The Bangles

The Bangles formed when Susanna Hoffs teamed up with sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson in late 1980. The threesome initially called themselves The Colours, then The Supersonic Bangs, then The Bangs. After some legal issues with an existing band by the name of The Bangs, the trio settled on The Bangles for their title. The Bangles soon added a forth member in Annette Zilinskas to play bass. The group toiled in the Los Angeles nightclubs in their early years, with some limited success. When Zilinskas left the band in 1983, the remaining three group members would take in Michael Steele to be their bassist.

All the old paintings on the tombs
They do the sand dance, dont you know
If they move too quick (oh whey oh)
They're falling down like a domino.

All the bazaar men by the Nile
They got their money on a bet
Gold crocodiles (oh whey oh)
They snap their teeth on your cigarette.

Foreign types with the hookah pipes say:
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian.

The blonde waitresses take their trays
They spin around and they cross the floor
They've got the moves (oh whey oh)
They drop your drink, then they bring you more.

All the school kids so sick of books
They like the punk and the metal band
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They're walking like an Egyptian.

All the kids in the market place say:
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian.

Slide your feet up the street, bend your back
Shift your arm, then you pull it back
Life is hard, you know (oh whey oh)
So strike a pose on a Cadillac.

If you want to find all the cops
They're hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs, cruise down the block.

All the Japanese with their yen
The party boys call the Kremlin
And the Chinese know (oh whey oh)
They walk the line like Egyptian.

All the cops in the donut shop say:
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian
Walk like an Egyptian.

With sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson, on drums and guitar respectively, singer/guitarist Susanna Hoffs, and bassist Michael Steele, the lineup was set. In early 1984, the Bangles released their first album All Over the Place, to mixed reviews. When the band released their second album , Different Light in 1985 their fortunes would change for the better."Manic Monday" (written by Prince) would chart at number two for the foursome. Their next single off of Different Light, "Walk like an Egyptian", would be the first number one hit for the Bangles.

The foursome's success would continue. With a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade Of Winter" from the soundtrack of the film Less Than Zero, the band would chart a number two hit in 1987. Arguably the Bangles biggest hit was "Eternal Flame", released off of the multi-platinum smash album Everything in 1989.

Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin'
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame?

I believe it's meant to be, darlin'
I watch you when you are sleeping
You belong with me
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Or is this burning an eternal flame?

Say my name, sun shines through the rain
A whole life so lonely
And then come and ease the pain
I don't want to lose this feeling, ohhh..

(Instrumental)

Say my name, sun shines through the rain
A whole life so lonely
Then come and ease the pain
I don't want to lose this feeling, ohhh..

Close your eyes, give me your hand,
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame x2?

Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame?

Close your eyes, give me your hand (your hand), darlin'
Do you feel my heart beating? (do you understand?)
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming? (dreaming)
Is this burning an eternal flame? (aah)

Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin' (oh ohh oh)
Do you feel my heart beating (do you understand)
Do you understand
Do you feel the same
Am I only dreaming (dreaming)
Is this burning an eternal flame (aah)

Shortly after "Eternal Flame" hit number one, the Bangles would go their separate ways. The band would fire Firestars Management, and by the end of 1989 the group would be disbanded. Earlier that year, Susanna Hoffs and Michael Steele announced that they would be departing the Band. By New Year's Day 1990, and after almost ten years together, it seemed as though the Bangels had played music together for the last time.

After almost a ten year separation, the girls got together in L. A. to write some songs in 1999, and by the next year, the Bangles had officially reformed. In 2002, the band released the album Doll Revolution. Although a big hit in Germany, and peaking at number 62 on the U. K. charts, the album made little headway in the U. S.

The Bangles have always been a huge success in the international music scene. Although Michael Steele was replaced by Abby Travis in 2005, the band is touring both the U. S. and Europe in 2008.