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The Go-Go's

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For the British band, see The Go-Go's (British band). For other uses, see Go go.

The Go-Go's
The Go-Go's, c. 1981
The Go-Go's, c. 1981
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1978–1985
  • 1990
  • 1994
  • 1999–present
Labels
Past members
Websitegogos.com

The Go-Go's are an American all-female rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1978.[1] Except for short periods when other musicians joined briefly, the band has had a relatively stable lineup consisting of Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keyboards, Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals, Gina Schock on drums, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar.

The quintet emerged from the L.A. punk rock scene of the late 1970s and in 1981 released their debut album Beauty and the Beat. A first for an all-female band writing their material and playing their instruments, the LP topped the Billboard album chart and remains an achievement yet to be matched.[2][3] Beauty and the Beat is considered one of the "cornerstone albums of US new wave" (AllMusic), having broken barriers and paved the way for a host of other new American acts. It yielded two of the Go-Go's four biggest Hot 100 hits—"Our Lips Are Sealed" (no. 20) and "We Got the Beat" (no. 2)—and, after a long and steady climb, reached number one in the chart dated March 6, 1982. The album stayed at the top for six consecutive weeks, eventually selling over two million copies.[4] The group, credited as simply Go-Go's on all of their US releases, was nominated for the Best New Artist award at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards.

Two more albums followed: Vacation (1982)—whose title track reached no. 8 on Billboard's Hot 100—and Talk Show (1984), which included the hits "Head over Heels" (no. 11) and "Turn to You" (no. 32).[5] The Go-Go's have sold more than seven million records worldwide.[6][7]

The Go-Go's broke up in 1985, with each member embarking on a solo career and Carlisle being the most successful, having several top-5 singles through the late 1980s. They reconvened several times in the 1990s, releasing a new album in 2001, God Bless the Go-Go's, and touring. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.[8] Though the band's 2016 performances were billed as a farewell tour, the band remained active on an ad hoc basis for several years afterward. Head Over Heels, a musical featuring the songs of the Go-Go's, ran on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre from 2018 to 2019.[9] The group was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame[10] and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. While the band announced their disbandment shortly after the Rock Hall induction,[11] they have reunited several times for events, including an induction to the California Hall of Fame. [12] They've also been announced as part of the bill for the May 2025 Cruel World concert festival in Pasadena, California.[13]

History

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Original incarnation (1978–1980)

[edit]

Formed in Los Angeles in 1978 as the Misfits[14] by Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, background vocals), the Go-Go's also included Margot Olavarria on bass and Elissa Bello on drums.[15]

They were formed as a punk band and had roots in the L.A. punk community.[16] They shared a rehearsal space with the Motels and Carlisle, under the name "Dottie Danger", had briefly been a member of punk rock band the Germs. After Carlisle became temporarily ill, she separated from the Germs before ever playing a gig.

The band began playing gigs at punk venues such as The Masque and the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles and the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco alongside bands such as X, Fear, the Plugz and the Controllers. Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals) was added later in 1978, and in the summer of 1979, Gina Schock replaced Bello on drums. With these lineup changes, the group began moving towards their more familiar power pop sound.

The group frequently met at a Denny's on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and it was there they chose the band's name.

In late 1979, the band recorded a five-song demo at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, and in 1980, they supported the British ska revival groups Madness and The Specials in both Los Angeles and England. The Go-Go's subsequently spent half of 1980 touring England, earning a sizable following and releasing the demo version of "We Got the Beat" on Stiff Records, which became a minor UK hit.[17]

In December 1980, original bassist Olavarria fell ill[18] and was replaced with Kathy Valentine, who had played guitar in bands such as Girlschool and the Textones. Valentine had not previously played bass guitar. Carlisle also related in her autobiography, Lips Unsealed, that according to the band's view, another reason for Olavarria's dismissal from the Go-Go's was that she frequently missed rehearsals, due largely to her dissatisfaction with the band's move away from punk and toward pop. In late 1982, Olavarria sued the remaining band members for wrongful removal. The lawsuit was settled in 1984. Olavarria later joined Martin Atkins' band Brian Brain.[19]

Career peak (1981–1983)

[edit]
Belinda Carlisle performing with the Go Go's in 1981

The Go-Go's signed to I.R.S. Records in April 1981. The following year, they toured with The Police on the Ghost in the Machine Tour. Their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, was a surprise hit: it topped the U.S. charts for six weeks in 1982 and eventually received a double platinum certification. The album was also successful outside the U.S., charting at No. 2 in Canada, where it received a platinum certification, and No. 27 in Australia. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 413 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. "Our Lips Are Sealed" and a new version of "We Got the Beat" were popular singles in North America in early 1982. During this period, the Go-Go's started building a fanbase.[20]

In 1982, the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.[21][22]

The follow-up album, Vacation, received mixed reviews and sold less than Beauty and the Beat. However, the album was certified gold in the U.S. and spawned another Top 10 U.S. hit with the title track. Other singles released from the album were "Get Up and Go" and "This Old Feeling", neither of which made it into the Top 40. In 1983, Vacation was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Packaging. During the album's promotion, the group went on hiatus when Schock underwent surgery for a congenital heart defect.

