couldn’t think of a better title? I’m going to stop there with the criticism, I could go on and on and on and on.
The good thing I can say about this book is that it was full of great information. I am not audacious enough to think I knew everything about the band. The book reminded me about many things I had forgotten and taught me a great many things that I never knew.
I finally got to see the band, sans Michael with Abby Travis on bass, in 2008. It’s one of the best shows I ever been to, and I’ve been to hundreds. I left the show knowing that overall, in general, The Bangles deserved better.
Reading this book left me with the same feeling. Debbi, Vicki, Sue, and Micki deserved so much better than this book.
I’ve been a fan for a long time, since 1984 when I was 8, long before Walk Like an Egyptian. When I was a kid and there were no safe spaces in my abusive home, music was one of my safe spaces. The Bangles made up a great part of that space. I’m not here to regale you with the reasons why my opinions on this book are valid, why I’m a great fan of The Bangles. My opinions are my opinions and they are valid simply given the fact that they exist.
I listened to my comprehensive Bangles playlist that I curated the whole time I was reading Eternal Flame. I have lots to say about this book. 99% of it isn’t good. The book had great information and was poorly written. I appreciate that the author has written other books. She needed to have written 20 more books before tackling a subject like The Bangles. The author thanks an editor in the acknowledgments, that editor didn’t do their job. The author uses some huge words which are clearly out of her depth and then makes basic grammar and punctuation mistakes. The end of the book was very abrupt. I know for a fact there was more to say about the time between when The Bangles broke up and now. It’s as if the author were a student and she reached her word minimum for the assignment and just quit. Don’t be fooled by the almost-400 page count. 20% of the book is acknowledgements, references, and an index. I cannot believe that this book was named after a song that at least 1/2 of the band hated - a fact which the author documents in her book. The author couldn’t think of a better title? I’m going to stop there with the criticism, I could go on and on and on and on.
The good thing I can say about this book is that it was full of great information. I am not audacious enough to think I knew everything about the band. The book reminded me about many things I had forgotten and taught me a great many things that I never knew.
I finally got to see the band, sans Michael with Abby Travis on bass, in 2008. It’s one of the best shows I ever been to, and I’ve been to hundreds. I left the show knowing that overall, in general, The Bangles deserved better.
Reading this book left me with the same feeling. Debbi, Vicki, Sue, and Micki deserved so much better than this book.
April 23, 2025
In Eternal Flame, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike tells the story of the Bangles, from their origins as Beatles-loving kids and teens in the '60s and '70s, to their formational days playing the L.A. club circuit in the early '80s, to their eventual breakup at the end of that decade. Bickerdike's narrative of the band's rise and fall pays particular attention to the incessant "manhandling" of the Bangles by the music press, producers, managers, and record company execs. Time and again, the band faced doubt and derision about their musical and songwriting abilities. They were subjected to overtly sexual comments and questions that would never be put to male artists. And perhaps most harmful of all, they were pitted against one another, as tends to happen to women in fields that will only make room for a token number of them. This last pressure expressed itself most often in attempts to thrust forth Susanna Hoffs as leader of the band, in spite of the "all for one" mindset the Bangles had committed to from the start. The band handled it about as well as four suddenly famously twenty-somethings could, but ultimately, the pressure proved too much. Still, the Bangles lasted long enough to leave a remarkable musical legacy: "As of 2024, they are still the only entirely female rock 'n' roll band to sing and play their own instruments on five top ten Billboard hits." As one might have said in the '80s, that's pretty rad.
My memories of the Bangles are from when I was 11 or 12, during the Different Light years. I enjoyed their songs then, but Bickerdike's examination of the band and their legacy has deepened my appreciation for them. I had a lot of fun pulling up old songs as I read about them. The Bangles were rockers! I'd forgotten how good their "Hazy Shade of Winter" cover is. I would have given the book five stars, but I found the writing itself to be a little cluttered. I applaud Bickerdike for incorporating lots of verbatims from the band and those surrounding them, but I felt like it wasn't all synthesized as smoothly as it might have been. Other than that, this is a great read for any fan of '80s music and/or women who rock.
