God Bless the Go-Go's

The Go-Go’s: RRHOF Class of 2021

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© 2021 The Go-Go’s Official Store

Trick or treat? It may be Halloween, but it’s no trick that The Go-Go’s were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night, marking a milestone not only in the band’s career, but also in the museum’s history as well. The Go-Go’s are the first and only female rock band to be inducted into the historic RRHOF, marking yet another first of many firsts in the fearless fivesome’s four decades of music and mischief.

The Go-Go’s remain the first and only all-female rock band to score a multi-platinum debut album written and performed by women to land atop the Billboard 200 album chart. Like Drew Barrymore stated in her induction speech at last night’s ceremony, The Go-Go’s were also my first favorite rock band/group, as well as my very first rock concert and also the unknowing recipients of my first adolescent rock star crush.

The Go-Go’s music has remained a constant in my adult life as the band’s unforgettable discography has been permanently etched into my psyche with irresistible and life altering earworms including: “Fading Fast,” “Get Up and Go,” “Turn to You” and “Apology” from the band’s albums Beauty and the Beat, Vacation, Talk Show and God Bless the Go-Go’s.

So, it is with great pride and sentimentality I say congratulations to Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine, Gina Schock, Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin. Thank you for the music, the cherished memories and most of all for the endless hours of unbeknownst discussion fodder you’ve provided to me and my fellow Go-Go’s cohort (you know who you are, VG!) over the past four decades.

May your beauty and beats last an eternity.

God Bless the Go-Go’s: Fabulous fivesome’s fourth studio album reissued

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The trailblazing Go-Go’s have not only been selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but also see the reissue of the totally awesome, but criminally overlooked God Bless the Go-Go’s.

Ironically rereleased two days after the RRHOF induction announcement, the band’s fourth studio album finally makes its vinyl LP debut, in addition to a deluxe edition CD with new artwork and the inclusion of two exceptional bonus tracks: “King of Confusion” and “I Think I Need Sleep.”

Although seventeen years separate the Go-Gos’ third and fourth releases, God Bless the Go-Go’s remarkably picks up right where Talk Show left off in 1984. In fact, the piano intro of “Talking Myself Down” subtly but undoubtedly recalls echoes of previous hit “Head Over Heels.” Just as the ladies’ 1980’s output demonstrated growth and proficiency with each release, God Bless the Go-Go’s not only continued that trend, but also became a worthy and vital entry into the band’s musical legacy. [Read full review here]

The Go-Go’s Nominated to Be Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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© 1983 I.R.S. Records/GGIFC

The Go-Go’s have hit another milestone by being nominated to become members of the historic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I must confess this news excites my youthful heart as The Go-Go’s were not only my first favorite band, but also my very first rock concert and front row experience.

With masterfully crafted earworms such as: “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” “Head Over Heels” and “We Got the Beat,” the female fivesome made history with the historic debut album, Beauty and the Beat, which sat perched atop the Billboard 200 album chart for six consecutive weeks and selling over two million copies. The double platinum Beauty and the Beat is the first and only album by an all-female rock band to achieve this monumentally historic feat, which has yet to be repeated in the four decades since.

Although the band broke up in 1984, they reunited in 1990 and went on to record a powerful fourth album in 2001 (God Bless the Go-Go’s), which featured Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong on the lead-off single “Unforgiven.” The Go-Go’s have continued to tour in the following years and recorded and released a new track, “Club Zero” in 2020, as well as the critically acclaimed documentary about the band lensed by History of the Eagles director Allison Ellwood.

A long overdue oversight (eloquently echoed by a recent op-ed piece in Billboard by James Duke Mason) has now been rectified and an anticipatory congratulations is extended to Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin. May the magical mystical power of Apollo be bestowed upon the most successful all female rock band of all time.

To cast your vote for the RRHOF 2021 nominees click here

To read more about my obsessive fandom click the titled links below:

Beauty and the Beat

Vacation

Talk Show