Talk Show and initial breakup (1984–1985)

[edit]
Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin in the "Turn to You" music video

In 1984, the group returned with the Martin Rushent-produced album Talk Show. The album tracks "Head over Heels" and "Turn to You" were both Top 40 hits in the US. Despite the favorable reception, the album sold less than the previous two, not reaching the top 10 and not receiving any certification.

Personality conflicts and creative differences within the group were also taking a toll, as were drug addiction problems for some band members. Wiedlin announced her departure from the group in October 1984. The band sought a replacement, selecting Paula Jean Brown (of Giant Sand) as their new bass guitarist, with Valentine moving to rhythm guitar. This lineup debuted at the 1985 Rock in Rio festival, playing two shows, but Carlisle and Caffey soon realized their hearts were no longer in the group and decided to disband the Go-Go's in May 1985.

Reunions and lawsuit (1990–1999)

[edit]

In 1990, the Go-Go's classic lineup (Caffey, Carlisle, Schock, Valentine, and Wiedlin) reunited to play a benefit concert for the California Environmental Protection Act, a 1990 ballot initiative. The band also entered the studio with producer David Z to re-record a cover of "Cool Jerk" for a greatest hits compilation.[citation needed]

In 1994, the same lineup got together again to release a two-disc retrospective entitled Return to the Valley of The Go-Go's, featuring three new recordings. The single "The Whole World Lost Its Head" peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts and "bubbled under" on the US charts at No. 108, and became the band's first and only Top 40 hit in the UK, peaking at No. 29. The band toured again to promote the release; ex-Bangle Vicki Peterson stood in on several dates for Caffey, who was pregnant.[23]

In 1997, Schock sued the other group members, claiming that she had not been adequately paid for her contributions since 1986 and that a songwriting agreement with Caffey had been breached. The suit was resolved by 1999 and the Go-Go's toured regularly from 1999 onward.

God Bless the Go-Go's (2000–2009)

[edit]
The band in Austin, Texas, 2008. L to R: Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, and Kathy Valentine. Off frame: Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey.

In 2001, the band (still with the "classic" lineup) released an album of new material, God Bless the Go-Go's. Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong co-wrote the only released single, "Unforgiven", which peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart. The album was well received by critics and peaked at number 57 in the Billboard 200 chart.[citation needed] The band also released a DVD of their reunion concert in Central Park.[24]

Also in 2001, the Go-Go's, along with artists Elton John, Billy Joel, David Crosby and Paul Simon, performed at the concert "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by the TNT network.[25]

In 2002 the Go-Go's recorded the theme song for the WB comedy series "Do Over". Written by Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Jane Wiedlin, the track was recorded in Los Angeles for the show, which premiered on Sept. 19 on the network.[26]

In 2004 the band hosted a concert in Costa Mesa together with The Motels.[27]

Farewell tour, departure of Kathy Valentine and Broadway musical (2010–2019)

[edit]
The band performing in 2012

In February 2010, Carlisle announced that the 2010 tour would be billed as the "Farewell Tour",[28] but this tour was canceled when Wiedlin injured her knee while hiking near her home in Northern California, requiring surgery and up to a year of recovery time.[29]

After 2010, the idea of a farewell tour seemed to have been abandoned, with the Go-Go's touring frequently. In 2011, the Go-Go's announced the "Ladies Gone Wild" tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Beauty and the Beat.[30] They toured the US in 2012, with Abby Travis subbing for an injured Valentine during the latter part of the tour.

On March 8, 2013, the group's official website said "irreconcilable differences" had led to the departure of bassist Valentine.[31] On May 24, Valentine sued her former bandmates for "breach of fiduciary duty and abuse of control...in an attempt to deprive [her] of her position and interest in the group".[32][33] Officially a quartet (Caffey, Carlisle, Schock, and Wiedlin—Travis continued to play bass, but was not an official group member), the Go-Go's continued on, playing a series of tour dates in 2013 and 2014, including several double bills with the B-52's.[34]

In 2014, the band was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.[35] That same year, Valentine's lawsuit against her former bandmates was settled out of court.[citation needed]

We're not breaking up, per se – we're just not going to be doing the touring like we've been doing for many, many years. We might still do a date here or there, or do a benefit or something like that, but not do the big touring anymore. So that's what that's about.

