Movies

The Go-Go’s are back again, still real, raw and ready for Coachella and Cruel World

BBG News

Among those eagerly anticipating the Go-Go’s series of prestigious performances is none other than Gina Schock herself. Regrettably, she was unable to attend their last major concerts in Los Angeles – at the Crypto.com Arena in 2022 and a three-night run at the Hollywood Bowl back in 2018. This was due to health complications that necessitated thumb surgery and fusion of three vertebrae in her neck.

Currently, Schock is in good health and excited about performing with the band at the Roxy on April 9, as well as on April 11 and April 18 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Following performances in San Francisco and Las Vegas, they’ll conclude their tour at the Cruel World festival in Pasadena on May 17. This makes the Go-Go’s one of the select few bands to play the diverse and contemporary Indio, California festival Coachella this year and the ’80s-inspired Pasadena fest in the same calendar year.

At Coachella, Lady Gaga leads the main performances, while Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are the headliners at Cruel World. This setup seems fitting because The Go-Go’s connect the pop flavor of Gaga to the L.A. punk vibe that had some overlap with the early music style of Cave’s band, The Birthday Party.

As a devoted cinephile, let me share my excitement: Almost the entire band gathered in Los Angeles for a reunion rehearsal towards the heart of February, and it was electrifying! I couldn’t help but feel energized. You see, I’ve been diligently practicing for months, eagerly anticipating this moment. It’s been eight years since I last played with the band, and here we are again! Speaking from my San Francisco home, where I’ve resided since 2005, via a Zoom call, I express my enthusiasm: “I was absolutely thrilled to be playing music once more!

For quite some time now, I’ve been an avid follower of The Go-Go’s. Over the years, we’ve had our fair share of reunions. In 2016, we announced a supposed farewell tour, hinting at potential future live performances but ruling out extensive tours like those in the past.

×

Previously, they performed at a festival similar to Coachella, which was back in January 1985 at Rock in Rio, Brazil. At that time, the band was reaching its end after an incredibly successful initial phase. Emerging from the Los Angeles club scene, they secured a record deal with the budding IRS Records and achieved number one on the album chart in 1982 with their debut album, “Beauty and the Beat.” Remarkably, it remains the only album by an all-female band playing their own instruments to reach the top of the Billboard album chart.

By the year 1985, following the success of our albums “Vacation” in 1982 and “Talk Show” in 1984, the harmony within our band was starting to unravel. Envy over songwriting royalties, disputes about fair compensation, substance abuse, and mismanagement were tearing us apart from within.

In October 1984, Wiedlin departed the band, allowing Valentine to take over on guitar. Subsequently, they brought in Paula Jean Brown for bass duties for their two performances at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil, which attracted over a quarter of a million people daily. Following these shows, the rest of the band returned home, but Charlotte Caffey, the guitarist-songwriter, remained in Brazil for a week, struggling with her drug addiction. As she puts it, “That whole week in Rio was such a strange feeling. I eventually checked myself into a drug and alcohol treatment center in South Pasadena upon my return home.

Four decades have passed since then, but abstaining from alcohol remains the pivotal decision in my life’s journey. “It’s the most significant accomplishment I’ve achieved,” I reflect. The folks at the rehab center where I spent my time had a wager on who would relapse first. Naturally, I was the one to finish the race ahead of everyone else, and I’m proud to say I’m the only one who maintained sobriety.

In contrast to her fellow band members, the enigmatic Go-Go member Caffey prefers to steer clear of social media. As she candidly expresses during a Zoom chat from her LA residence, with her camera initially turned off, “The last thing I want is people tracking my every move.

She admits her fondness for composing songs and performing, but she isn’t a fan of the accompanying aspects, such as fame. She prefers to keep a low profile. When they’re not working together, she likes to observe what other artists are up to. She checks their social media accounts and thinks, “That looks really enjoyable.” Essentially, she is more of a private person.

It’s no wonder that the Go-Go’s use social media to stay connected nowadays. Among them, Caffey, who wrote their 1982 No. 2 hit “We Got the Beat,” is the only one still in Los Angeles, where she has lived with her husband since 1993, alongside Redd Kross guitarist Jeff McDonald. On the other hand, singer Belinda Carlisle, aged 66, resides in Mexico City for four years and has been outside the U.S. since 1994. Valentine moved to St. Alban, near London, England, recently, while Wiedlin lived on the Big Island in Hawaii but has since relocated to Berkeley in pursuit of better treatment for her long-lasting COVID symptoms.

