Susanna Hoffs, founding member of The Bangles, talks about Bruce Springsteen helping them get a record deal and listening to Prince's demo of 'Manic Monday.' They also discuss her diverse creative pursuits, including music, acting, and writing. They explore the concept of using fiction as a coping mechanism and the potential feminist meaning of 'Under My Thumb.' They delve into the band's early days, recording process, and unexpected success of 'Walk Like an Egyptian.'
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Susanna Hoffs credits Bruce Springsteen for helping The Bangles secure a record deal after seeing them perform at an amusement park in Southern California.
The hit song 'Eternal Flame' was initially not planned to be included on The Bangles' album, but producer David Sigerson convinced them otherwise, leading to its surprising success.
The Bangles' collaboration with songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, including their work on Belinda Carlisle's song 'I Need a Disguise', contributed to the band's creative success.
Deep dives
The Bangles' Journey to Success
The podcast episode explores the rise and success of The Bangles, an all-girl band from the 80s. The episode covers their journey from being a local club band in Los Angeles to signing with Columbia Records. It highlights their hit songs like 'Manic Monday' and 'Eternal Flame' and their unique sound, which blended influences from the 60s and new wave and punk rock. The episode also touches on the conflicts within the band and the decision to take a break before regrouping.
The Creation of 'Eternal Flame'
The podcast episode delves into the creation of The Bangles' hit song 'Eternal Flame'. The band members initially didn't plan to include the song on their album, but producer David Sigerson convinced them otherwise. The song, which was inspired by a visit to Graceland and Patsy Cline's music, turned out to be a surprise success. The episode discusses the unconventional song structure and the different elements that came together to make the song a hit.
Collaboration with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg
The podcast episode explores The Bangles' collaboration with songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. After the band decided to take a break, members started working with different songwriters. Susanna Hoffs connected with Tom and Billy and found their songwriting partnership to be fruitful. They collaborated on Belinda Carlisle's song 'I Need a Disguise', and later worked together on The Bangles' album, writing songs like 'In Your Room' and 'Eternal Flame'.
The Challenges of Band Dynamics and Success
The podcast episode addresses the challenges faced by The Bangles due to their rapid success and the dynamics within the band. It highlights the conflicts arising from individual songwriting contributions and perceptions of lead singer status. The band members also felt the need for autonomy and a break from the intense touring and expectations. These factors eventually led to the band taking a break and pursuing individual projects.
The Shifting Music Landscape and Impact
The podcast episode discusses the changing music landscape and the impact it had on The Bangles' career. The emergence of bands like Nirvana and the evolving music trends of the 90s posed challenges for the band. The episode explores how the 80s represented a unique era characterized by diverse styles, while subsequent decades brought about significant shifts in music styles and listener preferences.
As a founding member of the iconic all-girl band The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs is perhaps most associated with 80s hits like “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame,” and “Walk Like An Egyptian.” After releasing three platinum-selling albums, in 1989 The Bangles broke up. Two years later, Susanna started to release solo material before reuniting with The Bangles at the end of the 90s.
Over the years Susanna has continued to release music and act in movies. She even appeared in all three Austin Powers films as part of a fictional Mod band.
This year Susanna has added another creative pursuit to her repertoire—she’s now a published novelist. Her first book, This Bird Has Flown, was released in April. And she put out her latest collection of cover songs on the album The Deep End produced by the great Peter Asher.
On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Susanna Hoffs about how Bruce Springsteen helped The Bangles secure a record deal after seeing them play at an amusement park in Southern California. She also tells the story of first listening to Prince’s demo of “Manic Monday.”
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Susanna Hoffs songs HERE.