Last modified on Mon 3 May 2021 07.22 EDT
Susanna Hoffs, singer, guitarist, co-writer
In 1988, it felt like the Bangles had been touring endlessly. Our second album, Different Light, with the singles Manic Monday and Walk Like an Egyptian, had been released two years earlier. Now, finally, we could take a break from living on buses together.
I began collaborating with the songwriting team Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who wrote Like a Virgin and True Colors. Writing, for me, had always meant picking up a guitar and crafting a melody; the lyrics would emerge after I felt the emotion of the song. But Billy and Tom would always start with a lyric.
Classic Tracks: The Bangles ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ Producer: David Kahne
The Bangles. Left to right: Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Michael Steele.Photo: Lester Cohen
‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ was a huge hit for the Bangles, but it all started with a demo mix‑up and some very unusual percussion.
One of the biggest hits of the ’80s (and a staple of rock radio ever since), the Bangles’ ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ was instantly everywhere upon its initial release in 1986, topping the US singles charts and reaching number three in the UK. But behind its driving beat, quirky hooks and sunshiny indie pop vibe lay the difficult and fractious story of its creation. At the time, it may have been the commercial high watermark for the Bangles Susanna Hoffs (vocals/rhythm guitar), Vicki Peterson (vocals/lead guitar), Debbi Peterson (drums/vocals) and Michael Steele (bass/vocals) but in truth some members of the band hated the track.
Join
If you follow the history of music, particularly popular music, you know that certain years always recur in the conversation. 1936 marked the first of Robert Johnson’s legendary blues recordings, while 1956 marked the ascent of Elvis. You know that The Beatles did
Sullivan in 1964, Woodstock happened in 1969, and that The Sugarhill Gang recorded the first hip-hop song to hit the Top 40, “Rapper’s Delight,” in 1979. Those years and many others always swirl about the conversation, but one year is consistently overlooked. In retrospect, 1961 is hugely important, as it set the stage for the rest of the decade and for decades to come. Let’s turn back the clock to the year that Berry signed the girls from the Projects, two former school friends met up again, Patsy went pop from the hospital, and four lads played the Cavern Club for the first time.
questions. we grilled him on the economy, the contenders. and why he says he s now the underdog in this race. are you ready for some football and out of bounds. country star, hank williams jr., yanked from monday night football, after 22 years. why his extreme words about the president had espn calling foul. good morning, everyone. and right now, we re going to show you amanda knox s family checking in at rome leonardo da vinci airport. she s flying now, to london first. then, home to seattle. and we spoke to one of her biggest supporters. he says that amanda is full of many different emotions. but holds nothing against italy and the italian people. and he hugged amanda good-bye. you see the family checking out without amanda. she was in a private waiting area. and our entire team is covering every angle, from italy, to her hometown of seattle. we ll start with abc s josh elliott just outside rome right now. good morning, josh. reporter: that s right, robin. ama
good morning, everyone. to our viewers in the west especially seattle. where amanda knox is heading with her family right now. she s flying to london first, then to the west coast, where she s expected to spend her first full night of freedom in her seattle home. one of her supporters said amanda is full of many different emotions this morning, but holds nothing against italy. her family clearly joyous. our entire team is still there, including josh elliott, just outside of rome. josh? reporter: that s right, robin. amanda knox s journey home continues at this hour. we re on the outskirts of rome, at leonardo da vinci airport, where at 12:10 local time today, amanda and her family were on a flight for london. where they would then connect and catch a final flight for the final leg of the trip home to seattle. i want to look at the images we saw. curt knox, so tense and so happy to finally have his daughter home. playing with amanda s sisters, as they checked in for the fl