— Charlotte Caffey[36]

On March 21, 2016, plans for a Go-Go's farewell tour (minus Valentine) were officially announced. A band statement said: "After a 38-year run, we are gearing up for one last blast of a summer tour".[37]

Valentine rejoined the band to perform their first show together as a quintet in six years at New York's Bowery Ballroom on January 31, 2018, to announce the Broadway dates of their new musical, Head Over Heels. The new musical—which premiered at New York's Hudson Theatre in the summer of 2018—features the band's hits (including "Get Up and Go" and "Lust to Love") as well as Carlisle's solo hits "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth".[38] The musical had a preview at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015.[39]

Documentary movie, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, reunion tour (2020–2025)

[edit]

In 2020, a documentary movie about the band premiered at Sundance,[40][41] directed by Allison Ellwood after the band saw her work on the 2013 History of the Eagles documentary. In the US, the movie was seen on television on Showtime. The documentary features the formation and rise of the band through the 1980s breakup, skipping the lawsuits and reunions through the 1990s-2010s, ending with a 2019 reunion.[42] On July 31, 2020, the Go-Go's released their first new song in 19 years, "Club Zero", which is featured in the documentary.[43]

In January 2020, the band, which was to include Kathy Valentine, announced an 11-date reunion tour scheduled to begin in June 2020 however in May 2020 the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[44]

On October 30, 2021, the band was inducted by longtime fan Drew Barrymore into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[45]

On December 14, 2021, the band performed a special show, with most of the audience being contest winners, at the Whisky a Go Go to celebrate their induction. Clem Burke filled in on drums for Gina Schock.[46] On December 27, 2021, the band postponed a short West Coast tour scheduled for the first week of January 2022 due to a COVID-19 case involving someone on the tour.[47]

After playing six US dates in March 2022 (in Reno and several stops in California),[48] the band announced plans for a 2022 UK tour with Billy Idol to start in June 2022.[49] However, due to Billy Idol's illness, the tour had to be postponed, and the band could no longer participate in the tour.[50]

In 2023, Belinda Carlisle declared that the group had disbanded, noting "we felt there was something to be said about leaving on a high note and it doesn't get much bigger than being inducted into the Hall of Fame. That's kind of the pinnacle. After that, we felt it was time."[51] Their last show was their performance in San Diego on March 31, 2022.[52]

The band reunited in Sacramento on February 7, 2024, to be inducted into the California Hall of Fame,[53] and "played a short, rowdy, acoustic set" at the afterparty.[54]

On October 21, 2024, the band announced via their official Instagram page that they were reuniting to play the Cruel World Festival, to be held May 17, 2025 in Pasadena, CA.[55]

Members

[edit]

Final lineup

[edit]
  • Belinda Carlisle – lead vocals, percussion (1978–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2022)
  • Jane Wiedlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1978–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2022), lead guitar (1978)
  • Charlotte Caffey – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1978–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2022)
  • Gina Schock – drums (1979–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2022), backing vocals (1982–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2022)
  • Kathy Valentine – bass, backing vocals (1980–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999–2012, 2018–2022), rhythm guitar (1985)

Former members

[edit]
  • Margot Olavarria – bass (1978–1980)
  • Elissa Bello – drums (1978–1979)
  • Paula Jean Brown – bass (1985)
  • Vicki Peterson (touring only) – lead guitar, backing vocals (1994)[23]
  • Abby Travis (touring only) – bass, backing vocals (2012–2018)
  • Clem Burke (touring only) – drums (2021)

Timeline

[edit]

Discography

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Main article: The Go-Go's discography

