Friends since 1978 and married since 2003, Vicki Peterson of The Bangles and John Cowsill of The Cowsills are touring in support of “Long After the Fire,” their debut as a duo in tribute to its composers, John’s late brothers, Bill and Barry. PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ
The work of Vicki Peterson of The Bangles includes the No. 1 hit “Walk Like an Egyptian” and several other Top 10 songs, such as “Eternal Flame,” which is the biggest single by an all-female band in history. John Cowsill was a drummer/vocalist for The Beach Boys for more than 23 years and an original member of the platinum-selling family band, The Cowsills, who inspired the formation of The Partridge Family. Married nearly 23 years, Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill have teamed up to lovingly present “Long After the Fire,” their debut Americana album comprised of songs written by John’s late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill.
Vicki is a founding member of the 1980s group The Bangles, one of the most successful bands of that decade with more than 6 million gold and platinum albums sold. Their music has been synced on screen in everything from “Austin Powers” to “Stranger Things” and has transcended generations with more than 6 million current monthly listeners on streaming platforms, 420 million views on TikTok, and more than half a billion channel views on YouTube as of 2024.
Vicki later wrote and performed with her good friend (and eventual sister-in-law) Susan Cowsill as The Psycho Sisters. The duo soon found themselves absorbed into the critically acclaimed New Orleans’ songwriters collective The Continental Drifters and remain with them today.
Throughout the ’90s, Vicki stayed active appearing on albums with Tom Petty, John Doe, Hootie & The Blowfish, Belinda Carlisle and also toured with The Go-Go’s on their 1994-1995 reunion tour. The Bangles reunited in the 21st century to release four more albums.
At 7 years old, John began working in clubs, singing and playing drums with his family. The Cowsills became a worldwide sensation in the late 1960’s playing The Ed Sullivan Show, and Johnny Carson Show programs both three times, The Johnny Cash Show twice and enjoyed several Top 20 hits, including “Hair,” which went No. 1 in four countries and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart) and “The Rain, The Park, & Other Things” (No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart with more than 3 million copies sold.
In 1981, John landed on the Tommy Tutone hit, “867-5309 (Jenny).” He also toured with Jan and Dean before becoming a mainstay of The Beach Boys touring band, playing guitar, piano, and finally sitting at the drum kit for more than two decades playing an average of 180 concerts per year. John made many television appearances with the band, including “Good Morning America” seven times, “The Today Show” six times, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Grammys.
Throughout his career, John has performed live and/or recorded with Bob Dylan, Mamas & Papas, Harry Chapin, Maroon 5, Hermans Hermits, Mickey Dolenz (The Monkees), and Chuck Berry. John is also currently one of the lead singers for The Smithereens and the touring drummer for Peter Perrett (The Only Ones).
Vicki & John are gaining attention and turning heads so check them out on a tour that will bring them Oct. 14 to Avenel Performing Arts Center. I spoke with them about their album, tour and illustrious rock ‘n’ roll past.
‘Long After the Fire’ is a tribute to John’s brothers, Billy and Barry. The passing of Billy and Barry, as well as Billy’s departure from The Cowsills, makes ‘Long After the Fire’ bittersweet. While making the album, what were the saddest and the sweetest memories of Billy and Barry that each of you had?
John: ‘Is Anybody Here’ was both sad and sweet. It was recorded a couple years before we finished the album. A hauntingly beautiful song recorded at Sun Records. Just being in Sun Records is emotional. All the heroes on the wall. The song is a very Roy Orbison-ish tune crafted by Bill and his partner Jeff Hatcher. Our producer, Paul Allen, really made this song sound so great.
The other one that sticks out in my over-emotional mind is ‘When Hearts Collide’ by Barry. It was hard on a few occasions getting through it in the studio. Barry wrote from his heart on this one.
Vicki: And then there is the fact that Barry sang ‘When Hearts Collide’ for us at our wedding. So, we had that connection to it too.
Were any of the songs on the album that Billy and Barry wrote previously released?
John: Yes. Several of Bill’s songs and a couple of Barry’s have been previously released on either Blue Shadow or solo records. ‘Fool Is the Last One to Know,’ ‘Is Anybody Here,’ ‘A Thousand Times’ and ‘Embers’ are all songs that Bill wrote or co- wrote with band mates from the Blue Shadows. ‘You in My Mind’ was, interestingly, released as a Cowsills single, even though the recording was created entirely by Bill as a solo artist.
Barry had included ‘Ol’ Timeless’ and ‘When Hearts Collide’ on solo albums, and his ‘Don’t Look Back’ was released on the 1970’s Cowsills album ‘II X II.’
What do you each like most about ‘Long After the Fire’ and why?
Vicki: I love the idea that we may be re-introducing these songs, and Bill and Barry as writers, to a new audience. And I absolutely love singing them!
John: I love that we actually got it done. I’ve always wanted to record these songs. I had asked Vicki a decade ago if she’d like to do this project with me. She said yes, of course. That was the same thing she said when I asked her to marry me (laughs). The songs are some of the best written songs and Paul Allen’s playing and producing on this album is stunning. ‘Come to Me’ sticks out as one of my favorites on the album.
Is this your debut album as a duo?
John: It is!
Have you started working on a follow-up album or plan to?
Vicki: We are formulating a plan …
How does ‘Long After the Fire’ translate live?
