Bonsaikitten asked: What music do you listen to in the tour bus?
Debbi answered: We listen to all kinds of music. At the moment I LOVE Supergrass’ new record. I love the HEATHEN record by David Bowie, Mamas and the Papas, Beatles, Stones, Coldplay, Norah Jones. We also have compilations that friends give to us with all kinds of music on it, past and present.
Meny asked: Which Bangles song that isn't in the current setlist for whatever reason you would *love* to perform live?
Debbi answered: I would love to perform a few! Songs like ‘Restless’, ‘Ask Me No Questions’ (hopefully we’ll do that one soon), ‘Getting Out Of Hand’! There are more, I’m sure, but I’m drawing a blank right now!
Highbridge asked: Is there a song which you wish you had not written or sung? Is there a song that you wish you had written or sung?
Debbi answered: I suppose ‘Standing In The Hallway’ feels like my least favorite “songwriter” song, because I felt a bit compromised with that one. I wish I had written and sung on ‘Eternal Flame’!
:)
Condrift asked: Since I’m from Germany, of course I have specific questions like, do you speak any German? Your sister does really good with "Haben Sie Rotwein?" How did you like Germany? I’ve read that you like German Hefeweizen-Beer. Do you like our food, also?
Debbi answered:
No, unfortunately I don’t speak German, and Vicki’s quite a natural at it! But, we try! Germany was fun. The audiences were great! Very enthusiastic! Also, on this trip the food was really good! It was great to see Berlin with the wall down (last time I was there was in the 80’s…).
|
|
A
jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and Harpo beside me
in the wilderness… well,
maybe not the “wilderness” exactly, just a
cool restaurant in Germany.
|
|
fait99 asked: Of all the songs that DIDN'T make the cut for DR, are there many you think might make the next album if, I mean WHEN it happens? (p.s. come on, you know you want to spill a title or two!)
Debbi answered: There are quite a few songs that exist that didn’t make DR, but I’m pretty sure will make it to the next record. It’s hard to tell the titles at this stage, but I can bet that a good contender would be ‘Happily Ever Laughter’. Good to hear from you, fait! Hopefully we’ll see ya soon.
Franca asked: I'm from Germany too, do you think German audience differs from the American audience? Any bad experiences with an aggressive or not behaved audience ? (If yes, let me kick them for you )
Debbi answered: I don’t see much difference between German and American audiences. They’re both great! We, luckily, haven’t experienced non-behaving audiences for awhile, so you don’t have to worry about kicking any ass!!
|
|
Gunsmithcat asked: You said that there were some songs prepared for a DR follow-up album already. Will there be some old songs and new songs again or just new stuff?
Debbi answered: We have a few songs written already, but I think the majority will be brand spankin’ new.
(Gunsmith cat ALSO asked): Live DVD! Where is it? Afraid of the optical and sound overkill for those who would watch it?
Debbi answered: We’re still discussing a DVD and will probably start filming in the summer, so don’t worry, there’ll be one!
(and his last question was): Have you ever done any song-writing collaborations with Michael? I've noticed you were joking with her during some of the recent shows, the songs that could come from this chemistry would be interesting.
Debbi answered: Yes, I’ve written with Michael before and would like to continue. Perhaps there’ll be a collaboration on the next CD.
|
|
Michael
the Red Bassist and Debbi the Blonde
Drummer meet
Kimba
the White Lion
|
|
Banglebabe asked: Whatever happened to Mojo? Do you still speak with her?
Debbi answered: Mojo moved up to Northern California. In fact, she came to one of our shows years ago. We don’t really communicate anymore.
florence
asked: I would like to know if your
first collaboration with Susanna on
DR turned out to be the awesome song
'Lost at Sea'. If yes, who found the
lyrics and who was more into the main
theme or the guitar parts.... I think
your voice does wonders on this song
!!! Florence from Provence, France (p.s:
Do you accept some wonderful French
wine from South of France next time
you come to Paris ??!!!)
Debbi answered: Actually,
Susanna and I have written quite a
few songs together. I happened to
bring to her the title and chorus
melody to ‘Lost At Sea’ and she
and I went from there. I’m glad you
like it! And yes, I’d LOVE some
wonderful French wine! Always a
treat!
MikeBangle asked: When you are getting together with the other girls or other collaborators to write songs, how do you know you have one? What sort of thing hits you that makes simple lyrics and notes become a song? (Susanna has mentioned something called the X -factor?)
Debbi answered: Songwriting can be very quick or very frustrating. But there is an “x-factor” when it all comes together and it just feels right. There’s no real method to songwriting for me. Sometimes I’ll have just a title or a melody and then when I get together with Sue or Vicki for example, the song just blossoms from there.
|
|
MikeB ALSO asked: Are there any special "must haves" that you need when you go on tour? (Like chocolate, fluffed duck pillows, things like that.)
Debbi answered: Chocolate’s always a good road thing! But I don’t travel without my CD Walkman, CD’s, and my little book of pictures of Brian and Steve. I also like to do word search books.
(THEN he asked) We know you play drums, guitar and bass, but are there any other instruments that you know how to play, or would like to learn how to play?
Debbi answered: I’d like to learn to play the piano better! I took lessons as a child, but because I didn’t continue…well, there you go! I took up drums and the rest is history.
|
|
On
tour in the 80’s
|
|
(And THEN he ALSO asked) How does the band decide what songs to play on tour? (Pull stuff out of a hat, magnets, rock, paper, scissors?)
Debbi answered: We make up lists and decide by “majority rules”. We also go by tempo and who’s singing.
(And Mike still wasn’t done) Is there any way you could add "Mary Street" and "Lost At Sea" to your DR tour set? Both songs rock!!
Debbi answered: I’d live to do ‘Lost At Sea’ live, so perhaps we will! There’s also talk of doing ‘Mary Street’ , so we’ll see…
|
|
(And at last, one for the road) If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
Debbi answered: A dolphin!
|
|
|
|