My memories of the Bangles are from when I was 11 or 12, during the Different Light years. I enjoyed their songs then, but Bickerdike's examination of the band and their legacy has deepened my appreciation for them. I had a lot of fun pulling up old songs as I read about them. The Bangles were rockers! I'd forgotten how good their "Hazy Shade of Winter" cover is. I would have given the book five stars, but I found the writing itself to be a little cluttered. I applaud Bickerdike for incorporating lots of verbatims from the band and those surrounding them, but I felt like it wasn't all synthesized as smoothly as it might have been. Other than that, this is a great read for any fan of '80s music and/or women who rock.
May 31, 2025
Eternal Flame was written with the cooperation of three of the four members of the all-female band The Bangles. They were a rock band at a time when the music industry basically didn’t know how to market female acts, especially those who were actually capable musicians. I have read interviews with Deborah Iyall, who was the lead singer of Romeo Void, that despite the obvious talent in that band, the record company didn’t know how to market them since she wasn’t exactly the “sexy lead singer” type. While the women who made up The Bangles didn’t have the same issues Iyall did, they still ran into a brick wall when it came to being judged based on their talent and not their looks.
The Bangles were the last in a string of bands that featured sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson. Even before her younger sister had graduated from high school, Vicki had the idea of being in a rock band together. Although it wasn’t her instrument, Debbi was the drummer while Vicki was the guitarist. They often practiced in the Peterson home and gigged in Los Angeles at a time when it had a burgeoning music scene. Other members came and went as life happened to them, with the two sisters making up the core of the band.
Susannah Hoffs joined and was immediately comfortable with the sisters. The Petersons were a middle-class California family, while Hoffs’ parents were well-off. They moved in different worlds, but got along very well in the beginning. Susannah had the same drive that Vicki did and had connections that also helped them out. The focus for them was harmonizing like The Beatles had done, and the idea was that the band was four equal parts. Michael Steele, formerly of the band The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita Ford, joined them right when they got a record deal with Columbia.
To read my complete review, please go to Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike – Fame Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
The Bangles were the last in a string of bands that featured sisters Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson. Even before her younger sister had graduated from high school, Vicki had the idea of being in a rock band together. Although it wasn’t her instrument, Debbi was the drummer while Vicki was the guitarist. They often practiced in the Peterson home and gigged in Los Angeles at a time when it had a burgeoning music scene. Other members came and went as life happened to them, with the two sisters making up the core of the band.
Susannah Hoffs joined and was immediately comfortable with the sisters. The Petersons were a middle-class California family, while Hoffs’ parents were well-off. They moved in different worlds, but got along very well in the beginning. Susannah had the same drive that Vicki did and had connections that also helped them out. The focus for them was harmonizing like The Beatles had done, and the idea was that the band was four equal parts. Michael Steele, formerly of the band The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita Ford, joined them right when they got a record deal with Columbia.
To read my complete review, please go to Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike – Fame Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
September 24, 2025
Informative, but really needs a good edit
It is as though the author had a thousand hours of interview tapes and felt compelled to use every single one, in any way she could. The result often reads like a transcript, with a lot of unnecessary chit-chat.
Certain people get way too much air time, like Prince. The author rightly notes the misogyny of the rock world, but once quite unreasonably says that one male rock critic has a "hatred" for women, something not at all apparent in his review, which she cites. Richard Blade is taken to task for calling them "hot babes" (and yes, this is, in retrospect, sexist); yet the author uncritically cites a few men whose relation to various Bangles members is based purely on what they profess to be physical attraction.
The author, at the outset, defends her use of "girls" in the biography as the Bangles had apparently adopted the term, knowingly, and that it also reflected the era. This is a clear misstep as the usage plays in tandem with the sexist attitudes that the author enumerates, resulting in the very diminishment of the women's lives, musical and otherwise, that the author disparages.
The book ends somewhat unceremoniously with the band's breakup, with two members driving off, feeling numb about it all; and the chapter ends -- and then suddenly, we get a couple of pages that state that they later regrouped and created two more albums, the end. What? How did that reunion come about, especially after a breakup that ambushed two of the members? Why did Michael not return? Why did she refuse to be part of this biography?
Perhaps unfortunately, the author thanks thanks THANKS the Bangles, in the Acknowledgements, revealing how she likely softened her depictions of the acrimony in the band, seeking not to villify any one figure too much for the band's internal disputes. There is, then, perhaps a better, future biography to be written that has a good deal more objective distance than what we get here.
It is as though the author had a thousand hours of interview tapes and felt compelled to use every single one, in any way she could. The result often reads like a transcript, with a lot of unnecessary chit-chat.
