Talking Shop: The Bangles

The Bangles reunited to record a song for Austin Powers in 1999

Intended to be a "female Beatles", the band split acrimoniously in 1989 after petite singer Susannah Hoffs was pushed to the fore in media coverage and videos.

They put aside their differences a decade later and released a new album, Doll Revolution, in 2003.

Original member Michael Steele departed in 2005, but the band are still touring - and joined The Police for their last ever UK performance at London's Hard Rock Calling festival on Sunday.

How does it feel to be on the same bill as The Police for their last ever UK performance?

Vicki Peterson: Exciting! I can't really believe it's their last one. I don't believe it, they'll be back.

Susannah Hoffs: It kind of brings us full circle from when we started out because Miles Copeland - who is [The Police drummer] Stewart's brother - was our first manager.

So it kind of represents our little dream. Once we got a manager, it all felt real. So to find ourselves here again with The Police is like watching our dream as a young band.

It's kind of amazing.

How do you find being The Bangles second time around?

Vicki Peterson: It's better because we've had more control over what we do in different ways.

Susannah Hoffs: We all have families now so we have to put them first.

Debbi Peterson: We've had a lot of perspective by having kids so we've realised The Bangles isn't the only thing in the world, but it's a good thing.

Susannah Hoffs: And we know how to take care of each other because we're mummies. We know when to say to someone "you need a nap!"

Why did you fund the recording of your last album by yourselves and then take it to a record label?

Susannah Hoffs: For the control. There's so many different ways to put out music now. It's a new era in music - you don't have to have a big record label calling the shots and controlling your world.

Vicki Peterson: We paid for it so it's ours.

You have your own branded Daisy Rock guitar. How did that come about?

Vicki Peterson: We've got a signature model of a Daisy Rock which we've had the chance to make our very own- it's a really awesome guitar.

Susannah Hoffs: It's guitar for girls

Vicki Peterson: We want to get young girls into playing the guitar because we need more female rockers.

You became Companions for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2004 didn't you?

Vicki Peterson: Yes, that was amazing. We had done a masterclass there the previous year and then they asked us to be companions so I went to Liverpool. Debbie was heavily a pregnant at the time so she couldn't go.

But it was really meaningful because we had a really wonderful night there and the kids were really engaged in something they really cared about.

What's next for the Bangles?

Susannah Hoffs: We're touring Europe and Australia and then we will be recording a new album.

The Bangles are on tour around the UK and Ireland until 5 July 2008 and will be performing at Retrofest in Glasgow on 30 August. The group spoke to BBC News entertainment reporter Genevieve Hassan.

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