History Music / TheGoGos

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Jane Wiedlin. Watch the band's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HPXyglSnVY ''Behind the Music'']] episode, particularly toward the end, and you'll find out why.

They started out with Music/BelindaCarlisle (who later had a successful solo career), Jane Wiedlin, Margot Olavarria, and Elissa Bello. Later in 1978, Charlotte Caffey joined, and Bello left the next year and was replaced by Gina Schock. The classic lineup came together in 1981 when Kathy Valentine replaced Olavarria. Although the lead vocalist, Belinda Carlisle, is the most well-known of the band, both with the band and in her aforementioned solo projects, other members of the band have contributed to other projects as well. Jane Wiedlin, the rhythm guitarist, was the writer and co-writer of several of the Go-Go's songs. Away from the group, she had several solo albums, including the top 10 hit, ''Rush Hour'', and an acting career with roles in ''Film/{{Star Trek IV|The Voyage Home}}'', ''[[Film/BillAndTed Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'' (as "Miss [[UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc 'of Arc']]"), and ''Film/{{Clue}}'', as well as voicing the character Gwen on ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill'' and Dusk of the Hex Girls in several ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' projects.

The Go-Go's rose to fame in the early 1980s. Their debut album, ''Beauty and the Beat'', is considered one of the "cornerstone albums of new wave" (Allmusic), breaking barriers and paving the way for a host of other new American acts. In the beginning, they played primarily a pop-inflected form of the emerging punk sound, and later defined themselves with the distinct sound of 1980s rock. The Go-Go's had five U.S. Top 40 hits. Musical influences include Music/TheRamones, The Shangri-Las, the Music/{{Buzzcocks}}, Music/TheBeatles, Music/TheBeachBoys, and Music/{{Blondie}}. During their career, the Go-Go's have sold more than seven million albums.

* TheEighties: This is the decade where they had their biggest hits.

[[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine, Gina Schock, Jane Wiedlin]]

->''"Go-go music really makes us dance\\

Yeah, we got it!"''
-->-- "'''We Got the Beat'''"

* AlliterativeName: Aside from the band itself, there is '''C'''harlotte '''C'''affey
* BathtubScene: The cover art for ''Beauty and the Beat'' depicts them at a spa, wearing mud masks and towels.

%%* CoverVersion: The Capitols' "Cool Jerk," on ''Vacation''

* GenkiGirl: Jane Wiedlin is the most animated member in live performances.

%%* PrecisionFStrike: "Club Zero"
* SillyLoveSongs: Many of their songs are based around love, including their hits Head over Heels and Vacation.

* LongTitle: "You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)"

%%* TheChick: Averted, since all the members are women.

%%* LadykillerInLove: Gender-inverted in "Lust to Love".

* SillyLoveSongs: Many of their songs are based around love, including Head over Heels and Vacation.

At least two other groups [[NamesTheSame share the Go-Go's name]] with them: a British group who released the novelty single "[[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek]]" in 1964, and an American trio who recorded the album ''Swim with the Go-Go's'' and a couple of singles for [[Creator/RCARecords RCA Victor]] the same year. However, unless you're either a classic ''Series/DoctorWho'' fan and/or a 1960s surf pop expert, chances are slim that you'll ever deal with those two groups.

%%* CreatorProvincialism: "This Town":
%%-->"This town is our town\\
%%This town is so glamorous\\
%%Bet you'd live here if you could\\
%%And be one of us."

* MsFanservice: All five members appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1982 in nothing but T-shirts and panties.

%%* SillyLoveSongs

%%* TheEighties

%%* MsFanservice: All five members.

* TheChick: Averted, since all the members are women.

* CoverVersion: The Capitols' "Cool Jerk," on ''Vacation''
* CreatorProvincialism: "This Town":
-->"This town is our town\\
This town is so glamorous\\
Bet you'd live here if you could\\
And be one of us."

* TheEighties

* LadykillerInLove: Gender-inverted in "Lust to Love".

* MsFanservice: All five members.
* PantyShot: A quick one in the video for "Our Lips Are Sealed" and all five members on the cover of ''Rolling Stone'' issue #375.
* PrecisionFStrike: "Club Zero"
* SillyLoveSongs
** BreakupSong: "Fading Fast" is a pretty nasty one, with Belinda (written by Charlotte) throwing the guy out and singing about how she is actively putting him out of her memory.