Certain people get way too much air time, like Prince. The author rightly notes the misogyny of the rock world, but once quite unreasonably says that one male rock critic has a "hatred" for women, something not at all apparent in his review, which she cites. Richard Blade is taken to task for calling them "hot babes" (and yes, this is, in retrospect, sexist); yet the author uncritically cites a few men whose relation to various Bangles members is based purely on what they profess to be physical attraction.
The author, at the outset, defends her use of "girls" in the biography as the Bangles had apparently adopted the term, knowingly, and that it also reflected the era. This is a clear misstep as the usage plays in tandem with the sexist attitudes that the author enumerates, resulting in the very diminishment of the women's lives, musical and otherwise, that the author disparages.
The book ends somewhat unceremoniously with the band's breakup, with two members driving off, feeling numb about it all; and the chapter ends -- and then suddenly, we get a couple of pages that state that they later regrouped and created two more albums, the end. What? How did that reunion come about, especially after a breakup that ambushed two of the members? Why did Michael not return? Why did she refuse to be part of this biography?
Perhaps unfortunately, the author thanks thanks THANKS the Bangles, in the Acknowledgements, revealing how she likely softened her depictions of the acrimony in the band, seeking not to villify any one figure too much for the band's internal disputes. There is, then, perhaps a better, future biography to be written that has a good deal more objective distance than what we get here.
February 28, 2025
(Won this via a Goodreads giveaway, first win ever!)
One of the better rock band bios I've ever read. I was in my early 20's when I first noticed The Bangles. So yes, even though the band didn't really want to be known as sex symbols, they definitely were that for many of us at that age. Thanks to MTV, it was hard not to see them constantly, and yeah, they are all great looking. But, thankfully, their music was also great, and that's what I cared more about. I love power pop and garage rock and The Bangles fit into both categories.
This book was well-written and researched and had interviews from just about everyone involved with the band over the years (alas, no Michael Steele, but once you read the book you can understandy maybe why that is the case). It's not your typical band biography, this one really shows the ups and downs of a band over a decade or so. It's tough enough to be a female in the working world, but the music businees? Sheesh. Just awful, especially back then (it's probably a bit better today, but guessing still a lot of crap, the mention of The Linda Lindas at the end and how they are also asked if they play their own instruments is a great case in point). They did what they could and as a fan, I'm happy they did. Great band, fantastic music (listen to the album "All Over the Place", Going Down to Liverpool is such a great song, as well as their non-hits, you'll see what the band is truly like). As much as I despise the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame these days, they really should have been put in already for many reasons. So many all-female bands today cite them as an influence.
Note: I would have read this anyway, even without the freebie
One of the better rock band bios I've ever read. I was in my early 20's when I first noticed The Bangles. So yes, even though the band didn't really want to be known as sex symbols, they definitely were that for many of us at that age. Thanks to MTV, it was hard not to see them constantly, and yeah, they are all great looking. But, thankfully, their music was also great, and that's what I cared more about. I love power pop and garage rock and The Bangles fit into both categories.
This book was well-written and researched and had interviews from just about everyone involved with the band over the years (alas, no Michael Steele, but once you read the book you can understandy maybe why that is the case). It's not your typical band biography, this one really shows the ups and downs of a band over a decade or so. It's tough enough to be a female in the working world, but the music businees? Sheesh. Just awful, especially back then (it's probably a bit better today, but guessing still a lot of crap, the mention of The Linda Lindas at the end and how they are also asked if they play their own instruments is a great case in point). They did what they could and as a fan, I'm happy they did. Great band, fantastic music (listen to the album "All Over the Place", Going Down to Liverpool is such a great song, as well as their non-hits, you'll see what the band is truly like). As much as I despise the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame these days, they really should have been put in already for many reasons. So many all-female bands today cite them as an influence.
