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Eternal Flame

The Authorized Biography of The Bangles

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Eternal Flame

By: Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
Narrated by: Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
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About this listen

 The authorized biography of the quintessential ’80s pop band The Bangles, who scored massive hits with “Manic Monday,” Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Hazy Shade of Winter,” and more 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” hits. 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.

With unprecedented access to founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson, 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' LA to bunking with Sting during a PR trip to the UK to topping the Billboard charts, 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 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.”

Dynamic, daring, and deliciously entertaining from start to finish, ETERNAL FLAME is a tribute to one of the greatest pop bands of the 20th century—and a long-overdue corrective that restores The Bangles to their rightful place in music history as feminist trailblazers. Entertainment & Celebrities Music Women Funny Inspiring Biography
All stars
Most relevant
I remember The Bangles fondly and was a little sad to hear just what a slog it was for them when they should have been enjoying their time in the spotlight as much as we all did. An honest recollection of the perils of being an all girl band in the 80s that deserved way more respect than they were afforded. Even today if you Google The Bangles one of the questions posed is “Do The Bangles play their own instruments?”…please!
I would have preferred to hear directly from the ladies themselves but maybe it’s all still too painful. Nevertheless, it was an interesting listen and gave great insight into the creation of such classics as Manic Monday, Walk Like An Egyptian and my personal favourite Hazy Shade of Winter which I think nailed their garage band roots.

I felt for them

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