Vicki Peterson

Victoria Anne Theresa Peterson Cowsill (born January 11, 1958) is an American rock musician and songwriter. She has been the lead guitarist for the Bangles since their foundation in 1981, and after their first breakup in 1989 she has returned to the band for all subsequent reunions. In intervening years she performed with other artists, most extensively with the Continental Drifters.

Vicki Peterson
Vicki Peterson performing with The Bangles at The House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio on August 30, 2007.
Background information
Birth nameVictoria Anne Theresa Peterson
Born (1958-01-11) January 11, 1958
OriginNorthridge, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresPunk rock, pop rock, pop
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, bass guitar, mandolin
Years active1976–present
Associated actsThe Bangles, Continental Drifters, Psycho Sisters, Action Skulls

Early life

Peterson described herself as a solo artist in her early years – "I was a kid who brought her guitar to every sleep-over and summer afternoon in the park to play her newest creation to anyone who would listen…"[1] In high school she formed a band that went through various incarnations as Crista Galli, Aishi, The Muze, The Fans, and Those Girls from 1976 to 1980.[2]

Music career

In 1981, she founded The Bangs, later renamed The Bangles, with her sister Debbi Peterson, and Susanna Hoffs.

After The Bangles disbanded in 1989, Peterson played with the Continental Drifters and The Psycho Sisters, in both cases alongside Susan Cowsill. In addition to performing their own material, The Psycho Sisters freelanced as backing singers (Steve Wynn's Fluorescent, Giant Sand's Center of the Universe), and Peterson has also contributed harmony vocals to recordings by the Hoodoo Gurus, John Doe, Tom Petty and Belinda Carlisle. Additionally, she replaced a pregnant Charlotte Caffey on the 1994–95 Go-Go's reunion tour. In 1999 the Bangles reformed and have recorded and played sporadically since.

Peterson married musician John Cowsill on October 25, 2003.[3] An earlier relationship had ended when her fiance Bobby Donati died of leukemia in 1991.[4]

In August 2014, after playing together as The Psycho Sisters for more than 20 years, Peterson and Susan Cowsill released their first album, entitled Up on the Chair, Beatrice.[5][6] In 2017, she and John Cowsill joined with Bill Mumy as the band Action Skulls to release an album (also including posthumous contributions from the bassist Rick Rosas) entitled "Angels Hear".[7]

References
  1. Bowar, Chad (June 30, 2004). "Interview With Vicki Peterson of The Bangles". suite101.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  2. Macari, Rachel (August 13, 2019). "There's More Than Meets The Eye to The Bangles and You Should Know Why". Medium.
  3. "John Cowsill". August 1, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  4. contributor, Dustin Schoof | lehighvalleylive com (September 23, 2011). "The Bangles guitarist Vicki Peterson talks new album and SoCal mindset". lehighvalleylive.com.
  5. Steve Hochman, album review at "Tuesday Reviewsday: The Psycho Sisters, Quetzal, Nightmare & the Cat and Chiquis", KPCC, July 29, 2014.
  6. Wesley Britton, "Music Review: The Psycho Sisters – 'Up on the Chair, Beatrice'", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 21, 2014.
  7. Andy Hermann, "Meet Action Skulls, a New Band Featuring Vicki Peterson, John Cowsill and Bill Mumy", LA Weekly, August 4, 2017.

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