Belinda Carlisle

At 66 years old, Belinda Carlisle has this physical status:

Career

Carlisle's first exposure to music came in 1977 as a drummer for the punk rock band the Germs, who were dubbed Dottie Danger. Lorna Doom, whom she had attended in an art class as a student at Newbury Park High School, was recruited into the band. However, her time in the band was short due to her employer's mononucleosis, and she never performed or appeared live with the Germs. Donna Rhia, a Germs guitarist, was introduced by her friend, who became her replacement, after quitting. Carlisle appears on one recording introducing the band at a 1977 appearance at the Whisky a Go Go Go Go Go Go Go! (1997), an audio recording of the band's live album Germicide (1977). Carlisle did some back-up singing for Black Randy and the Metrosquad around this time.

She co-founded the Go-Go's (originally named the Misfits) with friends and fellow musicians Margot Olavarria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin right after leaving the Germs. Soon, Olavarria and Bello were out of the team, and the new lineup included Carlisle, Weidlin, bassist-turned-guitarist Charlotte Caffey, guitarist-turned-bassist Kathy Valentine, and drummer Gina Schock. Both five women were mainly untrained musicians, and Carlisle recalls using tape as fret markers during their first songwriting: "Charlotte] had to tell us how to plug in our amps."

The Go-Gots went on to become one of the first and only all-female band to ever win a No. 10 and helped usher new wave music into mainstream American radio, as well as becoming the first and only all-female band to ever perform their own music and played their own instruments. Beauty and the Beat, a compilation of the hits "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed" appeared on the radio. On I.R.S., the Go-Goos recorded two more studio albums. Vacationing 1982, which went gold, has set new records. From their 1984 album Talk Show, "Head Over Heels" has risen to the No. 1 position. 11.

Carlisle made a foray into acting in the film Swing Shift, appearing as a band member alongside Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in 1984.

In 1985, the Go-Go's were disbanded, and Carlisle began a solo career. Belinda, Carlisle's first solo album, was released in 1986, on I.R.S., as well as on I.R.S. Documents pertaining to the United States. This album was a hit in North America and was awarded Gold in the United States and Platinum in Canada. "Mad About You" -- her summer hit, reached the top of the charts at No. 1. 3 of the United States, led the Canadian Singles Chart, and ranked in the top ten in Australia. "Mad About You" was followed by Charlotte Caffey's "I Feel the Magic" and a cover version of Freda Payne's "Band of Gold." All three songs were included on her debut album. Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac co-written "Since You've Gone" was used only for promotion. Susanna Hoffs co-wrote the song "I Want a Disguise," in which she also performed back-up vocals with Jane Wiedlin. Andy Taylor of Duran Duran played guitar on some album tracks and appeared in her "Mad About You" video clip.

During this period, Carlisle had songs from "In My Wildest Dreams" from Anthony Michael Hall's "Shot in the Dark," as well as "Dancing in the City" from the Whoopi Goldberg film Burglar (1987).

Heaven on Earth's musical style rejected Carlisle's first album's 1960s-influenced pop in favour of slickly produced 1980s power-pop. It was released in the United States by MCA and in the United Kingdom by Virgin Records. The album was a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and Australia, and it was nominated for a Grammy Award.

"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" the album's first single, topped the single charts in the United States and the UK, with the song's dance mix also topping the Billboard dance charts in the United States. Diane Keaton, an Academy Award-winning American actress, was in charge of the promotional film. "I Get Weak," Diane Warren-penned "I Get Weak," the album's second single, which debuted at No. 1. In the United States, there are two and No. 2s, as well as No. 2 in the United States. In the United Kingdom, ten out of ten people have died. "Circle in the Sand," the album's third single, was another Top ten hit in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Another British hit was "World Without You." Carlisle started the Good Heavens world tour, which sold out Wembley Arena in London after the album's popularity.

Runaway Horses, Carlisle's sequel to Heaven on Earth's popularity, was published on October 23, 1989. Both Australia and the United Kingdom have been ranked as top-five in Australia and Britain, with platinum and bronze in Australia and Canada respectively. "Leave a Light On" was the first word to be released in the United States and topped at No. 10. In the United States, 11 people were killed, making it another Top 5 smash in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Carlisle appeared in a duet with Pat DiNizio on the album "Blue Period" in 1989. The song was included on their album "11."

"Summer Rain," the second single from the United States, reached No. 1 in its second appearance. In early 1990, there were 30 people in the United States. The album debuted at No. 1 in the United States. In Australia, there are six people. It was the last release from Runaway Horses in the United Kingdom, where it was first introduced as the album's sixth single in December 1990, peaking at No. 21. In January 1991, there were 23 people on the planet. Three more singles were released: the title track; "La Luna," which debuted in Switzerland and Australia, and "We Want) The Same Thing" which debuted at No. 10, as the Top Tend and Top 20 hits; and "We Want) The Same Thing; "We Want" reached No., which earned No. In the United Kingdom, there are 6 of them.

The Go-Go's original cover was released in 1990, and they performed on their first best-of album, Greatest, which featured a new recording of the cover song "Cool Jerk" (The Go-Go's original cover appeared on their 1980 European EP, with a second version being released in 1982). A prominent feature of the tour was an anti-fur protest, where the band members supported PETA, the animal rights group.

