They cajoled the MTV generation into vogueing Egyptian-style and provided mid-Eighties BMW-driving cokeheads with an anthem for their insurrection, but they're mostly known around nostalgia circles as the poor man's Go-Go's. The truth is the Bangles actually had a few more hits than their oft-confused female counterparts, most recognizably "Walk Like An Egyptian," the Simon & Garfunkel cover "Hazy Shade of Winter" (included in the film Less Than Zero) and the Prince-penned "Manic Monday." Now, the group -- like the recently reunited Go-Go's -- is considering returning to the fold for a new album and tour almost ten years after it broke-up.

"The only thing that is officially going on is Susanna [Hoffs, guitar/vocals] and I and Debbi [Peterson, drums/vocals] have been writing a little bit and exploring that," says former Bangles guitarist/singer -- and Debbi's sister -- Vicki Peterson. "So, we're just getting together purely for experimental and joyous sake."

Vicki, who's been playing with the band Continental Drifters in recent years, is adamant that no Bangles reunion will take place if bassist Michael Steele is not involved -- or at least until she gives the project her blessing. "I would say it's not impossible that we do some sort of project in the near future," she says, "but whether it's a Bangles project or the three of us [without Steele] is unknown."

Vicki also refuses to plug in the band's life support if it means they'll be lumped in an Eighties package tour a la last summer's Big Rewind tour, which featured Culture Club, Howard Jones and Human League. She explains, "The only reason why [we'd reunite] is if we start coming up with stuff musically that is so exciting it makes me wanna record it and perform."

BLAIR R. FISCHER

(January 22, 1999)