* {{Bifauxnen}}: In the "Turn to You" video, the whole band except for Gina embody this trope.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Jane Wiedlin dyed her hair in several different colors throughout her career.

They started out with Music/BelindaCarlisle (who later had a successful solo career), Jane Wiedlin, Margot Olavarria, and Elissa Bello. Later in 1978, Charlotte Caffey joined, and Bello left the next year and was replaced by Gina Schock. The classic lineup came together in 1981 when Kathy Valentine replaced Olavarria. Although the lead vocalist, Belinda Carlisle, is the most well-known of the band, both with the band and in her aforementioned solo projects, other members of the band have contributed to other projects as well. Jane Wiedlin, the rhythm guitarist, was the writer and co-writer of several of the Go-Go's songs. Away from the group, she had several solo albums, including the top 10 hit, ''Rush Hour'', and an acting career with roles in ''Film/{{Star Trek IV|The Voyage Home}}'', ''[[Film/BillAndTed Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'' (as "Miss [[UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc 'of Arc']]"), and ''Film/{{Clue}}'', as well as voicing the character Gwen on ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill''.

* '''''Music/BelindaCarlisle''''' – lead vocals (1978-1985, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

* ''Charlotte Caffey'' – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1978–1985, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

* ''Gina Schock'' – drums (1979-1985, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

* ''Kathy Valentine'' – bass, backing vocals (1981-1985, 1990, 1994, 1999-2012, 2018–present)
* '''''Jane Wiedlin''''' – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1978-1984, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

They started out with Music/BelindaCarlisle (who later had a successful solo career), Jane Wiedlin, Margot Olavarria, and Elissa Bello. In 1979, Charlotte Caffey joined, and Bello left and was replaced by Gina Schock. The classic lineup came together in 1981 when Kathy Valentine replaced Olavarria. Although the lead vocalist, Belinda Carlisle, is the most well-known of the band, both with the band and in her aforementioned solo projects, other members of the band have contributed to other projects as well. Jane Wiedlin, the rhythm guitarist, was the writer and co-writer of several of the Go-Go's songs. Away from the group, she had several solo albums, including the top 10 hit, ''Rush Hour'', and an acting career with roles in ''Film/{{Star Trek IV|The Voyage Home}}'', ''[[Film/BillAndTed Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'' (as "Miss [[UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc 'of Arc']]"), and ''Film/{{Clue}}'', as well as voicing the character Gwen on ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill''.

* '''Margot Olavarria''' - bass (1978–1980)
* ''Gina Schock'' - drums (1979-1985, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

* '''''Jane Wiedlin''''' - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1978-1984, 1990, 1994, 1999-present)

* LongRunnerLineup: Type 2. The classic lineup was originally together only from 1981–1984, with brief reunions in 1990 and 1994, but had a more lasting reunion from 1999–2012. They reunited yet again in 2018.

The band included Music/BelindaCarlisle (who later had a successful solo career), Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, and Gina Schock. Although the lead vocalist, Belinda Carlisle, is the most well-known of the band, both with the band and in her aforementioned solo projects, other members of the band have contributed to other projects as well. Jane Wiedlin, the rhythm guitarist, was the writer and co-writer of several of the Go-Go's songs. Away from the group, she had several solo albums, including the top 10 hit, ''Rush Hour'', and an acting career with roles in ''Film/{{Star Trek IV|The Voyage Home}}'', ''[[Film/BillAndTed Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'' (as "Miss [[UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc 'of Arc']]"), and ''Film/{{Clue}}'', as well as voicing the character Gwen on ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill''.

* BreakupBreakout: Belinda Carlisle started a very successful solo career after the band broke up. Jane Wiedlin was also successful to a lesser extent.

** BreakupSong: "Fading Fast" is a pretty nasty one, with Belinda throwing the guy out and singing about how she is actively putting him out of her memory.

* BathtubScene: The cover art for ''Beauty and the Beat'' depicts them at a spa, wearing mud masks, towels and one of them is in a bathtub.
* Bifauxnen: In the "Turn to You" video, the whole band except for Gina embody this trope.

* BiTheWay: Jane Wieldin is bisexual