It’s a song with a storied history and a bittersweet legacy. But you’d never know just listening to it. That’s because this is one of those happy-go-lucky pop tunes we were all singing along with back in the 80s. However, in the studio and behind the scenes… it was a different story. Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles. This song was actually the catalyst for this band’s breakup. It all fell apart when their producer forced each member to audition to sing on the song… their own song! With four musicians and just three verses… I’m sure you can do the math. Someone was getting the shaft. And then there was the music video, which has this iconic moment, that all of us remember. Susanna Hoffs and the iconic eye roll that made every boy a man... A moment that turned one of the singers into America’s sweetheart and left the others out in the cold. With the press and fans calling her the band’s lead singer, things got ugly fast. Stick around to find out if there is any way this divisive track could have a happy ending. The story’s coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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Today we’re giving you the story of a band that we’ve yet to cover on the channel… an essential power-pop quartet that ruled the US Charts in the second half of the 80s. A band I feel is underappreciated with a sound that was very unique yet very eclectic… The band was comprised of Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson on guitar, Debbi Peterson on drums, Michael Steele on bass… and everyone on vocals. It’s the Bangles and their massive 1986 hit Walk Like an Egyptian.
Much like Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, teenage sisters Vicki and Debbie Peterson didn’t pine over rock stars when they were growing up. They wanted to be rock stars. So to get things rolling, in 1976, 17-year-old Vicki put together a Southern California garage band called Heatwave. Soon after younger sister Debbie crashed the party and took her place at the drum kit. The two sisters were in their element from the get-go. Fast-forward to the dark day of December 8, 1980, and the murder of former Beatle John Lennon. It was a day that shocked the world and one that devastated the Peterson sisters who idolized the Beatles. Lennon’s death also deeply affected another future Bangle: Susanna Hoffs.
Still in mourning a month later, Susanna vowed to follow the footsteps of her fallen hero and pursue her musical dreams. So she picked up the phone and responded to an ad for a female guitarist in an all-girl band. Vicki answered on the other end, and the two strangers had a long conversation about John Lennon and The Beatles. It was an instant bond. Weeks later, the Peterson sisters met at Susanna’s house for a jam session. From there the
