The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey on new documentary

They still got the beat! The Go-Go's original members, Belinda Carlisle and Charlotte Caffey, look back at their career and discuss their new music documentary, "The Go-Go's," airing July 31, 2020 on Showtime.

Video Transcript

- We are the first all-girl band that wrote their own material and played their own instruments to be really successful.

LINDSEY PARKER: I am so excited to speak with you guys today. And I really enjoyed the new documentary that just came out. I still remember, honestly, the moment I was when Casey Kasem announced that "Beauty and the Beast" had made history-- herstory-- by going to number one and being the first album by an all-female band that wrote and played everything to do so.

But it's understanding, even though you were huge in LA, like, all these labels passed on you.

BELINDA CARLISLE: Well, I mean, we were told, we love you, and we can see that everybody loves you. But there's never been an all-female band that has been big. I mean, you've had cult-level successes like The Runaways and Fanny. But as far as having a big chance at success, no, because you're all women. There's never been anything before like you. So, sorry, we'll pass.

Basically, we got that, like Ginger says in the video, our a manager-- she has a file full of rejection letters for that very reason.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: I would love to read all those letters. Oh, my god. It would be so fun.

LINDSEY PARKER: So how did it feel, then, when you obviously got a deal with IRS and then had a number-one record. And I believe, you know, you were on tour with IRS's premier group, the Police. But you were higher in the charts than they were while that tour was still going on. That must have felt-- like, was it vindicating?

BELINDA CARLISLE: When Sting came back into my dressing room with a bottle of champagne, and it's like, congratulations. Like, what, what? You're number one! And then I think they went to number six.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: They were at number six, "Ghost in the Machine," yeah. Whoops.

LINDSEY PARKER: That was a good year. That was a good year.

BELINDA CARLISLE: I wasn't-- I wouldn't say the word "vindicated." I mean, we were happy. We were just happy.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: Looking back on it, it's very vindicating. But in the middle of it, it was, like she said, nonstop work. But we also had nonstop partying.

LINDSEY PARKER: When did it sink in for you guys what you had achieved.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: Maybe "Saturday Night Live."

LINDSEY PARKER: Tell me about the "Saturday Night Live" appearance. You described the performance as not being great.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: It's actually not as bad as we remember, if we remember. Because that day was a lost day. We started drinking early. And then someone brought someone brought some coke. And it was like, you know, try to even it out. And then all of a sudden they're like, OK, you're going on, girls. Remember, you're playing in front of 50 million people. And we were like, [BLEEP].

BELINDA CARLISLE: At the time, it was scandalous. You know, and that was the talk, was like, did you see the Go-Gos performance? Oh, my god. They were out of it. But I don't think it was that bad.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: I can see the terror on my face, you know, just, like, because I'm like-- you know. We were known for scandal.

LINDSEY PARKER: In the documentary, you talk about how you had a quote, unquote, "full-blown heroin addiction." But it seems like you were pretty good at leading a double life, a secret life.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: I knew I was in trouble. But I didn't know how to talk about it. I didn't want to let the girls down. So I would lie. And I would be really, you know, just trying to make it-- trying to wish it away. You know, just like, oh. And I couldn't control it. You know, it was really, really scary, is the reality of it.

But, fortunately, you know, I was able to get myself into rehab and been 35 years sober.

LINDSEY PARKER: I know it sort of coincided, the attempt to breakup at the time with Charlotte, you going to rehab, and stuff. What was happening all at once in, like, '84, I guess it was?

BELINDA CARLISLE: Jane left. And that was it, really, basically. After she left, I mean, it was not going to be the same.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: We were writing really [BLEEP] songs. I have to be real honest about that. It was not happening. I was three months, two or three months sober when we left the band, Belinda. And I had to choose myself for the first time. Like, I had to not choose the band. Because I really knew, deep inside, if I didn't do this, I was going to die. You know, I wasn't going to be able to survive.

Because there was a lot of crap going on. We never really resolved stuff. We've learned how sense, but not back then. It was not-- and there was never time. When would we have had time to resolve anything? Because we were nonstop going through, like, seven years.

LINDSEY PARKER: Belinda, you said something kind of interesting in the documentary. You said, during this period, you needed some humbling. What did you mean by that?

