And here are answers to some of the questions you sent in - more coming in the future.  It's a good way to dialogue, dontcha think?   I like finding out what's on your mind - although don't think for a second that I don't lurk about on RP, ‘cause I do.   Real sneaky like.

Any plans to re-release the A&M/IRS EP along with ALL the Bangs' songs on one CD??  - Bill

I've wanted to do that for years, and it comes up in Bangle meetings all the time.  The problem lies in legal tie-ups and licenses with our old label and manager.  Believe it or not, things like this can keep music away from an audience.  I'm ever hopeful, though, ‘cause I think it would be a very cool thing to have a Bangs CD. 

* * *

Do you believe that the recording industry is sexist against women, and if so, was it better or worse in the 80's than it is today? - Lillisplice

Wow.  Y'all are asking good questions.

The short answer to the first part is yes.  But there's also racism, ageism and what I call token-ism and they all can happen at the same time.  Was it sexism when a radio station would not "add" a new Bangles single in the 80's because they had just added the new Belinda Carlisle record and they wouldn't go with two female-fronted songs in the same week?  Or was that just tokenism, the same "ism" that kept a Terence Trent D'Arby record from being played in the same time slot as Michael Jackson?  No, that was probably racism.  See?  It's all the same mind-set and it isn't exclusive to the recording industry.  But you probably knew that.  I'd like to say that it's gotten better-and maybe it has.  I have enormous hopes for the human race... 

* * *

When you're writing and you just can't seem to find anything to write ABOUT, how do you find inspiration? - Courtney

I've found that the best inspiration for writing is to stop thinking too much, go look at art, take a walk, sit under a tree, change direction, change your point of view.  Pick up a favorite book and open it to the middle.  Listen to Dylan or Lennon or Howe Gelb or someone whose words strike you....walk the dog.  It all works.  Except when it doesn't.  Keep rockin' always.

* * *

How's Michael doing? Any plans to Bangle-ize any songs from past projects? I'd love to hear the Bangles reinvent their own version of Some of Shelley's Blues. Oh, and your hubby is really cute. How'd you get so lucky? - Liana

I just spoke to Michael last week and she sounded great.  

I love "Some of Shelley's Blues"  (a song Susanna also has covered, so we'd have to arm-wrestle for it - I'd win!) but I think now the idea is to focus on newer songs.  I think we got away with the Bangleization of songs we've recorded with other groups on Doll Revolution, so best to trudge ahead to less familiar territory.  And yeah, my husband is quite cute, isn't he...? 

* * *

Ah yes, Vicki, in Vegas is La Creme still good or something else? See you there!!!  - Kramer

Cash is good.  Kidding...

It's a date. 

* * *

Hello Vicki, so many questions, I have tried to keep to the most pressing queries!  - Barry

Are you still enjoying Bangling?

I do enjoy Bangling, especially playing live when the sound is good and the crowd is singing along...

Do you think an album of new material will be released in 2009?

I know we've been saying this for a long time now (and that you've probably stopped believing me altogether-a perfectly reasonable reaction,) but the plans are to begin work on a new record in the winter.  We'll keep you up-to-date here on the website, so keep checking in.

Can we look forward to hearing Miss Abby on the next recording?

We've always invited guest musicians in the studio - I can't tell you who that'll be this time!

What chance a VP solo album any time soon?

A solo record?  My motto:  Never Say Never...

Why the downer on Youtube uploads?

I'm not down on YouTube uploads, per se.  If you're referring to the comments I make onstage, it's usually in response to the oddity of looking out onto a sea of cameras and phones and little red lights. I just want us to sound and look good, and often we're not in control of that, soooo...it can be frustrating to see a less-than-stellar performance preserved in digital amber, if you know what I mean.

Your schedule for the European tour looked quite hectic...pleasure or pain?

I thoroughly enjoyed our European tour.  There's never enough time to absorb the local beauty (or funkiness) as far as I'm concerned, but we're always trying to cram in as much work as we can without being away from home for too long...one day I'll have to come over and NOT work!

Having seen you "in the flesh" for the first time here in the UK, you look great!! What is your secret?

Okay, now you're just being nice... 

* * *

I'd like to second the motion for The Bangles to do a Canadian Tour. - Markpeg

I'd like to third that emotion.   We haven't spent NEAR enough time in Canada, and it's been ages since we been up there.  Definitely due for a visit. 

* * *

How about a harder sound? Hard rock I mean, would you gurls try it or at least consider it?

