Success is nothing new to musicians Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill.
As the Bangles’ lead guitarist, Peterson scored No. 1 hits with “Walk Like an Egyptian” and the top 10 “Eternal Flame.” Cowsill was The Beach Boys’ drummer and a member of his family’s band, The Cowsills.
Now, the married couple is starting over — gratefully — with their eponymous band.
Peterson and Cowsill will perform a sold-out acoustic show at McCabe’s in Santa Monica on Friday, April 18. The ticket sales should help with future gigs, they joke, as they have to prove themselves again.
“We’re testing the waters and trying to get through this period pretty quick here,” Cowsill said with a laugh. “We’re not worried about it. Whatever it is, it will be.”
The definition of an “acoustic show” belies their personalities. During a 30-minute Zoom chat, the two tease each other and jokingly try to stab each other with pencils. They have a secret about the McCabe’s show, but neither would ‘fess up.
“Well, you can tell we’re very serious people,” Cowsill said.
“I guess it’s time to put our serious face on,” the couple said interchangeably.
Peterson added, “We’re going to play songs, meet with fans, we’re going to ask the audience questions — interview them, just to kill some time.”
Peterson is a founding member of The Bangles, selling over 6 million gold and platinum albums. Their music has been synced on screen in everything from “Austin Powers” to “Stranger Things.”
Peterson later wrote and performed with her good friend (and eventual sister-in-law) Susan Cowsill as The Psycho Sisters.
Throughout the ’90s, Peterson stayed busy, appearing on albums with Tom Petty, John Doe, Hootie & The Blowfish, and Belinda Carlisle, and also toured with The Go-Go’s on its 1994 to 1995 reunion tour. The Bangles reunited in the early 2020s to release four more albums.
At 7 years old, Cowsill began working in clubs, singing and playing drums with his family. The Cowsills found worldwide popularity in the late 1960s, playing “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Johnny Carson Show” programs both three times, “The Johnny Cash Show” twice. They garnered hits like “Hair” and “The Rain, The Park & Other Things.”
For his part, Cowell landed on the Tommy Tutone hit, “867-5309 (Jenny)” in 1981. He also toured with Jan and Dean before becoming a mainstay of the Beach Boys live shows, playing guitar and piano, and eventually drums.
Throughout his career, John has performed live or recorded work with Bob Dylan, The Mamas & The Papas, Harry Chapin, Maroon 5, Herman’s Hermits, Micky Dolenz and Chuck Berry.
John is also one of the lead singers for The Smithereens and the touring drummer for Peter Perrett.
“We’re both serial band members,” she said. “We’ve both been in bands our entire lives. “So, to perform under our own names is brand new to us. It’s also brand new to promoters and, it’s brand new to the audience. We’re the oldest ‘baby band,’ really. We’re starting over.”
She added, “That’s why we named it Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill. We didn’t want to call it the Iconic Kids or something like that. Nobody would know who we are. Nobody (in the music industry) would even pick up the phone. Somebody might remember one of us if our names are attached to it. It’s a step into the door. We’re relearning a ton about the industry.”
Perfect choice
Recently, the two released the willowy Americana single “A Thousand Times,” with silky smooth vocal interplay.
The two sang the tune for the first time in 2004 at a benefit for Cowsill’s brother, Bill, who recorded the song with The Blue Shadows. Married for a year, Peterson and Cowsill call “A Thousand Times” the first they learned to sing together.
“‘A Thousand Times’ is a favorite of mine from The Blue Shadows’ album, ‘On the Floor of Heaven,’” Peterson said.
“I got to know this song very well because Susan Cowsill used to perform it with our mutual Continental Drifters band member and her then-husband, Peter Holsapple. A beautiful song about fidelity and resisting temptation.”
“We’d been married one year at that point,” he said. “I think we were trying to do a Sonny & Cher thing, too. But we did ‘A Thousand Times.’ We decided this would be the perfect first single.”
Peterson added, “It’s kind of a beautiful full-circle moment.”
“A Thousand Times” will appear on the album “Long After the Fire.” The vinyl will be available on Record Store Day, Friday, April 12.
“That’s the only way you can get it,” Peterson said. “A week later, on the 18th, it will be available digitally and on all streaming platforms.”
Cowsill said he’s excited to have a vinyl version of “Long After the Fire” in fans’ hands.
“I want to see who played on the record. I want to see the lyrics, if possible,” he said. “We have albums here. I’ll buy them just for the cover because it’s so cool. Some of them are just gorgeous.”
Peterson encourages listeners to call their favorite brick-and-mortar shops to ensure “A Thousand Times” will be available.
“There’s nothing like supporting an independent record store that has been trying to survive the digital world for years,” she said.
“It’s so much fun to go in and look for one record. Then, as you start flipping through the racks, you discover, ‘Oh my God. I always wanted this record on vinyl. That’s the experience that we’re hoping that people will have on the 12th.”