Initially coming together over ads placed in L.A. newspaper The Recycler back in 1981, the band originally known as The Bangs would kick around town as part of the then-burgeoning "Paisley Underground" scene. Reaching back to '60s pop and psychedelic rock for influences, the eventually rechristened Bangles would play with other scene bands like the Three O' Clock, The Dream Syndicate and Green on Red.
Releasing debut EP Bangles on IRS Records in 1982, the buzz around the band would land them on Columbia by the time they issued debut album, All Over the Place. Over the course of just two more studio albums and a greatest hits release, The Bangles would become one of the biggest bands in music before temporarily calling it a day in 1989.
Along the way, The Bangles would score an impressive pair of #1 hits, and five Top 10 singles. These are The Bangles' biggest hits.
1. "Walk Like an Egyptian"
After Toni Basil turned it down and Lene Lovich never released her version, The Bangles took this song straight to #1. Released on September 1, 1986, it would hit the top spot on December 20, 1986, where it would stay for a month. It would finally be dethroned by Gregory Abbot's "Shake You Down" on January 17, 1987.
2. "Eternal Flame"
This Susanna Hoffs-penned ballad would reach #1 on April 1, 1989, for just one week. It would be replaced the following week by Roxette's "The Look."
3. "Hazy Shade of Winter"
This cover of the Simon and Garfunkel track would be the highest-charting track from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, peaking at #2 on February 6, 1988. The #1 song that week: "Could've Been," by Tiffany.
4. "Manic Monday"
This famously Prince-penned hit somehow only made it to #2 on the Hot 100 on April 19, 1986. The irony: the song that blocked it from #1 was Prince's own, "Kiss."
5. "In Your Room"
Release in October 1988, This rocking single from the Everything album would climb as high as #5 on the Hot 100 on January 7, 1989.
6. "Walking Down Your Street"
The ladies were still making noise four singles deep on the Different Light album, with this peppy track just missing the Top 10, peaking at #11 on April 18, 1987. The outstanding music video features an appearance from rock pioneer and legend, Little Richard.
7. "If She Knew What She Wants"
This mid-tempo cover of a Jules Shear song would leap from the Different Light full-length and get all the way to # #29 on July 12, 1986.
8. "Be With You"
This tune was penned by Bangles drummer Vicki Peterson, cracking the Top 40 before peaking at #30 on June 24, 1989. It's the last Bangles track to hit the Hot 100 to date.
BONUS TRACK: "Going Down to Liverpool"
While not exactly a chart hit, this classic cover of the Katrina and the Waves' song boasts a famous music video featuring none less than Leonard Nimoy (AKA Mr. Spock) as the band's chauffeur. It's taken from the ladies' debut full-length, All Over the Place.
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