Jam Dawg: I'm glad that UNDER THE COVERS is getting a lot of positive reviews (it deserves it)! "The Kids Are Alright" and "Cinnamon Girl" are two of my all time favorite songs. You and Matt did a great job with the covers.  Have you and Matthew selected the songs from the 70's for the follow up to UNDER THE COVERS?
Susanna: Yes, and we've starting recording it, but I'm keeping the songs top secret at the moment. So far we've started three new songs for UNDER THE COVERS Vol 2, and things are going swimmingly! We're having a lot of fun choosing songs because the music was so diverse stylistically from that era. Everything from punk rock, to folk and country inspired singer-songwriter stuff, to pop!

Me and Matthew...

MikeyLaurence: I was at the Adelaide 2005 concert and you guys were wonderful live, and I can't wait to see another Bangles concert soon. I must ask though, weren't you worried when the roof began to leak? You guys handled that little incident professionally, and with good grace and humour. Sorry about the weather that night and the leaky roof! 
Susanna: I'm glad you came to the show in Adelaide. We had such an amazing time in Australia. I was having so much fun playing that I didn't pay much attention to the roof leaking - and I tend to worry about things like that. 
The Adelaide incident was nothing compared with the time the Bangles played a concert for a radio station in Houston, Texas. It was back in the 80's and the city had just opened a brand new overpass on the freeway. So, if you can believe it, the concert was held right there on the freeway!

Read more about this crazy show from Debbi's perspective HERE

We had an uneasy feeling as our van pulled up to the stage. Sure enough, as the crowd got going the whole freeway started to shake... We were about to play "Walk like an Egyptian" and in an effort to calm down the crowd Vicki said "Don't dance!"
Well, you can imagine what happened next...
People in the audience went wild and started to jump up and down in rhythm to the song. The freeway started to actually bounce and shake!  I was so scared I ran off the stage halfway through the song. The concert didn't last much longer after that. We were told later that the structural engineer was at the show and ran off the stage too!  There are so many crazy adventures on tour. Thanks again for coming to the show!

Roogirl: Are you still releasing a kids' CD with the other Bangles?
Susanna: Yes! We are working on songs right now. We're getting a lot of the song ideas from our kids and their friends. It's a lot of fun sitting together in the living room with guitars and writing. We can't wait to get into the studio to record the new tunes!

Until then, you can check out ALL TOGETHER NOW with our version of "Good Day Sunshine"!

banglesgirl: What's your favorite record that you've owned?
Susanna: It's so hard to pick just one favorite album. I think RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER by the  Beatles would be at the top of my list, though!
I'd probably want to include BLUE by Joni Mitchell, HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED by Bob Dylan, EXILE ON MAIN ST. by the Rolling  Stones, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO by The Velvet Underground, GIRLFRIEND by Matthew Sweet, and TOMORROW THE GREEN GRASS by the Jayhawks on my list of favorites!

courtney m: Who are your favourite guitarists that inspired you to pick it up, and also if you play any other instruments or if there are any other instruments you want to learn to play? I just want to say again how much of a thrill it was to meet you girls in Lansing!! On behalf of myself and the rest of my family, thanks again for being so wonderful to us.
Susanna: Thanks for coming to the Lansing show! I started to play guitar when I was a little girl, because I loved to sing and I wanted to be able to accompany myself with an instrument. I tried playing piano as well, but found it cold. 

Me at the piano

I really loved the way the guitar felt in my arms... it was love at first try! I was really into folk music and the guitar was really the perfect instrument for that.  My guitar heroes growing up were John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Jimmy Page, Roger Mcguinn, Bonnie Raitt, and Paul Simon to name a few.

banglefan82: Dearest Susanna, I have been a major fan of yours since I was 4 years old and first heard "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like An Egyptian" and I've been hooked to your music ever since.  My first question is, where do you get your ideas to write beautiful songs like "My Side Of The Bed", "Eyes Of A Baby", and "Eternal Flame"? And my second question is, is there ever really gonna be a live DVD with The Bangles on it? I have heard these rumors off and on - is there gonna really be one?  
Susanna: The ideas for songs come from things going on in my life. I almost always collaborate with other writers. Usually we will hang out for a while and talk. It seems like the idea for a song almost always comes out of a conversation. We take a story or feeling or situation that we've talked about and start to find a way to describe it in a song.    
As for the DVD, the Bangles have been gathering performance, "behind the scenes," and interview footage for a DVD for the last 5 years. We are hoping to start editing it all together for a release in 2007! The completion of the DVD is at the top of our to-do list!

dasvim2000: Dear Susanna, I love your voice and your music, I have all your solo CDs and I also have all the soundtracks where you appear.  I love "Now and Then" - I think it's a great song.  My question is about your guitars.  I noticed that you played different Rickenbackers in the 80's. On the "In Your Room" video you appear with a white one - how many Rickenbackers do you have, and what another kinds of guitars do you have?
Susanna: I have always loved Rickenbacker guitars. I love the bright, bell-like sound they make, and how they look and feel. I've owned many Rics over the years and even designed my own signature model in the 80's. The white Rickenbacker guitar I played in the "In Your Room" video was the prototype for the signature model. I have a vintage ¾ Ric that is like the one John Lennon played - I played that guitar recently on the Dick Clark Rockin' New Year's Eve show we did in 2005  and also in the "Something That You Said" video. I have two  12 string Rics as well. I've always loved the sound of The Byrds and they used Ric 12 strings.

and

). This guitar is truly magical. It is my secret weapon on all recording sessions!
I also cherish my special Roy Buchanen guitar - which was a gift! It's a great rock guitar and painted orange so it's super groovy.

which you can get from iTunes. 

Thanks for your questions everyone!

Peace,
Susanna