Note: I would have read this anyway, even without the freebie
April 4, 2025
This book was a very pleasant surprise in many ways. First, it is not often for me that a non-fiction book turns out to be such a page turner. I commend the author not only for her research and enthusiasm, but for her excellent writing style. This was by no means a dry history, but read almost like a novel. Second, although I always liked The Bangles for their music, (and yes, for their looks), but after reading this book I have a much greater respect for their talent and for their grit. Just surviving for so long as an all-female rock band was enormously tough, but to reach their level of success is truly astounding. Before I was halfway through the book I ordered their first album as it was described as being the best to capture their personality and stage presence. At heart they remained a garage band. A band who were truly a single entity, living a code of one for all and all for one. Third, it is always a pleasant surprise to learn that people you have admired from afar are really nice people, and that it is not just an act. They came (except for Michael) from good middle class families. Even at the height of their success they were still living with their parents or in a small rented apartments and driving used cars. As Vicki said, their ultimate goal. a true sign of success, was to have an in home washer and dryer. It was also nice to learn that other long time favorites of mine, like Cyndi Lauper, were also nice people. I enjoyed this book very much and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in pop rock music from the 80s and earlier. My lone complaint is that I would have liked to have learned a little more about their post Bangles lives.
June 2, 2025
One of my favorite bands in the past few years have been The Bangles. I grew up with them during the MTV heyday, but never deep dived into their albums (I liked the hits), and this book shows the respect and influence they had on female musicians, while fighting the male-dominated stigma of girl groups in the music industry.
The book is told by most of the members (even past one0, management, and peers. There is a lot of honestly of the Peterson sisters and their opinion on Susanna Hoffs being viewed as the "lead singer" of the group, along with the early days of the girls' love of The Beatles influencing their careers.
The book briefly talks about Prince writing the hit "Manic Monday" and the rumors of him trying to get Hoffs as one of his backing musicians but most of the book is about the groups struggles of fame, and their fight to be known as respected musicians. When the group broke up for a while, the book skips over the various solo careers of the members and focuses on just them as a band and reforming. The author lets the honesty of the members talk (mostly the Peterson sisters),and at times several interviewed tended to create an image that Hoffs was always wanting to be a solo act. Nonetheless, this is a great read for a band who's influence on many female acts gets overlooked, but not here. The flow was wonderful and a book I couldn't put down.
For an in -depth review, visit my page: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/wp-...
The book is told by most of the members (even past one0, management, and peers. There is a lot of honestly of the Peterson sisters and their opinion on Susanna Hoffs being viewed as the "lead singer" of the group, along with the early days of the girls' love of The Beatles influencing their careers.
The book briefly talks about Prince writing the hit "Manic Monday" and the rumors of him trying to get Hoffs as one of his backing musicians but most of the book is about the groups struggles of fame, and their fight to be known as respected musicians. When the group broke up for a while, the book skips over the various solo careers of the members and focuses on just them as a band and reforming. The author lets the honesty of the members talk (mostly the Peterson sisters),and at times several interviewed tended to create an image that Hoffs was always wanting to be a solo act. Nonetheless, this is a great read for a band who's influence on many female acts gets overlooked, but not here. The flow was wonderful and a book I couldn't put down.
For an in -depth review, visit my page: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/wp-...
January 29, 2025
I received a gifted copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The Bangles were an all-female pop band in the 80s determined to succeed in a male-dominated music industry. This is an authorized biography of the Bangles given by Jennifer Bickerdike. This book also contains exclusive interviews, stories and much more with the assistance of the founding members of the band, Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson. It is a tribute to an amazing pop band of their time!
I grew up listening to The Bangles. They were one of the bands that I first heard as a child. My mother would sing their songs right before bedtime. Eternal Flame was actually the only song I remember by heart, and it's also the song that would put me right to sleep! To be honest, I didn't know much of their background until I read this book! These women are such a talented bunch! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and you can tell that this was very well researched. When you read about the experiences the band had, it feels like you were there! I'm sure that this was just such a small glimpse into the lives of the band members.
This is a book I would have on my shelf for sentimental reasons. If there was one band I could always remember from my childhood, The Bangles were the first group that would always come to mind! If you haven't heard or if you want to read about an awesome girl pop group from the 80s, definitely check this book out!
The Bangles were an all-female pop band in the 80s determined to succeed in a male-dominated music industry. This is an authorized biography of the Bangles given by Jennifer Bickerdike. This book also contains exclusive interviews, stories and much more with the assistance of the founding members of the band, Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson. It is a tribute to an amazing pop band of their time!
I grew up listening to The Bangles. They were one of the bands that I first heard as a child. My mother would sing their songs right before bedtime. Eternal Flame was actually the only song I remember by heart, and it's also the song that would put me right to sleep! To be honest, I didn't know much of their background until I read this book! These women are such a talented bunch! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and you can tell that this was very well researched. When you read about the experiences the band had, it feels like you were there! I'm sure that this was just such a small glimpse into the lives of the band members.
