Vicki Peterson of the Bangles and John Cowsill of the Cowsills will perform at 8PM on Friday, August 9, at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook, New York. The husband-and-wife duo, who have been married for more than 20 years, will bring their many years in music to the intimate Long Island stage – not just with the Bangles and the Cowsills.
Peterson also worked with the Continental Drifters supergroup, featuring artists such as Peter Holsapple of the dB’s, John’s sister Susan Cowsill and Mark Walton of the Dream Syndicate. Cowsill has played with the Beach Boys and Tommy Tutone as well as in yet another supergroup, the Action Skulls, with Bill Mumy and Peterson. Bill Mumy rose to fame on television’s Lost in Space as part of extensive TV and film work, but he’s also an accomplished long-time musician who has worked with many people.
In addition to all of that activity, a new album from Peterson and Cowsill will be released in 2025, with songs written by two of Cowsill’s brothers, Bill and Barry, entitled Long After the Fire.
The two spoke about what songs they would be performing at the August 9 show: “Although we focus on songs from our upcoming album Long After the Fire, we do perform some Bangles and Cowsills songs in our set. We’re adding more as we go.”
Both the Bangles and the Cowsills recorded some of the best pop from their respective eras, but the duo will be doing more stripped-down versions of some of those hits. “It’s true that our versions are very different — they have to be — from the original recordings. But since nearly everything we do is drenched in two-part harmony, we honor that aspect of the Cowsills and Bangles; both bands are known for their harmonies.”
It’s always interesting when siblings or spouses make music together, and Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill are no different. “We are just starting out on this journey and we expect many adventures along the way. So far, we are just having fun together, and do tease each other a bit onstage.”
As for whether the Continental Drifters will work together again, they said: “In a heartbeat! Susan and I have several things coming out in 2025: a biography, a best-of album, and a tribute record with Continental Drifters songs covered by some incredible artists.”
While not on any extensive tour, Peterson and Cowsill said, “The important thing is getting out there in front of people who love your music, and will support you in other ways – i.e. buying tickets and merch at the shows.”
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