The singer who’s famous for hits like “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” “I Get Weak,” and “Mad About You,” namely Belinda Carlisle, has just revealed upcoming shows in Germany, Belgium, and the U.K. this fall. Following performances in Australia and England last year, she will be making these appearances. Despite her thriving solo career, she credits it all to The Go-Go’s.

Without the Go-Go’s, I wouldn’t be on a solo path today – it’s something I firmly believe,” she shares during a Zoom chat from Mexico City. “The entire tale of our formation is quite remarkable to me,” she adds, discussing the band she started with Wiedlin, Olavarria, and Bello in 1978. “I take great pride in it because we overcame so many obstacles to make it happen.

×

In 2021, the Foo Fighters, comprising guitarist Pat Smear who hails from the L.A. punk scene, were among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Interestingly, before joining the Go-Go’s, Carlilse had a short-lived tenure as the vocalist for the Germs with Smear on guitar. As Caffey recalls, “I have a photo of me, Jane, Pat Smear, and Belinda standing there, and we were all looking at each other, thinking, ‘We never imagined this would happen back then.’

Back in the hazy days of ’78, I found myself reminiscing about a moment with Smear and their bandmate, Bobby Pin – pre-Darby Crash era. They inquired about my age, but the specifics have slipped away over time. What stuck with me was Smear’s retort: “You’re too old to be a punk.

71-year-old Caffey, known as the oldest Go-Go, possesses a vibrancy that contradicts her age. Similar to many others, she admits that the COVID-19 lockdown impacted her mentally and temporarily hindered her focus on music. However, playing Go-Go songs in her home studio downstairs has reignited her creative spirit, making her feel prepared to create once more.

In the U.K., Valentine, who is 66 years old and well-known for her work with the Go-Go’s hit “Vacation,” is experiencing a resurgence of creativity. She is currently performing as a solo artist and has formed a new band called Psycher with other female musicians such as Linda Pitmon from The Baseball Project, Brix Smith from The Fall, and Cáit O’Riordan from the Pogues. Additionally, she is planning to write a sequel to her 2020 book “All I Ever Wanted: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Memoir.” During a Zoom interview, Valentine expresses her enthusiasm by saying, “I feel like I’m 16 again and I’m going to make it in the music industry!

During a recent visit to Vienna with Lenny Kravitz and his guitarist Craig Ross, she’s come to fully appreciate the extent of The Go-Go’s influence. Lenny shared stories about the band to a younger audience who were in awe, exclaiming that The Go-Go’s were the biggest band on the planet. Although she initially disagreed, he insisted and reminded her of their global impact, leaving her continually amazed by the cultural impact The Go-Go’s had made.

Speaking on the phone from San Francisco, Wiedlin (66) expresses delight over the recent surge of interest and activity surrounding her band over the past ten years. Highlights include a 2018 Broadway musical titled “Head Over Heels” that showcased their songs, as well as the 2020 premiere of the documentary “The Go-Go’s” at the Sundance Film Festival. This exposure culminated in their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. “I never thought we’d be asked to perform again,” she shares, referring to upcoming events like Coachella and Cruel World.

As a movie buff putting this into my own words: Due to my ongoing battle with the aftermath of long COVID, I unfortunately couldn’t join the band for our L.A. rehearsal in late February. However, I’ve been catching up and jamming with my fellow Bay Area resident, Schock. I’m eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with the band for rehearsals before we hit the stage at The Roxy.

Just as other band members, she expresses joy upon witnessing emerging acts such as fellow Los Angeles-based, all-female rock group the Linda Lindas continuing the tradition. She also wishes for more talents to emerge and help sustain rock ‘n’ roll music.

As a dedicated movie buff, I can’t help but admire the spectacle of dance-oriented ensembles who eschew traditional songwriting and instrumentation. It’s undeniably captivating, yet as an older music enthusiast, there’s something truly magical about the raw power and skill of rock ‘n’ roll, with its booming guitars and talented musicians. This genre holds a special place in my heart, and I can’t help but fear that if it were to completely disappear, a significant piece of our cultural heritage would be lost forever.

She mentions her strong sense of pride in our band, explaining that we’ve always performed live without the aid of backing tracks or any additional enhancements. Our performances are raw and authentic.

Read More

2025-04-08 13:33

Previous post Binance’s Shocking Move: 7 Crypto Pairs to Vanish! What’s Next for Your Wallet?
Next post Celeb’s Wild Weekend and Infamous Quotes: Mickey Rourke’s Chaotic Love Life Revealed