While living in Hilo, Hawaii I discovered The Bangles. Being a typical catty female person, my initial reaction was stifled jealousy and mutterings of "Ehh, they're not that good. They just got famous 'cause they're women." It wasn't long after that I was listening to my radio and heard the song "If She Knew What She Wants". I loved that song. That was it. I was a Bangle nut. For Easter I asked my parents if instead of candy I could have a Bangles album. On Easter morning in my goody basket was a cassette of "Different Light". I listened to that album constantly. In the 6th grade for a talent show I wanted to lip-sync to "Following". The teachers thought it was too depressing and asked me to use one of my own songs. I was bummed, but for the show I used temporary red dye and pretended to play the bass. Ha! I showed them.
Throughout the years my mom, sister and I would go to Brooklyn, New York to visit my grandparents. On one visit in 1989 my mother's friend Sharon reported that The Bangles were going to be playing at the Ritz. It was a private event and I couldn't go, but Sharon offered to take me to The Ritz anyway to try and meet them on their way in or out. I was ecstatic. I grabbed a tape of some of my songs and some comics I had drawn in hopes of being able to give it to a Bangle.
On the afternoon of the show, Sharon and I sat at the back of The Ritz. Nothing happened for a long time. Then music began to play. I wasn't sure if it was the band or not, but then I heard singing. If memory serves, it was "Hero Takes a Fall". They were doing their soundcheck. I nearly had a heart-attack. I heard little stuff like Susanna saying, "May I make a suggestion...". I also got a glimpse at 2 Bangles. I had been looking through a window into a room in the building. I couldn't see much, but at one point Susanna came into the room. I gasped, turned around to Sharon, started jumping up and down saying, "It's Susanna! It's Susanna!" Sharon said she had smiled when I started going nuts. I looked back through the window and after a few moments she left the room. Shortly after Michael looked briefly in the room. Again I turned to Sharon. "It's Michael! It's Michael!" I then noticed a sign on the door of that room. It said, "Employees must wash their hands." Oh, god. I had been looking at Susanna and Michael through the restroom window. Great. That's just what someone needs when they have to take a leak--a 5'8" 13-year-old jumping around like an idiot screaming your name.
I listened to the remainder of the soundcheck and waited. I figured they'd have to leave through the back door eventually. I waited and waited. At one point a tall, thin woman with long shiny reddish hair strolled up the block. She had a short dress and boots on. She also had moles exactly where Michael has them on her cheek and neck. I thought, "Look at the Michael impersonator. Teh." She disappeared into the building. Not too long after a car pulled up to the back door. I stood up and Sharon stood behind me. This was it. My moment of glory. My Bangle moment. With my comics and music in hand I watched Susanna, Vicki and Debbi (without her long wig on) fly from the car to the building without an upward glance. It was over. I'd blown it. I didn't move. I didn't speak. I was a coward. And worst of all...Michael wasn't there. The Michael "impersonator" had been no impersonator. I wanted to die.
It wasn't long after returning to Hawaii that I heard the Bangles broke up. I sat in the bathroom and cried. For a shy, picked on, tall, often depressed girl, they had been my whole reason for living for a long time, not to mention my musical inspiration. Their albums were the only ones I'd ever bought for myself. Their pictures were taped to my walls. I felt like someone had died.
I was born in Burbank, California on December 3, 1975. My dad was a producer/musician/arranger, who my mom met when she was waitressing in Greenwich Village in the late 60's. It was a very musical household. I taught myself the piano, because there was always a piano in the living room. Later, my older sister Kate taught me the guitar. I learned to use my dad's recording equipment and started recording songs when I was 10.
You can only imagine how thrilled I was at the age of 27 to get my hands on a new Bangles record. I felt like a kid again. It may sound silly, but I have a hard time not tearing up when I watch the "Something That You Said" video. I'm just so happy they're back. Now I may have a chance to finally see my favorite band play live. I'll be looking forward to the next tour.