BELINDA CARLISLE: I think that I lacked a lot of empathy back then and wasn't as kind as I could have been. And I think, for me, I didn't participate yet wanted all the rewards. Because I was pretty out to lunch. So I think, at the end of the day, empathy, I was devoid of empathy.

And I think that just comes, you know-- I mean, something that maybe you develop as you get older and have life experiences. And it was an amazing, amazing time, but also, kind of damaging at the same time, you know? Having that kind of success is--

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: Yeah, it was a little scary, for sure.

BELINDA CARLISLE: --really difficult to handle. And you just kind of go crazy. So I don't think anybody was their kind of self during that period.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: I mean, we were at where we were at, you know? And you think about a marriage, you have two people, like a 40 year marriage, you're going to have ups and downs. Lots of things are going to happen. If you have five people, times that by five. Considering that we are where we're at today, it's really phenomenal. This is an incredible story. And look, look at those women! Look at them! They're working on a new song.

[MUSIC - THE GO-GOS - "CLUB ZERO"]

Time's up. It's clarion call. The zero hour is upon us all. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

It heeled whatever for me, I guess.

BELINDA CARLISLE: When I saw it, it really made me emotional. And that's our life. And seeing it up there was just the most incredible experience. Really, really proud of it.

LINDSEY PARKER: And it ends with the question of why you guys have never been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Stewart Copeland is saying what the [BLEEPED]. Do you have any theory about that?

BELINDA CARLISLE: Well, I have a lot to say about it. But I could go on. And [INAUDIBLE]. But first of all, I don't think any of us really feel we need to be validated by them. So we don't sit around, and talk about it, and think about it. But I do think that they don't like us, which is fine.

You don't have to like the music. But you can't really dispute the fact that we were the first of our kind. We put ourselves together. We wrote our own songs. We played our own instruments. We came from absolutely nothing. We came out of the garage. We had a 100% artistic control. One of the first male or female debut albums to be number one. That doesn't happen so often. So, I mean, I think maybe 20 artists have had that in the history of music, something ridiculous like that.

So I just think it's a personal thing, which is silly. Because, at the end of the day, it's about innovative artists. And it's about innovative acts, and acts like the B-52s, or Suzi Quatro, or Cher. There's so many that are innovators and not just frat rock, guys, that get in. Because, you know-- I mean, sometimes-- I'm like, I get the ballot every year. And I just look at it and go, are you kidding me?

I don't even know why they send me a ballot. They know how I feel. But I just write "Go-Gos," check it off, and send it back.

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: It's about what they can sell at their gift shop, you know?

BELINDA CARLISLE: Exactly. [INAUDIBLE].

CHARLOTTE CAFFEY: It has very little to do with rock and roll I mean, there has been some major rock and roll people that have been inducted. But it's strange. So, yeah, it's kind of like, well, OK, if they nominate us, and they wanted to induct us, that's great. I guess we'll show up.

BELINDA CARLISLE: I don't even know if I would.

LINDSEY PARKER: You really think it's--

BELINDA CARLISLE: I honestly don't think I would.

LINDSEY PARKER: Wait, did you just say you don't think you would?

BELINDA CARLISLE: I don't think-- I don't think I would show up, no. I don't think it, no. I don't go in for the corporate thing. I think it's too little, too late, actually. I think it's just-- it's gotten away from the point of rock and roll and the point of music. And I don't know. I don't think-- I don't know if I would. I'd just have to play it by ear. But I really don't think I would.

LINDSEY PARKER: Wow. And you really do think it's personal, though? Do you think it-- I don't know if you think it's because you complained about your "Rolling Stone" cover so long ago. You said that in the film. But I thought you were joking. But you had a theory, Belinda, I don't know if you were joking, that you pissed off Jann Wenner. And that was why.

BELINDA CARLISLE: I do think it's personal. I don't think-- I know for a fact that there are quite a few people that don't like us on the panel, whatever they are. That's fine. But you can't deny what we've done, you know? I mean, I'm not saying that in the arrogant way. I'm just stating facts.

LINDSEY PARKER: We've got the documentary that told the real story. And it was a real treat to watch it. And it was a real treat, real honor to speak with you guys. You know, you're in my Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.