Page 29 of For One Night Only

Is a New Glitter Bats Album in the Works?

Ryan Tate forGossip Daily

The Glitter Bats are back! I was lucky enough to spot Valerie Quinn and Caleb Sloane getting cozy both on- and offstage at a karaoke joint in Venice this weekend. They’re clearly shaking off the rust, but they’re still the most watchable duet partners I’ve ever seen, even after all those years apart. They didn’t share a microphone in their iconic fashion, but it sure felt like there was some lingering tension when they sang together—twice! Click thislinkto view a clip from their HOT rendition of “I Want You to Want Me.”

But the real coup here is that things might be heating up in the sound booth again. For years, rumors have circulated about the announced-but-never-released third album from the Glitter Bats. A representative for Label Records said they’re “hopeful” that we’ll see new music soon.

It sounds like this reunion might be for more than just a concert—if Quinn stays interested long enough to remain with the project. But if The Network decides to renewEpic Theme Song, they’ll likely start filming right away, and the reportedly demanding schedule won’t leave room for side projects. If I were one of her bandmates, I’d lock down an album before she can make other plans. We all know Quinn is flighty.

Only time will tell if the Glitter Bats will keep flying, but stay tuned to our feed for updates!

9

Valerie

What happened at rehearsal is my fault.

I should have gone anywhere but back to the hotel room, but I left in such a rush of sadness and shame that I wasn’t thinking clearly. I could have called some friends, gone to a bar, let off steam. Instead, I’m watching cars slog through early-evening traffic out the window.

But if I’d gone out, I would have just spent the whole night thinking about Caleb. Guilt churns in my stomach as I remember the sheer panic on his face today. I haven’t given him a single reason to believe me over the label—I just threw him into all of this and expected him to read my mind. No strategy, no boundaries, not even a real apology. I’ve made such a mess and it’s only been two days.

Maybe, if things were different, wecouldbe talking about a new album. I’d love to write music together again—but I’d never force Caleb into something he doesn’t want…at least, not more than I already have. A new album only exists in my wildest dreams.

I wish it didn’t. In another life, this summer could be a relaunchinstead of a reunion. Even in one weekend of messy rehearsals, I’ve felt more creative than I’ve been in years. But the Glitter Bats are back for one final bow, and that’s it.

All of my focus needs to be onEpic Theme Song.

I should have warned Caleb. Label likes to call Wade every six months or so, to try to convince us to bring the band back together. Last year, they even had a truly terrible plan to bring in a new bass player, and we made it very clear that replacing Caleb wasn’t on the table.

Label can be manipulative. They’re a big-enough company, but when we were all just kids, they had us sign a truly heinous record deal. But it was legal enough. That was the steep cost of my mom’s mismanagement—before Wade signed on and taught us we deserved better.

They’re footing the bill for everything leading up to the concert, because all this press increases merch and record sales, and they’ll get the bulk of the concert revenue (after our checks). But they also want more Glitter Bats, and they don’t care if it means pitting us against one another.

A knock on my door shakes me out of my pity party. At first, I think it might be Caleb, but Keeley’s the one leaning against the doorframe. She rubs her neck sheepishly.

“Can we talk?”

I swallow, unsure what to expect. Keeley and I also need to clear the air. Yeah, she was awful to me in that first rehearsal…but I made it worse. We’ve been tiptoeing around the tension ever since.

“Yeah, of course. Come in,” I say.

She runs a hand through her short hair but doesn’t move to come inside. “Look, I can’t stay. I have a call in five minutes to talk about a potential gig—but I need to apologize.”

I blink, taken aback. “What? No, I’m the one who needs to apologize.”

“Oh, I’ll take it, but let me get this out,” she says, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve, uh, been super bitter about how everything went down with Glitter Bats. When you left, Jane, Riker, and I tried to stick together, but our careers took us all in such different directions. The three of us have gotten together a few times over the years, but it was never the same. I think I’ve held you responsible for it all.”

That explains a few things, and it’s entirely fair. This weekend has felt so tense and awful. The Keeley I knew was blunt, and would hold a fierce grudge for a few days, but then got over it pretty fast. She’s a firecracker who will explode, then fizzle out.

But she’s been holding this in foryears, and that just shows how much I hurt her when I left. My chest tightens, and I lean against the doorframe to steady myself. It’s always my instinct to defend myself at the slightest provocation, but I know I have to take responsibility for this…and not just for the sake of the concert. I miss my friend.

“Look, I’m really sorry for how I spoke to you yesterday.” I pause, swallowing thickly. “And for the way I left you all in Vegas and never looked back. I was selfish and careless, and you deserved better.” If I’d thought of everyone else instead of my own rise to the top for just one moment…we really could be on album number five by now. “I’m responsible for tearing us all apart.”

The Glitter Bats could still be rocking, and maybe Caleb and I could have had a chance.

“No, you’re not.” She puts her hands on her hips, laughing nervously. “Okay, yeah, you kind of are, but it took seeing just how unfair Caleb was to you today for me to reflect on my own behavior. So I went for a walk after rehearsal and figured out my shit. I’m sorry I never bothered to reach out to you after Vegas. It’s not like you changed your number. I could have called you, checked in.”

I shake my head. “You shouldn’t have had to.”

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