Eternal Flame

“In Eternal Flame noted biographer Jennifer Bickerdike recounts the story of the Bangles’ success with such flair and sympathetic wit one might think she was their fifth member. From the crummiest gigs in a seedy Hollywood to their appearing onstage at the Hollywood Bowl after years of struggle, it is all here in black & white: the nightmares, the laughter, the tears, the fans’ adulation. You can almost feel the warmth of the spotlight at times.”–Sid Griffin of The Long Ryders, author of Shelter from the Storm and Million Dollar Bash
“Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s new biography is equal parts inspiring and chilling. As she dives into the history of the Bangles, it is breathtaking to learn in depth about the challenges the foursome faced, yet incredible to see how they overcame everything thrown at them to become world-wide icons. Eternal Flame is well-written and provides so much food for thought as to the realities, then and now, of what it means to be female in the entertainment industry.”–Ione Skye, actor and author of Say Everything
“Make no mistake. The Bangles were the most proficient, professional, and driven of all the bands in our little Paisley Underground scene. This insightful book tells how they got there and what happened when those qualities began to hit paydirt, draw all the right and wrong attention, and the inevitable success and perils that followed. At times a rough ride and cautionary tale, but the good hearts of the protagonists always shine through.”–Steve Wynn, The Dream Syndicate
“No one can deny the considerable talent of the Bangles, but that’s not the real story here. Rather, it is this book’s portrayal of the band’s brave persistence in the face of (and ultimate triumph over) the naysaying male-dominated rock world that makes it a riveting must-read.”–Milo Aukerman of Descendents
“The contributions of women are far too often buried beneath the patriarchal narrative that dominates cultural history, so the rarity of The Bangles’ accomplishments contributes to making their story so important to tell. They made their mark as vanguards in the vast landscape that is pop music and this is their lurid tale, in their own words, from their multiple perspectives, aided and abetted by the perennially incisive Jennifer Otter Bickerdike.”–Shirley Manson of Garbage
“This book rings true to the reality we faced as women daring to dream beyond what we were shown was possible. It also captures the visceral grittiness and simultaneous community of the 1980s Los Angeles scene with aplomb, the complications of fame, and the inherent misogyny often tainting the music business hierarchy.”–Jane Wiedlin of The Go Go’s

Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a rock & roll cultural historian and author, working across music heritage, fandom, broadcast and academia. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she has appeared in over 50 documentaries about pop culture and is the author of a number of books on music, including YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE ALONE, BEING BRITNEY, and WHY VINYL MATTERS, among others. Bickerdike lives in Devon, UK with her husband and rescue dog, Woody.

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