Vicki: We have found ways to perform the songs as a duo, even though we recorded them with full-band instrumentation. The bottom line is that the songs are so strong, and the harmonies work even when there are only two voices.
John: Vicki is correct. The songs stand out on their own. BUT … I’d love to have a dream band to perform these songs occasionally. Someday …
Besides songs from the album, what else can folks expect from your Oct. 14 show at Avenel Performing Arts Center?
John: We do enjoy dipping into our past musical histories with stories and songs … the audience will hopefully indulge our storytelling and possibly bad joke-telling.
Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill will perform Oct. 14 at Avenel Performing Arts Center. PHOTO BY PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN
Did you start performing together before or after you were married?
Vicki: Technically speaking, I did perform with the Cowsills in the early 1990s … but really, no. We did not perform together, as a duo, until well after we were married. It was not a part of who we were as a couple.
John: (laughs) we danced around each other for years with the music. We would do vocals on other people’s projects. But that was it. We just lived a very domestic life until this project.
Did the two of you meet through Susan and The Psycho Sisters or prior to that?
Vicki: We actually met 48 years ago … way before the Psycho Sisters existed!
John: It was in April of 1978. I know this because Vicki told me (laughs).
Vicki, how did you become friends with Susan and form The Psycho Sisters?
Vicki: I met Susan in 1978 when I met all The Cowsills who were performing at a small club in Redondo Beach, CA. Although I continued to see them at shows and rehearsals, I really connected with Susan a good 10 years later, on a break from touring with the Bangles, in 1989. We became very good friends at that point and started writing songs together shortly after, performing as The Psycho Sisters.
Are The Continental Drifters still together? If so, do you have any upcoming plans?
Vicki: The Continental Drifters will always be together, even if we don’t have shows or recordings planned! By now we have become a family in the sense that you can’t really quit a family; we played some shows together in 2023 and 2026 and had SO much fun that we started talking about doing another record … so, we will see!
Vicki, were you a fan of The Cowsills and/or The Partridge Family who they inspired?
Vicki: Oh, I was a very big Cowsills fan as a kid! I was inspired by the fact that they, especially Susan, were so young to be so talented and accomplished — a girl my age on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’? That impressed me! I liked the fact that they were a family, and I thought -- and still do -- that their voices together singing harmonies is one of the most satisfying sounds on the planet.
Given that you’ve both been in bands with Susan, do you ever play with her and Bob and John in the current incarnation of The Cowsills?
Vicki: John doesn’t perform with his siblings in their current incarnation, but we love them!
Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill also have dates coming up in Texas. PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ
Vicki, like John, you played with a sibling, your sister, Debbie, in a band, The Bangles. Since that’s something you have in common, has a comparison ever come up throughout the course of your relationship?
Vicki: Well, because we have both made music with siblings, we do understand what that involves: the specialness of working with family and the sometimes more complicated dynamics that can arise. There’s a sort of shorthand we can use when talking about it, because we have both been there.
Susanna Hoffs just played Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park and got a lot of publicity from wearing a Stone Pony hoodie. Vicki, I believe the last time you played with The Bangles was in 2019. Do you expect there’ll ever be another Bangles reunion?
Vicki: I remember when the Bangles played The Stone Pony! It felt like a very cool thing to do. Yes, our last show together was at a festival in 2019 … we don’t have plans to perform together, but I have learned never to say never.
John, do you still tour with The Beach Boys?
John: I do not.
John, are you still performing with The Smithereens? What do you enjoy most about that?
John: I definitely still sing with The Smithereens. They have other singers as well who fill the lead singer slot: Marshal Crenshaw, Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) and as of late, John Wesley Harding. The best part is I’m singing with my friends and loving every second of it. In 1991, Dennis and Jim asked The Cowsills to sing on their ‘Blow Up’ album. WHAT AN HONOR!
How long did you live in Brooklyn, what do you like most about living there and why?
Vicki: We lived in Brooklyn for 2 ½ years but moved back to California in the fall of 2024. I personally loved living in New York — walking out of the apartment and finding pretty much anything you needed either right there in your neighborhood or a subway ride away. We slipped into an already formed musical community that welcomed us. I got to sing songs I never would normally attempt and met many great musicians.
You’re both from California. Did either of you miss the Golden State?
Vicki: I AM from California and lived here most of my life -- other than the nine years or so when I lived in New Orleans, and the previously mentioned spell in New York. It is a place of contrasts and communities, but it can feel overwhelming at times. We live in the Santa Monica mountains, and it is just gorgeous — when it’s not on fire — but I still must remind myself to get out and enjoy all of the things that this state has to offer. Mountains, beaches, desert … It’s all here.
John: I am from Rhode Island. I’m an East Coaster — ALWAYS!
Is there anything I didn’t ask on which you would like to comment?
Vicki: We hope that people come and spend the evening with us, because we always have fun singing these songs and telling stories.
John: It’s our Shits-and Giggles Retirement Tour. We have the best time doing this together. No one else I’d rather share the stage with than this young lady I’m married to! Come on out and see and hear for yourself.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
There are multiple performances including:
Wednesday, October 07, 2026
@ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
Princeton, NJ
Thursday, October 08, 2026
@ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, NJ
Thursday, October 08, 2026
@ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
Thursday, October 08, 2026
@ 6:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
Rahway, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Thursday, October 08, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Oakes Center
Summit, NJ
