Susanna Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) was arguably the ultimate “girl with a guitar” icon of the 1980s. She co-founded the all-female rock band the Bangles in Los Angeles in 1981 alongside sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson. Originally part of the “Paisley Underground” scene, the band transitioned from garage rock to mainstream pop-rock success through three multi-platinum albums.
The band achieved massive success with the album Different Light, featuring the Prince-penned hit “Manic Monday” (No. 2) and the global chart-topper “Walk Like an Egyptian.” In the “Walk Like an Egyptian” music video, Hoffs’ side-to-side eye movement became an iconic 1980s visual; she later revealed it was a subconscious habit she used to combat stage fright.
In 1988, she co-wrote and sang the power ballad “Eternal Flame,” which reached No. 1 in nine countries. Despite their success, internal tensions regarding the media's focus on Hoffs as the “lead singer” led to the band's dissolution at the end of the decade.
Hoffs was celebrated for a singing style that blended “pep, coy sweetness, and an occasional plaintive resonance.” As a guitarist, she favored 1960s-inspired “jangly” sounds, helping to revive the pop-rock aesthetic of that era. Beyond her music, she was a major 1980s fashion icon, known for her tousled hair and chic, laid-back wardrobe.
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