From their halcyon days as America's sweethearts to their current status as superstars who pioneered a genre, The Go-Go's have enjoyed an amazing three-decade reign as high pop priestesses. The internationally-loved hitmakers helped cement the foundation of the early '80s pop-rock sound without the aid of outside composers, session players or, most importantly, creative compromise. From their very first show, The Go-Go's sang and played their own songs, offering five feisty role models for a generation of ready-to-rock girls and good, hooky fun for pop-loving guys.For Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine, their story truly is a punk version of the American Dream.
The Go-Go's debuted in May of 1978, a time when there were other all-female bands, but ones orchestrated by men such as Phil Spector, Kim Fowley or Sonny Bono. The DIY band was conceived in the very same gritty glitter of the rough Los Angeles scene that also birthed X, The Germs, and The Weirdos. By '79, the Go-Go's were beating their path to stardom on their own terms. They played every cool club and party in L.A. and released an early version of "We Got the Beat" through the quirky Stiff Records in the UK.
By 1981, the band was signed to upstart new wave haven IRS records with “Beauty and The Beat” and the infectious debut U.S. single, "Our Lips Are Sealed" was released. The double-platinum “Beauty and The Beat” reached #1 and was followed-up by “Vacation” in '82 and “Talk Show” in '84. During those years, hits like the title track from "Vacation," "Head Over Heels" and "Turn to You" dominated the airwaves and, today, continue to live on in countless compilations, movie soundtracks, remakes and television commercials.
During the latter half of the 1980s, the group split to pursue solo interests but reunited in 1994 to contribute three new songs and extensive liner notes for the career-retrospective, “Return To The Valley of The Go-Go's”. On the strength of the VH-1 special, “God Bless The Go-Go's”, an all-new collection of songs was released in 2001. A stack of glowing reviews soon followed backed by a triumphant tour, later immortalized in the exciting DVD, “Live in Central Park”.
Today, with the original lineup intact, The Go-Go's live shows continue to deliver every bit of the raw energy of their now-legendary punk beginnings, tempered with the wisdom of three decades of pop perfection.
The Go-Go’s will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Sunday August 7, 2011.