Studio albums

Books

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  • The Go-Go's: A YinPop Guide by S. White (2016). Fly-By-Night Books. ISBN 978-0-9905386-4-6.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Buckley, Peter; Browton, Ben; Furmanovsky, Jill; Gillett, Charlie (November 2003). The Rough Guide Rock: The Definitive Guide to More than 1200 Artists and Bands. Rough Guides. p. 430. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
  2. ^ "The Go-Go's Music News & Info". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  3. ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 6, 2022). "Chart Rewind: In 1982, The Go-Go's Got the 'Beat' to a Historic No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. ^ "The Go-Go's Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". musicvf.com.
  6. ^ "Belinda Carlisle". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  7. ^ "The Go-Go's: Beauty and the Beat". Pitchfork. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "The Go-Go's". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Go-Go's Musical Head Over Heels Eyes Summer Broadway Bow at the Hudson Theatre". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  10. ^ Diop, Arimeta (June 29, 2021). "The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Has Honored Its First Class of Inductees". Vanity Fair.
  11. ^ Scougall, Murray (February 6, 2023). "Belinda Carlisle interview: Resurgent singer on how she got her mojo back". sundaypost.com.
  12. ^ "17th Annual California Hall of Fame - California Museum". California Museum. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Saperstein, Pat (October 21, 2024). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, New Order, Devo and the Go-Gos Among Acts Set for 2025 Cruel World Festival". Variety. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Belinda Carlisle". MTV. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  15. ^ White, S. (2016). The Go-Go's: A YinPop Guide. Fly-By-Night Books, ISBN 978-0-9905386-4-6
  16. ^ Hudak, Joseph. (June 22, 2012) The Go-Go's Biography Archived September 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  17. ^ Ellwood, Alison (director) (2020). The Go-Go's (film). United States: Showtime.
  18. ^ "The Go-Go's Recall the Debauched Days of Their Hit 'We Got the Beat' 35 Years Later: 'We Were a Five-Headed Monster'". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Margot Olavarria". discogs. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  20. ^ Belinda Carlisle - Voila Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ White, S. (2016). The Go-Go's: A YinPop Guide. Fly-By-Night Books, p. 21, ISBN 978-0-9905386-4-6
  22. ^ "Rock On The Net: 24th Annual Grammy Awards - 1982". Rockonthenet.com.
  23. ^ a b DeMasi, Vinnie (May 5, 2022). "The Bangles Co-Founder Vicki Peterson Reveals Her Top Five Career-Defining Tracks". Guitar Player. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "The Go-Go's: Live in Central Park (2001)". www.dvdmg.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  25. ^ Gowers, Bruce (July 4, 2001), An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (Music), retrieved November 24, 2021
  26. ^ "Billboard Bits: Ash, Snoop Dogg, Go-Go's". Billboard. August 20, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "The Go-Go's's Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives". www.concertarchives.org. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  28. ^ "The Go-Gos To Announce Farewell Tour In 2010". Rockstarweekly.com. June 16, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  29. ^ "Message from Jane @ Jane Wiedlin.com". Janewiedlin.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  30. ^ "Go-Go's - Ladies Gone Wild!". Gogos.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  31. ^ "Update from Go-Go's HQ". March 8, 2013. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  32. ^ "Valentine v. Carlisle et al. Case BC510027, Los Angeles County Superior Court" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. May 24, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  33. ^ Couch, Aaron (May 25, 2013). "Kathy Valentine alleges the other members of the iconic girl band are attempting to reduce her share in the group". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  34. ^ Pingel, Mike (March 26, 2013). "Belinda Carlisle Shines as Bright as the Sun". FrontiersLA.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013. We are touring from mid-June to mid-July with the B-52's for a lot of the dates. We work once or twice a year. It's still really fun. We're one big happy dysfunctional family.
  35. ^ Hall of Fame Archived August 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  36. ^ "Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's Talks About Her Songwriting, And Writing Some Of The Band's Hits". songwriteruniverse.com. June 17, 2016. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  37. ^ "The Go-Go's Recruit Best Coast for Summer Farewell Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  38. ^ "WATCH: The Go-Go's Perform Together for the First Time in 6 Years to Kick Off New Musical". People. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  39. ^ "Head over Heels". Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  40. ^ "The Go-Go's". sundance.org. The Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  41. ^ Fear, David (July 31, 2020). "'The Go-Go's' Gives '80s New Wave Band a Proper Music Doc (Finally)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  42. ^ Grow, Kory (July 30, 2020). "The Go-Go's Deserve Your Respect — A New Documentary Explains Why". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  43. ^ Kreps, Daniel (July 31, 2020). "The Go-Go's Drop First New Song in 19 Years, 'Club Zero'". Rollingstone.com.
  44. ^ Varga, George (January 8, 2022). "The Go-Go's postpone reunion tour, which was set to open in San Diego in June". sandiegotribune.com.
  45. ^ Bloom, Madison (January 8, 2022). "Watch the Go-Go's Perform at Rock Hall 2021 Induction Ceremony". msn.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. The Go-Go's were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this weekend. The band accepted the honor from Drew Barrymore at tonight's ceremony.
  46. ^ Irwin, Corey (January 8, 2022). "GO GO'S PLAY LOS ANGELES CLUB SHOW: PHOTOS". ultimateclassicrock.com.
  47. ^ "The Go-Go's cancel San Diego show due to COVID case". fox5sandiego.com. January 8, 2022.
  48. ^ "Search for setlists: go-gos 2022 | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  49. ^ Schube, Will (January 8, 2022). "The Go-Go's Announce 2022 UK Tour With Billy Idol". udiscovermusic.com.
  50. ^ "Billy Idol reschedules 2022 UK and European tour due to "health challenges"". NME. May 12, 2022.
  51. ^ Scougall, Murray (February 6, 2023). "Belinda Carlisle interview: Resurgent singer on how she got her mojo back". sundaypost.com.
  52. ^ "The Go-Go's Setlist at Humphreys, San Diego". setlist.fm. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  53. ^ "17th Annual California Hall of Fame".
  54. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=961057152053783&set=a.199842714841901 [bare URL]
  55. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DBZH6XEo4TC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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