Southern California music fans were treated to a night of nostalgia on January 26, 2018, when local station K-Earth 101 presented “Totally ’80s Live” at Honda Center in Anaheim. The headliners included Boy George and Adam Ant with support by the Romantics, A Flock of Seagulls, Tone Loc and more. But the highlight was no doubt the return to the stage of co-headliners the Bangles.
The all-female band played their first concerts since a trio of December 2016 shows at Los Angeles’ Whisky A Go Go. Of the four original members, Debbi Peterson (drums), Vicki Peterson (lead guitar) and Susanna Hoffs (rhythm guitar) remain. For this performance, they were reunited with their original bass player, Annette Zilinskas. (Longtime bass guitarist Michael Steele, is no longer with the group.)
Given the lengthy lineup at the Honda Center, the Bangles were limited to just five songs but what a set it was! They opened with “Hazy Shade of Winter” and followed it with “Manic Monday,” “In Your Room,” “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Eternal Flame.” (Each song was a Top 5 U.S. pop single between 1986-1989.)
Watch set opener “Hazy Shade of Winter”
The first four singles released by the original quartet had been completely ignored by Top 40 radio. But that all changed on January 27, 1986 when Columbia Records released “Manic Monday.” Radio programmers embraced the song written by “Christopher” who, it turned out was none other than Prince. The single rapidly climbed the charts, eventually reaching #2. Blocking it from topping the chart was none other than Prince and the Revolution’s “Kiss.”
Watch them play their first #1 single, “Walk Like an Egyptian”
The Bangles don’t have any concerts listed on their schedule. We can only hope that changes.
Related: Our listings for 100s of classic rock tours
3 Comments
Annette actually performed with the band in January 2014 and December 2016 both times at the Whiskey A Go Go (these can be seen on youtube), so this was the third gig she did with them.
She has done two other shows with them since this one. at the Arroyo Seco weekend in June 2018 and Pershing Square in July 2018 (these are on youtube too). So it looks like she might be full time member again.
I hope they start doing more frequent shows.
Annette was also in the January 2019 lineup so she seems a reliable presence (their other before-they-were-famous bass guitarist,Dr. Amanda Hills Podany,occasionally appears when her academic schedule permits).
The official website though only shows the three ever-presents as full-fledged band members.
No sign of performances becoming more frequent though.
They will be headlining the LikeTotallyFestival at Huntington Beach in May (photo in promo only includes the 3 ever-presents).