Have you heard of the LA all girl metal band, Cockpit and if so, waddya think? - Selbangle 

I haven't heard them, so now I'll have to go check ‘em out.  You know me - I love to rock.  It's always a struggle getting our harmonies heard over loud guitars, but somehow I hear all that as part of the Bangles' sound... I'm all for upping the gnarl factor (I can just see Debbi twirling her sticks while Sue and I crank out a blistering double-solo... okay, that's probably not gonna happen...) - we'll just have to see what songs show up for the new record.

* * *

I noticed at the Bristol gig that you played a Daisy Rock guitar that looked similar in design to a Fender Stratocaster. Is this new guitar of yours replacing your Gretsch Tennessee Rose and will we see more of this Daisy Rock "Strat"-style guitar in the future? - Mike

The Daisy Rock guitar you saw is our Bangles signature model.  It's a modification of one of their other guitars, with features designed by us, and it completely rocks.  I do use it when I used to play the Southern Classic Jr. Gretsch, because the Daisy seems to like the travel better.  I was just playing my SCJ today, actually and I love it - my first one was stolen on the road and my sweet husband found me another... 

* * *

Any news on The Bad Bangles? It would be a shame if that concept were put on the shelf, because I think it's beyond brilliant. And there's been heavy debating here recently on the subject of bootleg//unreleased material. I was wondering if you could give your most brutally honest opinion on this issue, and where you feel the line should definitely be drawn? - Anthony

We haven't given up on the Bad Bangles (or whatever their names are...) and they could show up at any time.  Or not.  That's just how they are.  No respect for anyone else's feelings.

Regarding bootleg recordings:  Hmmmm.  It's getting complicated, isn't it? What is considered "bootleg" when just about anything can be reproduced and distributed to the world with a keystroke?  I know what it's like to be a fan and to want to collect anything produced by an artist-especially when you might be experiencing something more immediate, less polished, and therefore more "personal" somehow.  But I also believe that an artist should have a considerable amount of control over what is released to the public, and that is very difficult to do these days.  Any public performance is immediately subject to being YouTubed (I suppose that should be a verb by now, right?) and although it may have been a "public" presentation in the first place, sometimes a performance is best experienced in the moment and not captured in what used to be called a "fixed medium."  It's one reason why bands spend hours in the studio fixing and remixing "live" albums.  Oh, yes they do.  I was shocked when I first learned that, too.  You'll notice that the Bangles have never been very forthcoming with live albums.  There's that wobbly line between capturing spontaneity and releasing something with quality sound and performance... 

* * *

I can't believe that it's been a year since I finally got to meet you and Debbi for the first time, and Susanna for the second time. Will there be a North American Tour in 2009? - George

Hey George -It was nice to finally meet you, too.  I'm hoping that we'll be back on the road in '09 - hopefully subjecting y'all to new songs - but I don't know right now what the year's final plans are. 

* * *

Will the Bangles be in South America in any future, Argentina for example? - Andsiv

Now here's another part of the world where we've never performed.  Our dear friend Maria is in Argentina and wouldn't a tour be a great excuse for a party at her house!   We have no plans at this point to head that way, but if it were solely MY decision, we'd be there with the next record! 

* * *

Although there's talk of a new Bangles album sometime in the future, will Abby continue to play bass on it and will she do any singing on it as Michael did on past Bangles' albums?

Mike is planning to attend RetroFest this coming August 30 in Glasgow and hopefully he'll get to met you again in person - I have a few items for yourself, Debbi, and Susanna to have as keepsakes; just my way of saying THANK YOU for everything you have done over the years and continue to do in the present and future! Mike will bring them with him and pass them along to you. Lots of love to you, your bandmates, and family!!!!  -Big Al

I did spot Mike in the crowd at Retrofest, but did not get to see anyone backstage.  There was a strict time restriction that night (I know that some of you thought the set was on the short side -that was why!) and as soon as we left the stage we were pretty much in the van and gone.  But I thank you for your thoughtfulness. 

As for the first part of your question, I'll say again that Susanna, Debbi and I made a decision to not intentionally "replace" Michael as a bandmember.  Abby is an exceptionally talented musician in her own right and will continue to inspire and surprise us all with what she produces, I'm sure.  But it was never part of our plan to replace Michael with Abby. We do plan to record in the upcoming months and we'll need bass tracks - because we're not becoming the White Stripes.  Bass players are unique individuals (this coming from someone who WISHES she could master the instrument!) and we're trying to play with them all.  Okay, not really...
* * * 

Nawwww.  I'm not gonna answer any of this lot... 

Ooops.  Guess I just did.