Thank you for responding, Robert, your message was something I really needed after a turbulent week.

I am extremely jealous that you got to experience the reunited Bangles in the early 2000s! That must have been something. Those early reunion shows had a really great buzz and atmosphere to them. It is really disappointing that there isn’t any footage from that era (excluding the DVD editing mess of one of the 2000 House of Blues shows). I really like your description of them on stage. Very apt and on point. Also major kudos for it being Debbi who first caught your attention. She is definitely the most underrated and underappreciated Bangle — not to mention a kickass drummer.

As for The Bangs era bootlegs, I haven’t yet been able to track any of them down. I have a lot of shows but none from those particular years. Most fans hold a very selfish attitude towards shows, some even brag about what they have and what they’ll never share. If you are referencing the bootleg of their EP release party, I have only ever read about it — it also appears on a few old bootleg trade lists from years ago.

I know there are more shows from that time frame (and from later) but sadly most haven’t surfaced, and mainly for the above reason. Another reason for lack of bootlegs is because tapers/traders/collectors don’t really think they are worth putting online, you know, based on all the untruths about the band (‘they didn’t play their own instruments’, ‘only Susanna Hoffs matters’, ‘brainless girl-group’, etc.)

Sadly, I think you are correct in that estimation. The Bangles themselves have little to no desire to release their archived shows (which they have a lot of) or, even, to highlight what they achieved so the chances of them making it to commercial market is extremely low.

Great to hear that you’ve dug further into the Banglesphere. There is a lot of good music hidden throughout the years especially Crash Wisdom, Kindred Spirit and the Continental Drifters. There are also a few more obscure projects featuring Bangles alumni as of late worth checking out like Debbi’s drumming on a couple of Matthew Sweet songs on his album ‘Tomorrow Forever’ and the Peterson’s guest vocals on the latest Long Ryders album.

As for the lack of new material, the band’s relationships aren’t the greatest and the Bangles are definitely not a priority any more.

You are so welcome. Hearing from fans like you make my months of research last year all the more worthwhile. I will always be touched by messages like this because they really mean a lot, especially when most fans just want to talk about their looks. It validates my research and my love for this band. It still blows my mind that Amanda Hills stumbled across this piece and shared it with Debbi. It genuinely terrifies me that my article has touched the band in a way because I hope I was able to do their early years justice, giving voice to a history that is always eclipsed by outside stunt players like Prince. My only source was Craig Leon.

I hope you enjoyed the rest of the piece if you got a chance to read the remainder of it. I didn’t realise it would end up being so lengthy when I started it. I could easily write a book on the band.