This is a book I would have on my shelf for sentimental reasons. If there was one band I could always remember from my childhood, The Bangles were the first group that would always come to mind! If you haven't heard or if you want to read about an awesome girl pop group from the 80s, definitely check this book out!
February 27, 2025
I listened to the audiobook.
Unfortunately, bass player, Michael Steele did not participate in this book.
Vicki and Debbi Peterson are the most dominant contributors to the book. I was surprised by how much animosity and jealousy sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson had, and still have, towards bandmate Susanna Hoffs.
Susanna Hoffs' recognizable and pretty singing voice, striking beauty, and charisma made her stand out in music videos. After Prince gifted Susanna Hoffs "Manic Monday" and it became the band's biggest hit, she became the breakout star.
Debbi Peterson in particular seemed especially miserable and resentful the entire time she was in The Bangles. Debbi's non-stop complaining and playing the victim is tiresome. She never really wanted to play drums, she wanted to be a bass player. She resented living in the shadow of her older sister.
David Kahne, who produced the Bangles' albums "All Over The Place" and "Different Light" was frustrated with Debbi Peterson's drumming skills. Later, Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock, who would work with Debbie Peterson said, “not her fault” that Debbi Peterson “can’t play her instrument.” (Ouch!)
The biggest turn-off is both Debbi and Vicki's relentless, malicious jealousy of Susanna Hoffs. It looms over the entire book so heavily, that it repelled this fan.
Unfortunately, bass player, Michael Steele did not participate in this book.
Vicki and Debbi Peterson are the most dominant contributors to the book. I was surprised by how much animosity and jealousy sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson had, and still have, towards bandmate Susanna Hoffs.
Susanna Hoffs' recognizable and pretty singing voice, striking beauty, and charisma made her stand out in music videos. After Prince gifted Susanna Hoffs "Manic Monday" and it became the band's biggest hit, she became the breakout star.
Debbi Peterson in particular seemed especially miserable and resentful the entire time she was in The Bangles. Debbi's non-stop complaining and playing the victim is tiresome. She never really wanted to play drums, she wanted to be a bass player. She resented living in the shadow of her older sister.
David Kahne, who produced the Bangles' albums "All Over The Place" and "Different Light" was frustrated with Debbi Peterson's drumming skills. Later, Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock, who would work with Debbie Peterson said, “not her fault” that Debbi Peterson “can’t play her instrument.” (Ouch!)
The biggest turn-off is both Debbi and Vicki's relentless, malicious jealousy of Susanna Hoffs. It looms over the entire book so heavily, that it repelled this fan.
February 1, 2025
For any 80’s kid like me, growing up loving the songs, but having little knowledge of the history, this book was a joy. I can remember singing my heart out to many of the top Bangles hits, so when I saw this book, I just had to revisit my childhood and get the inside scoop.
What I found with this book is that the term “girl band” and all it’s associated stigmas, were something that greatly contributed to the destruction of the band, long before they should have been calling it quits.
Setting aside all of the normal sexist garbage women are faced with, there was also a deeper manipulation of the band by management who saw them only as a publicity opportunity, rather than the rock star garage band they were meant to have catapulted to stardom from.
Pitting band members against each other, inserting studio musicians to unnecessarily play on tracks to overshadow the group members, it was insane to see how the management, promoters, and the public picked them apart piece by piece.
This book was a great insiders story to the band members, and how they overcame the issues of their past to come back together and record, remaining overall supportive of each other in the end. Very fun journey back to the 80’s
What I found with this book is that the term “girl band” and all it’s associated stigmas, were something that greatly contributed to the destruction of the band, long before they should have been calling it quits.
Setting aside all of the normal sexist garbage women are faced with, there was also a deeper manipulation of the band by management who saw them only as a publicity opportunity, rather than the rock star garage band they were meant to have catapulted to stardom from.
Pitting band members against each other, inserting studio musicians to unnecessarily play on tracks to overshadow the group members, it was insane to see how the management, promoters, and the public picked them apart piece by piece.
This book was a great insiders story to the band members, and how they overcame the issues of their past to come back together and record, remaining overall supportive of each other in the end. Very fun journey back to the 80’s
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