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The Go-Gos

The Go-Go's are an all-women band. They formed in 1978 and first rose to fame in the ska punk community supporting Madness on tour. They played primarily pop punk and retro-1960s rock. They have had five top-40 hits.

Personnel

  • Charlotte Caffey, lead guitar and keyboards
  • Belinda Carlisle (real name: Belinda Kurczeski), lead vocals
  • Gina Schock, drums
  • Kathy Valentine (replaced Margot Olaverra in 1980), bass guitar and rhythm guitar
  • Jane Wiedlin, rhythm guitar and backup vocals

Background

In 1980 (1980 in music), the Go-Gos' "We Got the Beat" became an underground hit. After exchanging Olaverra for Kathy Valentine (the band's sound was turning from punk to pop, and Olaverra's punk persona was becoming a pop liability), the Go-Go's signed to IRS Records and released Beauty and the Beat, which was a surprise hit and topped the charts for six weeks. "Our Lips Are Sealed" and a new version of "We Got the Beat" were extremely popular singles. The follow-up, however, Vacation, sold well but quickly ran out of momentum. 1984 saw a return to critical acceptance with the album Talk Show, but sales were poor. In 1985 (1985 in music) the band broke up.

Rumor has it that what did in the band was excessive hedonism and drug abuse. Around 1983, Carlisle had a $300-a-day cocaine habit, and Caffey had a heroin habit. In 1983, a videotape surfaced showing Carlisle and Valentine at a post-gig party at which both were inebriated and uninhibited. In 1985, Caffey underwent treatment to rid herself of the heroin habit, and Carlisle followed suit. After the drug treatment, neither could continue with the band anymore; Jane Wiedlin had previously departed.

Belinda Carlisle had a successful solo career for most of the late 1980s, while Wiedlin did some recording and acting. Charlotte Caffey worked with Carlisle and then formed a band called the Graces for Perfect View (1990 in music).

In 1990, Wiedlin organized a reunion that began with a benefit for PETA, and again in 1994, when they released Return of the Valley of the Go-Go's. In 2001, they released an album of new material entitled "God Bless the Go-Go's". They have since decided to continue performing and recording together.


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They have since decided to continue performing and recording together. Even after he moved onto other years, he still continued to sing and write songs in his spare time. In 2001, they released an album of new material entitled "God Bless the Go-Go's". In 1946 he opened a photography studio in Las Gatos, California where he died. In 1990, Wiedlin organized a reunion that began with a benefit for PETA, and again in 1994, when they released Return of the Valley of the Go-Go's. In 1941 after the outbreak of World War II, he moved to San Francisco, California, where he served as director of job relations at the War Manpower Commission, and then as personnel director of an army hospital. Charlotte Caffey worked with Carlisle and then formed a band called the Graces for Perfect View (1990 in music). After his retirement from show business, he moved to Oklahoma where he managed a radio station.

Belinda Carlisle had a successful solo career for most of the late 1980s, while Wiedlin did some recording and acting. He also married a woman named Betty and performed with her. After the drug treatment, neither could continue with the band anymore; Jane Wiedlin had previously departed. Despite the setback to his career caused by the war, Harvey did continue vaudeville performances until the mid 1920s, often in duets. In 1985, Caffey underwent treatment to rid herself of the heroin habit, and Carlisle followed suit. There is some dispute as to whether he was a baritone or tenor. In 1983, a videotape surfaced showing Carlisle and Valentine at a post-gig party at which both were inebriated and uninhibited. Many documentaries about World War I contain the song, however, and it is still on this song that Harvey's voice is most heard.

Around 1983, Carlisle had a $300-a-day cocaine habit, and Caffey had a heroin habit. Soon after America did intervene in the war in 1917, Harvey stopped recording, as the sentiments of that song were no longer popular and were considered unpatriotic. Rumor has it that what did in the band was excessive hedonism and drug abuse. He is also notable for recording the antiwar protest song "I Did Not Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier" in 1915, which became popular with people who wished for America to stay out of World War I. In 1985 (1985 in music) the band broke up. Handy in 1914. 1984 saw a return to critical acceptance with the album Talk Show, but sales were poor. Though most of his recordings were not best sellers, he is notable for being the first singer to record a blues song, the "Memphis Blues" by W.C.

The follow-up, however, Vacation, sold well but quickly ran out of momentum. He eventually gained a recording contract, just a few years after records began to become popular. "Our Lips Are Sealed" and a new version of "We Got the Beat" were extremely popular singles. His family wanted to become a minister, but he had theatrical ambitions, and was able to secure a position in a traveling show while on a trip to Chicago, Illinois. After exchanging Olaverra for Kathy Valentine (the band's sound was turning from punk to pop, and Olaverra's punk persona was becoming a pop liability), the Go-Go's signed to IRS Records and released Beauty and the Beat, which was a surprise hit and topped the charts for six weeks. Harvey was born in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1980 (1980 in music), the Go-Gos' "We Got the Beat" became an underground hit. Morton Harvey (1886 1961) was an American vaudeville performer and singer who had a moderately successful recording career during the 1910s.

They have had five top-40 hits. They played primarily pop punk and retro-1960s rock. They formed in 1978 and first rose to fame in the ska punk community supporting Madness on tour. The Go-Go's are an all-women band.

Jane Wiedlin, rhythm guitar and backup vocals. Kathy Valentine (replaced Margot Olaverra in 1980), bass guitar and rhythm guitar. Gina Schock, drums. Belinda Carlisle (real name: Belinda Kurczeski), lead vocals.

Charlotte Caffey, lead guitar and keyboards.