The Bangles Getting Authorized Biography, ‘Eternal Flame’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The Bangles will be the subject of an authorized biography. Eternal Flame, from author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, will be published on February 18, 2025, via Hachette Books. The book, named for one of the all-girl group’s most-beloved singles, is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here (where it will arrive on March 13). The author had unprecedented access to founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson.
From the publisher’s announcement: From their first meeting in 1981, the Bangles were ambitious, focused, and intentional; their hard-work and determination resulted in millions of records sold across the globe, before becoming the first all-girl band to have five Top 10 singles. Not long after coming together, they toured the world, released #1 records, and collaborated with the biggest artists of the day. They seemed unstoppable—until tensions within the band, artistic differences, and the pressures of sudden celebrity tore them apart less than a decade later.
Eternal Flame is the story of those eight years: of a diverse and vibrant Los Angeles music scene, unfettered work ethics and self-belief, the dawn of MTV, the unpredictable consequences of fame, life as a touring band, and their rapid rise to global domination—then imploding at the height of success. But it’s also a story of the very real challenges faced by women attempting to follow their artistic dreams in a media and music industry ecosystem which seemed set up for their failure from the start.
Eternal Flame is the first authorized biography of this iconic group, featuring exclusive stories, input, and interviews from the pioneering band members themselves as well as those that knew them best. From playing the club circuit in 1980s’ Los Angeles to bunking with Sting during a PR trip to the U.K. to topping the Billboard chart, to interludes with Prince and appearances on the definitive MTV, Eternal Flame traces the band’s rise to superstardom, taking readers behind-the-scenes and sharing with them never-before-shared anecdotes and personal ephemera.
As Debbi Peterson herself notes, “I think it’s about time that our true story was told. People only see certain aspects of the Bangles, especially as the media has twisted the past and we have been misrepresented for a long time. Plus, certainly in the eighties, we were women making it in a man’s world. I think that needs to be celebrated.”
“Manic Monday” was the first of five Top 5 hits that the Bangles earned in the U.S., reaching #2; “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Eternal Flame” were both #1 smashes. “Hazy Shade of Winter” hit #2 and “In Your Room” peaked at #5.
Author Bickerdike is a rock and roll cultural historian and author, working across music heritage, fandom, broadcast and academia. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she has appeared in over 50 documentaries about pop culture and is the author of a number of books on music, including Why Vinyl Matters.
Related: Our feature story on the Bangles’ debut album, including an extensive interview with Vicki Peterson
The Bangles’ recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationPrince was so infatuated with Susanna that he thought offering the song Manic Monday may win her over. I don’t blame him.