The Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts. The Go-Go’s rose to fame during the early 1980’s. Their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, is considered one of the “cornerstone albums of (US) new wave” (Allmusic), breaking barriers and paving the way for a host of other new American acts. When the album was released, it steadily climbed the Billboard 200 chart, ultimately reaching No. 1, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. The Go-Go’s have sold more than 7 million albums. (More from Wikipedia)
Another band from the same time period, the Go-Go’s became popular even beyond their hit songs and albums. Their first album, the triple-platinum Beauty and the Beat is one of the top selling debut albums of all time and is described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine in Allmusic as being “one of the cornerstone albums of American new wave”.
The band was formed in 1978 and was originally called the Misfits, with Belinda Carlisle (lead vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, vocals), Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar, keyboards), Margot Olaverra (bass), and Elissa Bello (drums). Gina Schock replaced Bello on drums in 1979; after Olaverra became ill and could no longer perform, Kathy Valentine took her position in the band. Jane Wiedlin thought up the name “the Go-Go’s”. The band was signed to I.R.S. Records in early 1981 and started a lucrative tour with the Police, before returning shortly thereafter with their own headlining tour.
Two more albums followed in quick succession, though the Go-Go’s began to run out of steam by the mid-1980’s when they were unable to match the giddy fun of their first album. While officially breaking up in 1985, the band has periodically toured and released albums over the years, including a cover of “Cool Jerk” for their 1990 The Go-Go’s Greatest album, Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s (1994) and God Bless the Go-Go’s (2001).
