The Bangles - Bitchin' Summer

[TheBenj2011]

Good observation @Parsa9...Michael Steel is not in this video, and she did not join the group until "their first LP" which was afterwards turned into...and called The Bangles!

[AbracadAbrasax]

Hero Takes a Taxi



[kanayd]

Great song- reminds me of Surfing & Spying from the GoGo's. :)

[waislandres]

Susanna Hoffs at home with millionaire's at Palisades HS. Beautiful girl from a beautiful place with $10M views.

[chanorsi]

Ha! Love the 4th pic at 52 secs in. Can You say Beach Boys?

[msdemos]

Weren't they originally called "The Bangs" ?

And would this have been before Michael Steele joined the band ???

[Parsa9]

@msdemos Yes, but there was another group called the Bangs, so they changed it. Annette Zalinskas is the bassist in the pictures here. Michael did not come on board until their first LP.

[msdemos]

@Parsa9

Thank you.  :-)

[JsgFilm]

God i loved the Bangles then forgot why but then i remembered, this is why, their early music!... i once tried to break into IRS records so I could find a way to meet them. i was in hollywood pitching a script that had a four girl band in it...I was arrested.

[JsgFilm]

God i loved the Bangles then forgot why but hen remembered... i once tried to break into IRS records so I could find a way to meet them. i was in hollywood pitching a script that had a four girl band in it...I was arrested.

[DanielJoseDiego]

Wow, Glad Debbie didn't keep the short hair, it just didn't work. It looked good on Vicki, and on Sue kinda ok, but on Debbie, NOOOO. They're all beautiful though, don't get me wrong. They're even MORE beautiful in person. God bless all of us who have seen these babes up close and in person. :D

[MXB2001]

Wow, did you catch the pic of Steele holding Hoffs like a mannequin? Is Hoffs that light or Steele that strong I wonder...

[VanielDeeform]

@MXB2001 That's Debbie lifting Susanna. Annette Zalinskas, the original bass player had not left the band, so Michael Steele was yet to join the group; & to answer you're question, probably a combination of both lightness & strength; like their sounds & songs.:)

[Parsa9]

@VanielDeeform Actually Vicky (lead guitarist) is lifting Susanna. Her sister Debbie (drummer) is on the left with an uncharacteristically short haircut.

[mrmjb1960]

Dick Dale,Look Out! The Bangles are after your "King of Surf Music" crown! "Queens Of Surf Music"? YES! I think so!

[VanielDeeform]

@mrmjb1960 Love this instrumental & rare photos video! Thanks for posting, stephenhorne. Those who dig this tune, should really check out: Surfing & Spying by The Go-Go's. As well as their: Beatnik Beach & We got the Beat. It's said that The Bangs(Bangles) were wary of obvious comparisons, but it would have made so much sense to support them on their Vacation tour & ride a wave together, with both having 1982 I.R.S. releases & sharing that Rock Girl Power Pop California Love of Surf Music. Dream

[Caprizonica]

@VanielDeeform Yeah, I noticed that too. It must be they were ito the same kind of music, even Blondie has a surf song circa 79 "In the sun". and it's great because I love The Beachboys, the Gogo's & the Banlges.

[DanielJoseDiego]

This whole debate whether The Bangles were better or not pre-Micheal Steele really reminds me of the dispute with Pink Floyd and whether they were better with or without Syd Barrett. I'm just glad they happened (both bands) I embrace any and everything from these girls as well, be it early bitchin' tunes like this one, their poppy mid 80's stuff, later slower mellow soft tunes from the 90's or each members individual work. I just love them too much.

[selinakyle]

Vicki is such an underrated guitarist.

[sirius212ify]

Still lovin' the Bangles after all these years!

[taeniataful]

oh wow!!! Hot clothes1 SEXYYYY!!!!

[999manman]

Made 30 years ago. Killer fuzz!

[Leadfoot530]

I wish they made a few more songs like this.  Very cool.

[dimmiewitson]

It might be such that one particular YouTube viewer of this particular rock and roll video by the Bangles did not experience a "bitchin' summer," if you would be kind enough to pardon the expression. Thank you all for your attention to this well-thought out little scrap of the wits.

[The777abc777]

the bangles are the hottest babes ever to walk the face of the planet.

[chippewaman1975]

One of the reasons I love youtube and the Bangles. I never knew this song existed. What a gem of a find!

[gmartinz01]

COWABUNGA

[773SleepyHollow]

I'm not a guy who claims to know much about fashion, but as far as I'm concerned if in 2010 I saw four girls dressed in those outfits at 1:10 my socks would be knocked right off.

[RB387]

Impressive!!!!! Most Impressive!!! Awesome!!!

[klbax63]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Valskerie67]

I just love classic Bangles!

[IIIIdepechemodeIIII]

too bad michelle steel isn't in the band yet. 3/4ths of the bangs.

[Maguirearch]

Quite a 60s Surf Music Influence here. Dick Dale. Blow up.

[mini2micro]

Cool song!! I can't believe how young they all were!! What ever happened to the orig bass player!?!

[brokeagain2]

@mini2micro Her name is Annette Z and she joined Blood on the Saddle after she left the Bangles

[knaathekid]

What a cool instrument!

[jorge060309]

para bomitar esta el video eh

[DanielJoseDiego]

@jorge060309 bomitar? Me vomito en tus muertos coleguita, si no os gusta iros bien a tomar por culo miserables hijos de puta.

[Leadfoot530]

Great song. Sounds like a 1960s tune. Thanks for putting it up.

[BigJim24]

I saw them tour with the English Beat in SF in 1982, They rocked.

[mathias7777777777777]

The bangles absolutely rock and rocked!

[lemurianchick]

This is so 1962! Do you know where I can find videos of them when they were The Bangs? I saw them on this LA "American Bandstand" type of music show in the early '80s.

[Hannibu]

Klasse.

Der Song ist so schräg und abgedreht, dass er schon wieder was geniales hat.

Der perfekte Titelsong für einen total verrückten Tarantino-Film.

[AudredDax]

This song is AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[peterdaniel66]

Wow... I was all of 15 years old and madly in love with Susanna Hoffs...

[fijionthebeach]

these chicks effin ROCK!!!

[hoosieryank1967]

Is that debbi smoking at 1:51?

[masterproducer1]

this is one of those get out of your house and into your car with the top down or the sunroof open with the wind blowing through your hair songs.

they are on tour as of this posting so see them if you can!

long live the bangles!

[motownmaniax]

Always loved this band. I know they went too pop at the end but in the early years they were a smokin' hot band. Criminally overlooked and never got the serious consideration they deserved.

[WoodRatGirl]

I've always liked them better than The Go-Go's, personally.

[neohillbilly]

I was at the first show that MIchael Steele played with the Bangles. It was at the Cathay de Grande, with Redd Kross and Black Flag. Hardly a corporate affair. That stuff came later via CBS records. Too bad because they were really great.

[wotrabbitfish]

how can you people say mickey ruined anything, she had nothing to do with crap like manic monday, eternal flame, or egyptian, she played a wicked bass, it was the fucking industry that wanted to make them a vehicle for susanna marketing

[mecon01]

Michael Steele ruined the Bangles imho. I'm not saying she did anything specific to destroy it, but they were so cool pre-Steele: "The Real World", cool beach grooves, hip surf sound, raw psychedelic energy. After-Steele, "Eternal Flame"--need I say anymore? lol

[stormmine]

@mecon01

Oh dear, what a strange and ill-informed comment to make. Do you think for a moment that Steele joined the bangles to stand on stage and sing 'Walk Like An Egyptian'? Do you think she enjoyed her cameo appearances on songs like 'Manic Monday' and 'Eternal Flame'.

Michael Steele didn't destroy the Bangles, it was the corporate machine that couldn't see beyond Hoffs, and forced the split of the band so they could launch Hoffs as a solo artist.

[mecon01]

mecon01@stormmine Good point stormmine.. yea I always held Michael responsible because their sound changed so drastically after she joined--(I mean, I remember I listened, listened, listened to 'All Over the Place' when it came out but it just wasn't happenin for me). But I reckon there was alot of other stuff going on too, with mgmt, record company, etc. Its probably unfair to lay it all on Steele. It would be interesting to read an interview with her.. wonder what she thought of it all.

[sprintbass]

i have to say hoffs was really good with sticking with a riceknbacker sound..i like this track..it reminds me of a early 60s spy show car chase by the beach

[TheHughLundy]

Weren't they orginally the Bangs Susannah , Vicky ,Debbie & some girl Annette ? who later joined Blood On The Saddle?

[sprintbass]

yeah..micheal steele ended up being the replacement for Annette Zilinskas in 83 sometime..

[IIIIdepechemodeIIII]

thankfully she was. micheal steele is the hottie of this band. the guitarist is a close 2nd.

[IIIIdepechemodeIIII]

yes, they were originally called the bangs,then bangles, correct.

[JustAFocus]

Actually, originally the Supersonic Bangs, then Bangs, then Bangles.

[JustAFocus]

Oh, and before all of that, they were the Colours.

[LTF6161]

Pre-Michael Steele? Then its not the really the Bangles imo

[sprintbass]

1000% agreed

[IIIIdepechemodeIIII]

i agree.

[RoW2606]

never heard this before

sounds ok

[zapkvr]

Okay I know they to tone it down in order to become more acceptable or mainstream but you know what, I'm glad they did. I never would have heard this otherwise. Damn they were fine. I wish they woudl release the earlier recordings.

[bret66g]

That is exactly what happened Khultan. They were a mod band. I saw them a once a month.They were so cool.When I saw the cover of their first " Studio" release I couldn't believe my eyes. I still like them. They were really good people.

[jmm1000]

those are some serious early shots- thanks!!

[legslikelightning]

feel like i wanna get my surf board out!!! yeah dude

[Khultan]

I'm surprised because I really like this and I have never heard this before but I sure have heard their other songs and they sure do absolutely SUCK. What happened? Record company pressured them for a different sound? If I didn't know they did this number, I would have thought this straight out of a 60s garage band.

[redcomusic]

Wow! They got hints of surf-rock on their EP like "I'm In Line" but his one's maaaad!

[totallygerald]

can someone give me a website where I can download this awesome song '''

[zensorship]

calling Quentin Tarantino....calling Quentin Tarantino....

please use this wonderful track in your next movie.

[999manman]

That is pretty freakin' awesome!!! Esp. for a band not normally associated with this type of music. Killer , snaky fuzz riffs. I love surf and fuzz-psych and this rates very high on my list!!! Thanks for posting this. Now if I can only find a copy.

[JosephKuby]

I agree. This sounds so rad. 5 stars.

[fobroxyo]

sounds like a slinky in the background at 1:30, hah.

[QuatreVingtQuatre]

anyone know of a CD which might feature this song? or better yet a download link?? :D

[justholli]

lime wire maybe

[COGENTCOG]

It's on Rodney On The Roq vol 3

[SyvetheShairks]

Cowabunga!

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

The Bangles are one of my favorite bands.

Their music rocks on.

Thanks for sharing this excellent video that shows them before Manic Monday and In Your Room.

George Vreeland Hill

[justholli]

mine too... way better than the gogos

[edditude09]

i got the ep with "how is the air up there", "i'm in line" and 3 other songs.

[afa78djd]

L.A.s own BAnGLeS!!! Yeahhhh!! gotta love them... this music is like totally their style!!! wish they had done more music like this.. God I love these girls!!!

[modfather1965]

Yeah, Rics for surf music. I know Fenders were the more traditional guitar for the genre but you gotta love Susannah Hoffs' Ric 350 (the Lennon model) and the "cresting wave" body style of the 620/660 models. Nothing says 60's better than a Rickenbacker.

[jtkriskey]

From the pics, it looks like Vick has a Les Paul. That should provide some real deep power for a few good riffs, too. I hafta admit I really like Susanna's Rick, but I prefer to play a Les Paul any day!

[jtkriskey]

Such a great surf tune! I'd love to have seen this performed live! Watching these gals shaking, shimmying, and "swimming" to the haunting guitar riffs would have made any guy weak in the knees. Surf's up.

[Rich27014]

What a tune! Great pics aswell. A hidden gem....

[modfather1965]

I've long thought this was one of the best non-60's versions of a surf song (sorry Agent Orange...). The Bangle's first album is by far their best stuff. Rickenbacker's are a must have for power surf music...

[AliAssaSeen]

Rickenbacker's for surf?? Hmmm...i always thought Fender had that area covered.

[7thDayAtheist]

Actually, Mosrites are THE surf guitar

[kaosfrack071978]

A few pics come from their (only one (?) released book, I got it.

[CatchyJ]

I always liked Annette Zalinskas better than that other bass player but they never let her sing so she left and joined her boyfriends band as lead singer and disappeared =(

[mythme01]

Ooooh careful with that...you're going to invoke the ire of the Michael fans by saying that - they are a very dedicated lot and HIGHLY protective of Micki.

(me being one of them) ;)

[FireMinstrel]

Agreed. Bangles fans are rabid. I'm probably the only fan who chuckled when they got dissed on Family Guy.

[BeccaGSD]

ME too

[chefsupreme64]

You've been misinformed CatchyJ. They kicked Annette Zilinskas out because she wasn't good enough. That other bass player could at least play her instrument...and then some.

[AliAssaSeen]

Brilliant..brilliant song. I haven't heard tis in a long, long time. Wern't they the "Bangs" when this was recorded??

[whitefox2019]

Where did you get the pixs at?

[koldkockrecords]

Cool Riffs on Bangles Bichin Summer. Where did you get the pixs at? I've seen that pix on stage at 1:27 before. Also you see Susanna playing a Rickenbacker 360 six string in black. I have two Rickenbacker's.1st is a 350 24 fret like Susanna's Hoff's in black.2nd is a 360/12v64 like George Harrison's in Fireglo.

[stephenhorne]

Glad you like the track. The pics were just gathered from various net searches and message boards.

[vwmodrock]

@koldkockrecords Check out the Rickenbacker Resource Forum, I play a 360/12V64 and 355JL ( John Lennon Ltd. Editon in full scale ). If you love Rickenbackers...

[crashsite000]

Thanks for posting this track. Great images too! I always loved it from Rodney on the Roq's CD. Loved their garage era music.

[Northernlightshow]

Vicki has always been an underated guitarist

[jetsetsc]

+100 She kicks some serious fuzz on "All Over The Place" They were so great before the record company started calling the shots (big hair, Prince tunes..)

[rpmangin]

@jetsetsc Well, to quote Rush, "Glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity."

[colibri1]

Thanks for posting this. A great reminder that a lot of the late 70s/early 80s bands drew directly on the early to mid-60s for their sound. This could have come straight from The Ventures or The Surfaris in the mid-60s. The early Go-Go's also had an early 60s surf rock sound like this, but the Bangles were better musicians.

[shaggycub]

Yeah, I do like The Go-Go's "Surfing and Spying", but I think this one is a little bit better.

[Caprizonica]

Great. It sounds like the soundtrack of "Pulp fiction". It's good to hear something different from them.

...now...about their look, the clothes...ahem.. Awful. They really needed some fashion advice. Vicky...blonde is your thing, long and blond hair. Debbi: you too, never-ever short. Zilinskas looked like someone's granny, and Susana...isn't she supposed to be the rich girl out of them?...why is she always using the same dresses everywhere (even now)? And again: no short hair.

[colibri1]

The Bangles look here is perfect for the kind of music they were making at the time, and it looks good on them. The sound you're hearing here and on their recordings through 1984 is 60s revival, and they dressed accordingly. It's 60s revival stuff, mod gear, y'know? 1964 Vidal Sassoon geometric haircuts, Mary Quant dresses, all that. The Go Go's and The B52's were into 60s revivalism in the late 70s/early 80s, too. Learn some fashion history and expand your mind.

[shaggycub]

I'm willing to bet a good portion of those clothes came from the thrift stores, back when it was a gazillion times easier to find original vintage mod stuff in a Goodwill. Remember, these girls were born in the late 50's early 60's, those looks are what they remember from their childhoods. Not to mention, the original name of their band was "The Supersonic Bangs", named after a hairdo they saw in an old magazine. It was subsequently shortened to The Bangs.

[colibri1]

I'm roughly their age and in the late 70s/early 80s we used to comb thrift stores for clothes from the then-fashionable late 50s through mid-60s. It was the thing to do at the time if you were into this stuff, especially since it would be a few years before current stores were carrying styles that could pass as mod, though ordering gear from UK mod specialty suppliers was another option. And yeah, it probably was partly nostalgia for the styles of our childhoods.