Susanna Hoffs: One rockin' mom.
Susanna Hoffs
By Madeliene Marr
If you grew up in the '80s there's no way you escaped the catchy little ditties by the Bangles.
Though their songs didn't evoke much emotion or remind you of lost love -- with the exception of maybe Eternal Flame and Hazy Shade of Winter (a remake of the Simon & Garfunkel hit) -- they stuck hard in your head. Who isn't guilty of humming Manic Monday in the shower on the first day of the workweek?
The Bangles recently headlined Super Saturday after the Marlins game against the Colorado Rockies. On tap: fun fan favorites, including, of course, Walk Like An Egyptian. Feel free to do the King Tut strut in the stands.
Not much has changed for the peppy former quartet, which broke up in 1989 and reunited in 2000. The three original members -- lead singer Susanna Hoffs, 49, and the Peterson sisters, Vicki, 50, and Debbi, 46 -- still look as young as they did during the Mall Hair Era. (Michael Steele left for good two years ago).
We got to chat with Hoffs from her home in Los Angeles that she shares with husband, Austin Powers director Jay Roach, and their two sons.
Are you excited about performing in Miami?
I've never played in a baseball field before so this has got to be interesting.
Do you get stopped a lot?
Yes, but it still surprises me. We just got back from touring Europe. And though I may not get recognized by face, when I'm at the passport control they see my name and put it together: `Are you the singer for the Bangles?'
What about in your heyday?
I feel very grateful to have a career in entertainment but it's never really been an issue. I have a very normal life. I feel bad for some of these people who can't even walk out the front door. Think of the price the children have to pay in terms of their freedom.
So you don't feel like a rock star?
It's a mom/rock musician dichotomy. We joke that the transformation occurs on stage. It's like a Spider-Man thing; we put on these miniskirts and boots and electric guitars and become this other person.
What do your kids think?
Their dad is a director so they grew up on movie sets. Mom is a person who goes on stage and plays rock music. We live in L.A. so entertainment is the big business of the town.
Do you like performing live?
It's a big adrenaline rush [to] feel the audience connecting to you. There is a surrealness to it. At the height of our fame I always thought, `Wow, is this really happening?'
Have any favorite songs?
Hero Takes a Fall is always a high to play. It's got a really driving beat with a lot of jangly guitar. It sort of brings out the fact that we started out as a garage band and we really are a garage band at heart.
How do you all still get along?
For the most part pretty well. Twelve of us travel on our tour bus [including the crew]. We don't get much sleep and we're like little sardines with a porta-potty style bathroom. So that can bring out the worst in people. If anything, we have our sibling moments. Vicki and Debbi are sisters -- so they have a certain rapport. I'm sort of the adopted sister. I've been with them since 1981. They're my other family.
How did you meet?
Through an ad in The Recycler in L.A. -- it was like Craigslist of the time.
Any new stuff coming out?
We are working on an album, yes. Trouble is we got lost in our mom mode and it's so easy for time to slip away.
Whom do you listen to?
I always draw a blank when I'm asked this question. Fleetwood Mac, Velvet Underground, and of course, the Beatles. I still think they are like the ultimate band to this day. I recently got satellite radio and it's heaven. I get to listen to all of the stuff from the '60s -- with no commercials!
| Average rating based on 1 review. |
|
Recent Reviews
See all reviews- Current 62.6 °F
- It's an alfresco night
- Try a Grove sidewalk cafe
Need a fix?
-
Tune into the latest celebrity news and scandal, Miami style, in Voyeur.
This makes me feel so old...these women are in their late 40s!!! I can't believe how time flies.
Posted by: areyes on Mon, 2008-08-04 17:04