The Go-Go's

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
  • 1999–2022
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. They are widely considered the most successful all-female rock band of all time.[2]

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.[3][4] 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.[5] 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).[6] The Go-Go's have sold more than seven million records worldwide.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10] The group was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame[11] and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. While the band announced their disbandment shortly after the Rock Hall induction,[12] they have reunited several times for events, including an induction to the California Hall of Fame. [13] They've also been announced as part of the bill for the May 2025 Cruel World concert festival in Pasadena, California.[14]

  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 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on March 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Go-Go's Music News & Info". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "The Go-Go's Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". musicvf.com.
  7. ^ "Belinda Carlisle". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  8. ^ "The Go-Go's: Beauty and the Beat". Pitchfork. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "The Go-Go's". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Diop, Arimeta (June 29, 2021). "The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Has Honored Its First Class of Inductees". Vanity Fair.
  12. ^ Scougall, Murray (February 6, 2023). "Belinda Carlisle interview: Resurgent singer on how she got her mojo back". sundaypost.com.
  13. ^ https://californiamuseum.org/california-hall-of-fame/17th-annual-california-hall-of-fame-california-museum/
  14. ^ https://variety.com/2024/music/news/cruel-world-festival-nick-cave-new-order-go-gos-1236181566/