Posted on 07/03/2021 4:16:51 PM PDT by nickcarraway
It hardly matters – who really cares about these things? – and yet it does. This year the Go-Go’s will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and earning a place at the museum in Cleveland, Ohio, for all its naffness, is still a mark of influence and recognition. “I always said: ‘**** them, I don’t care,’” says Belinda Carlisle, the band’s lead singer. “But when it actually happens, it’s: ‘Oh, this is not so bad.’”
The Go-Go’s have had a reappraisal in the past year, thanks mainly to a documentary by the film-maker Alison Ellwood. It tells the story of how these scrappy young LA punks put together a band (the lineup shifted until arriving at the current five members) and made history – incredibly, they are still the only female band who write their own music and play their own instruments to have reached the top of the US album charts. That was in 1982. As with many female artists, belittled for years by the male-dominated music industry and press, the recognition feels long overdue.
The documentary also refocuses perceptions of Carlisle. After leaving the Go-Go’s, she became a glossy pop star, but I love seeing the older images of her wearing a bin bag dress, or facing down sexist thugs while on an early UK tour supporting Madness. On the phone from her home in Bangkok, Carlisle, now 64, is warm and unguarded. She laughs at the memory, but also adds it was “very intimidating. We would come off stage crying.” But that tour, and the kudos they had earned on the US new wave scene for touring Britain’s ska clubs, was the turning point for the band. “It exploded after that,” she says.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Agreed!
Viv was a total babe.
While I like and respect their music, (Go-Gos), I agree. Blue Oyster Cult should have been inducted years or, now, decades ago.
I saw the gogo’s was just taking about it today. Great show anyway I’m guy and it was 99,9 percent chick’s no guys just chick’s every girl wanted to dance just saying I had a blast.
Their first album, and mercifully perhaps their only album from that time.
The Shaggs were the worst bad ever. Philosophy Of The World was awful on every level imaginable.
I know. I owned a copy.
L
Semms to me, the Go Go’s got into the HOF because the PC crowd wanted to induct “girl group”.
“Diversity” and all that.
Ping for later
Yeah, I agree. HOF is kinda ho hum.
When everyone is in an exclusive club, then it’s no longer exclusive
I know. They actually were way ahead of their time and place, playing complex, avant-garde rock. It is hard to know if they just fell into the sound they produced, or actually composed it. But Zappa was right.
I’m so sorry. Therapy is available for that kind of trauma.
She did pose for PLAYBOY...I heard her songs before...
Fabulous voice.
Their debut album hit #1, second album #8. We Got the Beat, Vacation, Our Lips Are Sealed, Head Over Heels, Turn to You....
And Gina Schock was a seasoned professional drummer when she joined. She whipped the band into shape. Truly underrated.
Susanna is still a babe.
That’s not true. Belinda Carlisle was the drummer for the Germs under the name Dottie Danger.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.