It was one of those things, a girl band made up by a guy. Which kind of sucks. Because it was coming through his twisted concept of what women were.
Michael Steele (born Susan Thomas,) aka Micki Steele (b. 6/2/55) was born in Pasadena, CA, and grew up in suburban Newport Beach. She picked up the bass at age 17, and played bass in her boyfriend’s band. Her early influences included The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Fairport Convention, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney, Carol Kaye, XTC’s Colin Moulding, Cheap Trick’s Tom Peterson, and Suzi Quatro.
Under the name Micki Steele, she was a founding member of The Runaways but left in 1975, shortly before the band’s major label debut. Her tenure was only a few months, where several sources claimed it was because she was “too old,” being twenty years old at the time. It is theorized that this could have made manager Kim Fowley’s “jailbait” image of the Runaways a harder sell.
For the next several years, she played with various other musical groups for short periods of time. In 1983, Steele replaced original bassist, Annette Zilinskas, as a member of the Bangles. Steele joined just in time to play on the band’s first full-length album, All Over the Place. She remained with the Bangles throughout the high point of their career, contributing as bassist, vocalist, and songwriter until the band’s dissolution in 1989. She rejoined the band for a 2003 reunion album, Doll Revolution, and toured with them until the following year. Afterwards, Steele retired from the music industry and left the public eye.
Official website for The Bangles here
Wayback Machine (internet archive) site for Michael “Micki” Steele here
This first YouTube is a demo with The Runaways:
With The Bangles:
Tao Talk 
You promised and you did not disappoint! Thank you, Li, this sure brings back memories of not only my youth buy the pride I still have in the female accomplishments of my generation.
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Violet happy to bring these memories back to you. I love learning about them as I put the posts together. We Are Women, Hear Us Play! <3
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Didn’t realize she was part of the Runaways but things worked out joining the Bangles!
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I didn’t either until putting the post together, Randy. She is really good at bass and at singing. So sorry to hear she retired. I hope Micki changes her mind.
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I haven’t heard her before, but I do remember the runaways
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Nice to see/hear you at the live read, Paul!
There is a slew of Runaways posts on a (rock and) roll this WMM. It’s been a lot of fun and more researching these female icons of American music.
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I liked both bands but I’m glad she found success with the Bangles…MUCH more stable band anyway in that regard and probably better managed. Fowley was more a carnival barker and terrible person than a manager.
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Well said.
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Like oftentimes happens, the “famous” bands, i.e., The Runaways and especially the Bangles, were on my radar screen but not Micki Steele. It’s kind of ironical since one of my favorite Bangles songs is their cover of Big Star’s “September Gurls”, on which Steele sang lead!
At age 49, Steele definitely retired young, but the music industry is brutal. And luckily for her, she was part of the Bangles during their heyday. I would assume that helps pay her the bills!
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Christian, I had to go out and find it:
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😀
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Kim Fowley was a cruel manager of The Runaways, in more ways than one
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Glyn, the more I learn about that slimeball the more angry I get.
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I’ve always liked the Bangles. But I love that version of “I’m not Talking” especially–wow. (K)
Well here’s my favorite Bangles song anyway…
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I love that one also. Great video to go along with it. Steve Martin did a cool video with it too.
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There’s a lot you can do with that song.
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Never connected she was in both groups.
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It was news to me also.
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