The Bangles: Christopher's Perfect Pop Connection

Early Life & Formation	Rise to Fame & Prince Connection
The Bangles (originally The Bangs) are an American all-female pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. The core members are sisters Vicki Peterson (guitar, vocals) and Debbi Peterson (drums, vocals), along with Susanna Hoffs (vocals, guitar). Michael Steele joined on bass in 1983. They started in the LA club scene with a jangly, harmony-rich sound inspired by 1960s pop and new wave.	Their 1984 debut All Over the Place earned critical acclaim. The 1986 album Different Light brought massive success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Prince wrote and gave them the hit single “Manic Monday”, which became their first Top 10 smash and a global success.

Warfield Concert , Prince Surprise and

Christopher

On May 14, 1986, The Bangles performed at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. Prince made a surprise guest appearance, joining them on stage for “Manic Monday” (backing vocals and guitar) and returning for the encore to perform “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” with the band. This remains one of the most memorable moments in 1980s rock history. "Manic Monday" was written by Prince, under the pseudonym "Christopher". It was originally intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984. Lyrically, it describes a woman who is waking up to go to work on Monday, wishing it was still Sunday so that she could continue relaxing. The single, released by Columbia Records in late December 1985, received generally positive reviews from music critics, highlighting Prince's craftsmanship and the Bangles' vocal performance. It was compared with the Mamas & the Papas' song "Monday, Monday", although critics described "Manic Monday" as deceptively simple and without lyrical depth. It became the Bangles' breakthrough hit, reaching number two in the United States, where it was kept from the top position by Prince and the Revolution's "Kiss". It also peaked at number two in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Ireland, and reached the top five in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. "Manic Monday" was later certified gold in the UK and Canada.

Prince wrote "Manic Monday" in 1984, and recorded it as a duet for Apollonia 6's self-titled album, but he eventually pulled the song. Two years later, he offered the single to the Bangles under the pseudonym "Christopher", a character he played in the 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon. In an interview with MTV UK in 1989, Debbi Peterson explained why Prince gave them the song: "[Prince] really liked our first album. He liked the song 'Hero Takes a Fall', which is a great compliment, because we liked his music. He contacted us, and said, 'I've got a couple of songs for you. I'd like to know if you're interested,' and of course we were. One of the songs Prince brought to the group was 'Manic Monday', written under the pseudonym of Christopher." Peterson talked about the evolution of what Prince brought them: "It was a Banglefication of a Prince arrangement. He had a demo that was very specifically him. It was a good song, but we didn't record it like 'This is our first hit single! Oh my God! I can feel it in my veins!' We just did the song, and the album, and then sat back and thought about it". Hits like “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Hazy Shade of Winter,” and “Eternal Flame” cemented their status. They disbanded in 1989 but have reunited for tours and albums (including Sweetheart of the Sun in 2011). The Bangles helped pave the way for female rock bands with their strong songwriting, vocal harmonies, and independent spirit. SOURCE Wikipedia

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