JANE WIEDLIN
LiPS UNsEaLEd
AS THE TRAILBLAZING CALIFORNIAN BAND FINALLY GAIN A LONG-OVERDUE INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME, THE GO-GO’S FOUNDING MEMBER, JANE WIEDLIN, REVEALS ALL ABOUT THE ICONS OF PUNK-POP
DAN BIGGANE
We got the beat: The Go-Go’s, 21st century style
H aving inexplicably overlooked one of the most successful all-woman rock bands of all time, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame finally acknowledged the trail-blazing Go-Go’s on 30 October. “I think that the previous committee that chose the nominees featured at least one, possibly two, people who actively disliked our band,” revealed founding member Jane Wiedlin to Classic Pop on the eve of the group’s induction. “But there was a changing of the guard at the beginning of this year, and that group of people immediately decided we should be included.”
“Beauty And The Beat blew the doors of my life off… it sounded like pure possibility,” reflected Drew Barrymore as she paid homage to the group’s landmark debut during her ceremony induction speech. The actor wasn’t alone, The Go-Go’s had a profound effect on generations of music makers who followed. From Riot Grrrl to Girl Power, everyone from Bikini Kill to the Spice Girls owe a huge debt to The Go-Go’s. “Because we were first, I think we encouraged so many girls and young women to become musicians and songwriters,” says Jane. “Traditionally, it seemed like females were stuck in the role of being the singer or a backing vocalist… so, we hope that we changed things a little bit.”
HEY HO, LET’S GO-GO!
Formed out of California’s punk scene in 1978, with Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals and Wiedlin on rhythm guitar and vocals, the core line-up of the band solidified with the additions of lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey, drummer Gina Schock and bassist Kathy Valentine.