Five Must-hear Tracks Featuring Michael Steele

Michael Steele is best known as bassist with The Bangles during the group’s hit-making era. Born Susan Thomas, Steele joined the group in 1983, replacing founding member Annette Zilinskas, who had played on the group’s 1982 indie-label debut EP. Steele was with The Bangles until the group went inactive in 1989, and she returned when the band got back together in 1998, remaining on board through 2005. After leaving the group a second time, Steele retired from music and has kept a very low profile.

But while her work with The Bangles was Steele’s most widely-known work, the talented and versatile bassist-singer had a long and creatively fruitful career, playing in and/or guesting with other groups of note. In honor of Steele’s recent 70th birthday (June 2) here are five noteworthy tracks from five bands, all featuring Michael Steele.

“Yesterday’s Kids” from The Runaways’ Born to Be Bad (released 1991)
Los Angeles scenester and self-styled svengali Kim Fowley groomed, launched (and sort of managed) an all-female rock group, The Runaways, in 1975. Always controversial, the group never gained traction in its native U.S., but The Runaways were, as the saying goes, “big in Japan.” Known at the time as Micki Steele, the bassist was an original member of the group, but she left before the band recorded its self-titled 1976 LP. Steele did play on Runaways recordings, though; two albums released long after the group’s demise feature her work. One of those, 1993’s Born to Be Bad features an embryonic garage power trio lineup of Steele, Joan Jett and drummer Sandy West. It’s a roughly recorded demo (Fowley was no skilled producer) but the band’s raw talent shines through.

“She Won’t Answer the Phone from Elton Duck’s Elton Duck (released 2012)
Phoenix guitarist Mike Condello had been a member of Phoenix band The Beans before that group moved to San Francisco and reorganized as The Tubes. When Condello landed in L.A. he launched a band of his own. Elton Duck never released an album during their brief time together, but they did record one in 1980. Michael Steele was with the group for part of its brief time together, and her work can be heard on a very rare, limited 2012 release that showcases the group’s promise.

“September Gurls” from The Bangles’ Different Light (1986)
The Bangles always wore their influences on their sleeves, paying tribute to unheralded greats like Emitt Rhodes and rocking up pop tunes like Simon and Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter.” The group gave a nod to power pop legends Big Star with their cover of Alex Chilton’s “September Gurls,” helping to bring belated attention to the overlooked Memphis band and arguably setting the stage for the eventual reactivation of Big Star. Bassist Steele sings lead on the Bangles’ faithful reading of the song.

“Good Times” from Hoodoo Gurus’ Blow Your Cool! (1987)
Australian garage rockers the Hoodoo Gurus were kindred spirits with The Bangles; both groups bore a deep appreciation and understanding of 1960s garage rock and pop. So when the members of both bands met up, it made sense that The Bangles’ powerful and sweet vocals could enhance a Hoodoos session. All four Bangles – Susanna Hoffs, Debbie Peterson, Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele – provided “special guest” vocals on “Good Times,” one of three singles from the Hoodoo Gurus’ third LP.

“Waiting for Tonight” from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Playback (recorded 1988)
Another band sharing a like-minded musical worldview with The Bangles was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The Bangles (including Steele) joined the Heartbreakers in the studio during sessions for Petty’s solo album Full Moon Fever, adding their distinctive vocals to “Waiting for Tonight.” The recording was finished but would remain unreleased until featured on the sixth disc of the Heartbreakers’ 1995 Playback archival boxed set.