As a fan of classic rock - a true fan - I am obligated to name Randy Bachman, Neil Young, David Crosby and Ike Turner amongst my idols.
I must admit - my idols are all men.
But there is another genre of popular and rock music from the 70's and 80's - the rise of the Girl Groups.
That is is an astonishingly patronizing and belittling title in my opinion; women are every bit as capable of rocking as their male counterparts and I think (in my utterly politically incorrect opinion) they look far better doing it. Girl Groups have always - I personally feel - been the second-place winners in the recording companies' decisions as to who will be the Next Big Thing.
The Bangles fought through the stereotypes and predjudice of marketing execs in the 80's. They not only defied that protcol; they blew it wide open. They were asked to provide a group that would appeal to young American men. They did so - but that request opened the door to the brilliant rock guitarist and artist Suzannah Hoffs; and the quartet behind her. Over the next 20 years; the Bangles carved out a niche for themselves - of solid rock music and gloriously entertaining rythyms accompanied by delightful stage presence and an undeniable blatant sexuality.
From a male perspective Ms. Hoffs is unbelieveably hot and lovely even as she rips into her guitar; she has made herself so. Her short skirts (which reveal her sexy legs) and tight tops delight men even as she blows their minds with her magnificent guitar ability. (I can't stress this enough. Men see her glorious hair and sexy body, but Ms. Hoffs is a rock musician of the highest order. Master guitarist Randy Bachman has acknowleged her skill - can we mere mortals do anything less?) She is sexy but she is smart; she understands the difference between music and mere star power. She created a band of women that could not only thrill men but astound audiences with their powerful rythyms and engaging lyrics.
The Bangles will go down in history as one of the greatest 'Girl Groups' that ever thrilled the audience. And they do so for their musicality; their stage presence and their powerful performance. I state with great delight that I have been pleased to attend two of their concerts; even into their late 40's they are a musical power that cannot be denied.
Girls are lovely and beautiful - but the girls that ignore that and develop their art become special indeed.
Here's to Suzannah Hoffs and the Bangles - the greatest 'Girl-group' that ever took the stage. They were hot, sexy and lovely, but let's ignore that in the face of their superb music.
I must admit - my idols are all men.
But there is another genre of popular and rock music from the 70's and 80's - the rise of the Girl Groups.
That is is an astonishingly patronizing and belittling title in my opinion; women are every bit as capable of rocking as their male counterparts and I think (in my utterly politically incorrect opinion) they look far better doing it. Girl Groups have always - I personally feel - been the second-place winners in the recording companies' decisions as to who will be the Next Big Thing.
The Bangles fought through the stereotypes and predjudice of marketing execs in the 80's. They not only defied that protcol; they blew it wide open. They were asked to provide a group that would appeal to young American men. They did so - but that request opened the door to the brilliant rock guitarist and artist Suzannah Hoffs; and the quartet behind her. Over the next 20 years; the Bangles carved out a niche for themselves - of solid rock music and gloriously entertaining rythyms accompanied by delightful stage presence and an undeniable blatant sexuality.
From a male perspective Ms. Hoffs is unbelieveably hot and lovely even as she rips into her guitar; she has made herself so. Her short skirts (which reveal her sexy legs) and tight tops delight men even as she blows their minds with her magnificent guitar ability. (I can't stress this enough. Men see her glorious hair and sexy body, but Ms. Hoffs is a rock musician of the highest order. Master guitarist Randy Bachman has acknowleged her skill - can we mere mortals do anything less?) She is sexy but she is smart; she understands the difference between music and mere star power. She created a band of women that could not only thrill men but astound audiences with their powerful rythyms and engaging lyrics.
The Bangles will go down in history as one of the greatest 'Girl Groups' that ever thrilled the audience. And they do so for their musicality; their stage presence and their powerful performance. I state with great delight that I have been pleased to attend two of their concerts; even into their late 40's they are a musical power that cannot be denied.
Girls are lovely and beautiful - but the girls that ignore that and develop their art become special indeed.
Here's to Suzannah Hoffs and the Bangles - the greatest 'Girl-group' that ever took the stage. They were hot, sexy and lovely, but let's ignore that in the face of their superb music.
Last edited:
