Bangles/Michael Steele

[Mofo-Kang]

Saw a couple of videos of The Bangles playing, and it looks like bassist Michael Steele has been using the same bass for years ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWP-AsG5DRk ). At first I thought it was a P-bass with a P/J setup, but later I see the pickups aren't like that and the headstock looks like a Music Man. It's not a Stingray or Sterling, though...what is that thing she's playing? LOL

[JAUQO III-X]

It's a Music Man Sabre.

[eyeballkid]

yup... and thanks for the good excuse to watch Susanna Hoff!!

[Gecko 5]

What Jauqo said.


I always thought she was the hot one

Must be that female bassplayer thing

[Mike19]

Originally Posted by Gecko 5

What Jauqo said.


I always thought she was the hot one

Must be that female bassplayer thing

I want all of them.

[capnsandwich]

I don't think there's an ugly chick in the Bangles. However, what's up with the drummer playing that tambourine throughout that video? I'm sure she could get behind the drums and play that beat.

[Mofo-Kang]

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

I don't think there's an ugly chick in the Bangles. However, what's up with the drummer playing that tambourine throughout that video? I'm sure she could get behind the drums and play that beat.

I think it's because she sings...looking on youtube, every time they do this song live she's out front. And they're actually playing, too (or at least their mics are plugged in). I didn't know this, but the drummer and guitar player are sisters. I've never been a big top-40 fan, but I've always kinda liked The Bangles and their music. Just sort of fun, catchy stuff. I guess since everyone knows who they are and remembers their songs 20 years later, I must not be alone...LOL

[Mike19]

1975- Michael (Micki) was the original bass player for the first version of The Runaways (Michael, Joan Jett and Sandy West). I think she was 16 in this photo:



Michael with her mystery bass:

[iamthebassman]

What mystery? It's a Hagstrom.

[LCipher]

>>1975- Michael (Micki)
Heh, she does look young - she always looks about 10yrs younger. But she was about 21 in '75.

This is my site:http://www.mickisteele.net she's played in a LOT of bands: Check out the bass work on "Elton Duck": http://www.mickisteele.net/elton_duck.html

This was after the Runaways - pre "Bangles"



And a lot more stuff:
http://www.mickisteele.net/stories_interviews.html

BTW - would love help on these pages if anyone has detailed info (more than is here) on the bass' she's played
JAUQO III-X thanks for the info on the Music Man. Was wondering the specifics (Sabre) - someone else had mentioned it was destroyed in a car crash.

[bassvi]

I was sorry to see she left the Bangles a few years ago-she was my favorite member of the band.

[LCipher]

bassvi - yeah, she was quite a musician all the way around. There's an interview on the site:http://www.mickisteele.net/phast_phreddie.html with "Phast Phreddie" that mentions the producer on the Bangles albums (David Kahne) getting pissed off trying to find studio bassists to overdub her but none of them being able to play the parts as well as she could.


If you're interested, there are some clips of songs she wrote after the Bangles ended in '89 for the first time (around the 1992 time frame).

http://www.mickisteele.net/cw_interview.html

Oh, and here's her singing as the "original" lead singer for the Runaways: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiT4QlsGv78

Nobody is really sure what she's up to now (although she recently popped up on FB). But the rumors are that she's still involved in music.

[countrybassist]

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

yup... and thanks for the good excuse to watch Susanna Hoff!!

+1

[Mike19]

According to Wikipedia, Mchael was born in June 1955.

Here's another shot of the Hagstrom Mystery Bass



And Elton Duck, c. 1979:

[LCipher]

>>ccording to Wikipedia, Mchael was born in June 1955.
yep - 20 not 21. But she does look about 16 ;-)

She looks about 16 in that Elton Duck pic from ~1980.

[RBrownBass]

Just glad to know it wasn't that other Michael Steele playing bass. But he ain't got no rhythm anyhow...

[faivy]

I was watching a Bangles concert from MTV about 1988.
They not only played but there was no pitch correction software in those days and their harmonies were spot on.
Great band.

[Mr M]

I always admired her bass lines. AFAIK she was completely off the scene when Bangles split years ago. I was very happy when I saw them reunite. But she has left again. Probably because Bangles could not get the attention they used to have in late 80's and the other members were not as much into as Micki. I hope she'll join them again one day and I'd like to watch them live...

[Mofo-Kang]

Originally Posted by Mr M

I always admired her bass lines. AFAIK she was completely off the scene when Bangles split years ago. I was very happy when I saw them reunite. But she has left again. Probably because Bangles could not get the attention they used to have in late 80's and the other members were not as much into as Micki. I hope she'll join them again one day and I'd like to watch them live...

The wikipedia article says she wanted to tour more and have a more aggressive schedule than the other members did (the article mentions them having "family obligations" which I assume means kids).

[JAUQO III-X]

You're welcome LCipher.