(Watch for this top on Bangl*e-Bay in September...)

GUITAR:

What advice do you have for someone just starting to learn to play the guitar? Work through the pain!  It really does hurt your fingers until you have a nice, fat, hardened layer of callused skin to bounce off those strings.  And play when you want, not out of a sense of duty, and you’ll find yourself wanting to play more often.  Don’t worry about sucking.  Everybody sucks at first.  If you keep playing (and sometimes it’s more fun to start learning with a friend) you WILL improve.  There’s no other way to go.  

If you had to give up all your guitar pedals but ONE (not including your tuner of course) which one would it be and why? Follow up: what's your fave guitar effect?  My Tube Screamer is a fave from way back.  It has a natural, warm distortion effect.  Actually, I’ve been borrowing my friend Eric’s pedal for ages, since mine was stolen in New Orleans.  I also adore my One Louder pedal (okay, it’s actually called a Microamp).  I step on it when I’m starting a lead and I need to be “One” louder!  

(..and this Carvin! - Thanks for supporting AWLAE Team 2003!)

How many guitars do you have ? Waaaaaaay too many, I’m afraid.  And that’s gonna change soon, ‘cause I am cleaning out my closet!!!  I’ve donated guitars before to charities and will probably be doing more of that, but I’m also gonna be selling a few, so keep your eyes open!!!

SONGS:

If you could record a duet with anyone, who would it be? John Cowsill  (awwwww…)

Would you consider bringing back THE REAL WORLD and NUMBER ONE NUMBER ONE ( The Rutles song ) to your concerts ?  Yeah, very possibly.  Sue and I talk about which of the old songs we’d like to do again.  She likes “Mary Street” and I think that “Real World” would be fun…what do y’all think?  “Getting Out of Hand” is another possibility, especially with its new status as bonus track!

Of all the new songs, which is your most favorite to play? Right now I’m having fun with “Here Right Now” and “Between the Two”  

Can you tell us which song is your all-time favorite? Nope.  Too many!

Do you and Debbi ever play some of the REALLY early songs you wrote like "Old Love Dies Hard" or "Who Needs It" ? Only when Amanda MAKES us!

In the Hello Kitty picture booth with Michael during the trip to Japan...it was just us and about 50 adorable schoolgirls staring at us like we were crazy...

SONGWRITING:

I'm sure songwriting is one of the most difficult and involved things ever. I for one find it very impressing, because I can't even play recorder.  So, what is it like for you? How do you write your songs? I mean, are you usually sitting in a heap of balled up papers, biting pencils in pieces being very concentrated, or do the ideas come to you while you're doing something else? How does it work?  Several of you asked about the process of songwriting and I agree—it is pretty mysterious.  I believe that you can look at it in two ways:  as a practiced craft, or a magical gift.  I think that it’s both, actually.  I’ve had songs just show up before—without any real effort on my part.  When that happens you feel as though you’ve been touched by God—okay, maybe a demi-god, depending on how good the song is—and that you are merely a conductor in some magical, musical electrical storm.  And then there are those afternoons when you’ve set aside some time to write and you are virtually wringing chord changes out of your guitar and nothing sounds right and you work on the same damned song for weeks, going back and rewriting over and over…sheeesh.  Sometimes the hard work pays off and sometimes the song remains forever in the back of your notebook.  It’s all a part of the process.  

Did you ever write/play a song with your brother Dave? I think a "Family Peterson"-CD would be cool.  Dave and I played together for the twenty minutes or so that I was in Redd Kross.  (Okay. Dave was a member, I only played a couple of shows with them-- but it’s something I like to brag about….)  I think he’s an amazing drummer/ musician and when I put out my PUNK ROCK CD….

In the song "James", which is correct: "I'll only take this sh*t for so long" or "I'll only take this trip for so long"? Okay.  Here’s the real story on “James”.  I came up with the line, “I’ll only take this shit for so long” while rewriting the last verse in the studio.  Sue sang it, but was uncomfortable singing a swear word, so when she doubled the vocal track, she sang “trip” the second time around.   So, dear RP’ers---it’s both! 

BEATLES:

I'm wondering if any plans for a US tour are being made? Also, I saw someone mention of Beatles' covers and after seeing the Maritime Hall show in SF in 9/00, I was thinking a cover of "Here, There, and Everywhere" would be stellar! Great idea.  One of my fave Beatle songs///

When I see the Bangles and EMI mentioned in the same sentence I naturally think of the Beatles. The only song of the Beatles that I have heard the Bangles sing is a live recording of Yes It Is, and I think you did a fabulous job with it. You stayed true to the original and still made the song uniquely your own. Have you ever seriously considered putting another Beatles song in your live shows, or thought of possibly recording one in the future? We have this odd sense of respect about Beatles music.  Normally, covering someone’s music is an inherent homage, but somehow in the case of the Beatles it feels disrespectful.  We’re not worthy!!!  Maybe we’ll get over this someday….  

DRIFTERS:

I’d like to know if it is difficult to work with two bands? - Bangles and Continental Drifters - I love Drifters music!   Thanks!  In the years when I was shuffling back and forth between Drifters and Bangles, I used to wonder if I’d get mixed up onstage and want to start “Hero Takes a Fall” at the end of a Drifters’ set…but amazingly, that never happened. (Although that could be cool!)  Yeah, it was hard, but musically challenging and fun.  Right now I’m concentrating on Las Bangles…

Two songs that you recorded with the Drifters, Rain Song and Mixed Messages, are rumored to be on the new Bangles Album. When you first wrote those songs did you have the Bangles in mind, or was it something else that made you want to rerecord them? When the Continental Drifters first recorded Mixed Messages, I listened to many people comment that it was “Bangle-like”.  I didn’t necessarily think so (I actually had a Harry Nilsson song in my head when I wrote it), but it got me wondering what the Bangles might do with it.  As it turns out, putting the background vocals on that song was one of the last things we did at Bangle Manor, and one of the most hilarious.  We just kept layering harmonies until one of us realized, “oh my God!!!  It’s the Carpenters!!!!”  We completely lost it.

I really love the Psycho Sisters. Any plans to get together with Susan this year, after the Bangles CD release and tour, and finally get down and record a Psycho Sisters album? Yes.  I don’t know when, where, or how, but both Susan and I want to do this…

TOUR:

If you ever finally do make it to Australia, can you bring Redd Kross back with you? I saw The Persian Rugs here in Melbourne (Dave, Brad and Mark from the Gurus) and they rocked! Do you still keep in touch with those guys?  I’m envious!  I’ll just bet they rock!  Yeah, Michael stays in touch with Brad and I used to run into Dave all the time in New Orleans…They are amazing.  As is Redd Kross, but you know that.

Will you put Cyber Gracie into your  suit case, for the Bangles Tour ?  You know, that’s a really good idea.  She’s a tiny thing and wouldn’t mind at all, I’m sure…

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS SALAD

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat couscous*
• 2 ½ cups boiling water
• ½ cup about 12) sun-dried tomatoes (not the kind packed in oil)

DRESSING

• 3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 2 TBSP chopped basil and/ or lemon thyme
• 3 TBSP balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup peeled and diced carrots
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• ½ cup diced red bell peppers
• ½ cup diced red onion
• ½ cup diced celery
• salt and ground pepper to taste
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• a few parsley sprigs, as garnish