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For Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, singing and touring together wasn't part of a grand design. It began almost accidentally - a casual blending of voices that revealed an undeniable spark.
As songs emerged and their unique harmonies locked in, it became clear that the married pair shared more than just a personal bond. They had discovered a rare creative chemistry. Drawing on decades spent inside some of pop music's most influential bands, Peterson and Cowsill quickly developed a musical shorthand that transformed a chance collaboration into a fully formed partnership.
Peterson first captured the spotlight as a founding member of The Bangles and some of the most indelible hits of the 1980s, including the global smash "Walk Like an Egyptian." Cowsill's resume is equally storied, beginning with the platinum-selling family group The Cowsills and continuing through more than 20 years as drummer and co-vocalist with The Beach Boys.
Together, they bring a deep well of pop history to a project that honors classic songwriting while embracing an avant-garde spirit.
That spirit is especially evident on their debut Americana album, "Long After the Fire," a deeply personal collection built upon songs written by John's late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill.
Many of the compositions date back more than half a century, carrying an unmistakable AM-radio warmth, while never once feeling nostalgic. Instead, the songs sound fresh and immediate, animated by the duo's distinctive harmonies and shared devotion to their craft.
Fans of Peterson and Cowsill - as well as devotees of their respective bands - will have the opportunity to experience that chemistry firsthand when the duo performs at the intimate Sellersville Theater on Tuesday.
I recently spoke with Peterson and Cowsill about their upcoming performance, the making of "Long After the Fire," and the remarkable stories that have shaped their careers.
Q: Both of you have performed on some of the world's biggest stages. What do you enjoy about having the opportunity to perform in a smaller, more intimate venue?
Vicki Peterson: When it's just John and me, I prefer the more intimate settings. We can hear each other because it's just two guitars and two voices. From where you're sitting, it gives you the sense of being in someone else's living room, hanging out and singing songs. The interesting aspect is that, even though we've both been doing this for decades, this is the first project where each of us have our own name on it and not being part of a collective. It's exciting to be alive at this point in time and have something completely new and challenging ahead of you.
John Cowsill: I really prefer smaller venues. For me, I'm often performing as someone's backup, so there's a bit more pressure now around promotion and using social media to help spread the word. Each of us bring our own individual following, but when we come to town you can expect us to be very present: saying hello, singing songs, answering questions and actually spending time talking with people.
Q: How do you determine which songs to include in the set list?
Peterson: Obviously we'll be performing songs from "Long After the Fire," which we put out in April of 2025. We're very excited about that because those songs are custom made for our voices and the two of us to be singing and playing together. The other thing we have to take into account is that we do what works well in a duo configuration. So, we'll play a couple of full-on band songs but approach them with just two guitars and two voices.
A: You mentioned your album, "Long After the Fire." What else can you tell me about it?
Cowsill: It's the best of both of my brothers. They're our favorite songs and for the obvious reason that they sing themselves. Bill and his writing partners Jeffrey Hatcher and Mark Irwin had a waterfall of treasures, and Barry did too. Barry wrote alone mostly but his songs are very much how he was inside.
Peterson: Some of the songs do have a sense of familiarity [mostly Bill's songs] because he wrote them in a style that was near and dear to his heart, which was classic country and Everly Brothers-style harmony.
Q: Vicki, I have to ask you about the 40 th anniversary of The Bangles' "Different Light" album. When you back on it now with so much perspective what thoughts come to mind?
Peterson: I look back on that record now with a lot more affection. It wasn't an easy album to make on many levels - we'd just come off a year and a half of touring and hadn't fully settled on where we wanted to go musically. I consider it a gift that we found, or were handed, such beautiful songs from other people, like Prince ["Manic Monday"] and Liam Sternberg ["Walk Like an Egyptian"]. There are also original songs on that record that I'm very proud of. We'll be doing a little bit of a nod to that album on our visit to Sellersville.
Q: Is there a highlight of each of your careers that stand out as memorable?
Peterson: I remember when The Bangles performed at Slane Castle in Ireland in 1986, opening for Queen. It had been raining, and tens of thousands of people were completely soaked - covered in mud and Guinness - but they were all lovely and having the best time. After our set, I stood in the wings and watched Queen do their thing. Seeing the power and majesty of that band up close was something I'll never forget.
Cowsill: The Beach Boys' 50th anniversary tour is the first thing that comes to mind, but honestly, I don't have a single favorite moment. I've been incredibly fortunate to have such a great and fun career. One particularly memorable gig was playing at a reception hosted by Stephen Bishop, where he invited a lot of his friends - people like Phil Collins, Andrew Gold, and David Crosby. I was part of the band playing the reception, and it made me feel so cool without even having to sit at the drums. Eventually, everyone wanted to jump in and play, so while I didn't get to perform with Phil or Andrew, I did get to watch them sit in with my bandmates. I remember stepping outside onto the lawn and sitting next to David Crosby just as Andrew got off the drums and Phil was getting on. David turned to me and said, "Man, it's great to finally hear a good drummer." I felt so small and said, "Yeah, they're great, aren't they?" David looked at me and said, "No - I meant you, man!" [laughs]
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