Live Your Life Be Free, Carlisle's fourth solo album, was released in 1991. The collection contained songs mainly written and produced by Rick Nowels, but also two songs co-written by Carlisle, indicating a return to 1960s-influenced music for Carlisle.

The single "Do You Feel Like I Feel?"

The attack of the 50 Foot Woman, a B movie, was accompanied by a video. In several countries, the title track, "Live Your Life Be Free," was the first single outside of the United States, and it debuted as a top 20 hit single, reaching No. 9. In the United Kingdom and No. 12, 12 people were killed, while No. 1 was 12. In Australia, there are 13 people. Both the books "Half the World" and "Little Black Book" were also well-received outside of the United States, and Marcella Detroit's "Half the World" and "Little Black Book" (co-written by Marcella Detroit under her real name Marcy Levy) were also popular outside of the United States. The album was also a hit in Europe (top ten in the United Kingdom and Gold certification).

To date, "Do You Feel Like I Feel?"

Carlisle's last single to be in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 119. 73 years old.

With a record deal at Virgin Records, Belinda's 1992 best hits album The Best of Belinda, Volume 1, reached No. 1, she's still playing in Europe and Australia. 1, and was awarded double platinum in the United Kingdom and platinum in Australia. This first greatest hits album featured all of the hits from Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, and Live Your Life Be Free. The album's United States version was dubbed Her Greatest Hits and also included songs from Belinda's first album.

Real is Carlisle's fifth solo album, and it was released in 1993 on the Virgin brand in the United States and Europe. The album, which was produced without Nowels, was a departure from Carlisle's polished pop music style. And the album's cover photo featured her with little or no make-up. Carlisle co-produced and co-wrote a large portion of the album, collaborating closely with friend and ex-GoGogoo Charlotte Caffey. Carlisle's fifth consecutive album to debut at number 9 in the United Kingdom Top 10 Rankings. In Sweden, it reached number 23. "Big Scary Animal," its first single, debuted at No. 1. In the United Kingdom, there are 12 in the country. "Lay Down Your Arms," Real's second single, which debuted in the top 30 in the United Kingdom, was voted second on the UK's best sellers. The single "Here Comes My Baby" was written by Gregg Alexander of the New Radicals. Carlisle appeared on The Lemonheads album in 1993. Feel the Lemonheads was a tribute to the Italians.

In 1994, the Go-Go's returned to the Valley of The Go-Go's, their second collection, which included three new songs, including the single "The Whole World Lost Its Head." However, the band broke up again soon after the promotional tour.

Carlisle returned to the recording studio and began working with Rick Nowels. She released A Woman and a Man, her sixth solo album on the Chrysalis label in 1996. This album, which featured mainly relaxed adult pop, resurrects her solo career in Europe and contains several hits. For the first time in six years, Carlisle's leadoff single, "In Too Deep," took the UK Top ten for the first time in six years, achieving No. 10. 6. "Always Breaking My Heart", written and produced by Roxette's Per Gessle, also made the UK Top 10, peaking at No. ten. 8.

"Love in the Key of C" and "California," which featured arrangement and back-up vocals by Brian Wilson, were two further hits in the United Kingdom. The album debuted at No. 1 on the charts. The UK has 12 girls and was named gold. The album was released in the United States on the small Ark21 label, as a result of A Woman and a Man's UK's success. For the Disney film Hercules, she sang "I Won't Say (I'm in Love) in 1997. The album was released only in France and Germany.

Carlisle released a greatest hits album in the United Kingdom in 1999, a two-disc on Virgin's A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits. Carlisle's hit songs as well as three new tracks on the album: "All God's Children" and "A Prayer for Everybody" and "I've Known You Forever." A Place on Earth, her second album, contained remixes of some of her hits and some B-sides that had not been available on CD. William Orbit had a hand in some of the remixes. A spot on the Earth: The Greatest Hits was deemed Gold in the United Kingdom and went on to sell in excess of one million copies around the world. Carlisle answers to more than 40 questions sent in by fans, a European version of the interview CD was sold.

In 2001, the Go-Go's reunited and released a new album titled God Bless The Go-Goog's. Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day's lead singer, co-wrote the only ever released single "Unforgiven."

Bless God The Go-Got received mixed criticism from commenters. AllMusic's Peter Fawthrop wrote, "Every bit as Go-Go's, implying that their non-hits and less interesting stuff are included." Although the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is no "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. The Go-Go's might have guessed it was now or never in this period of pop revival. The album does not attempt to upgrade the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electro- frippery, for which God may bless 'em.' The girls' hold on the popular pop scene is so strong that Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ("Unforgiven") in a Go-Go's way.

Despite mixed reviews, the album charted in the US Billboard 200, peaking at No. 61. 57. Carlisle appeared nude for the cover feature and a complete pictorial of the August 2001 edition of Playboy, during the Go-Go's definitive reunion tour.

Carlisle's seventh album, Voila, was her first full-length solo studio album in more than ten years. John Reynolds produced the album, with Brian Eno on keyboards. Voila was released in France on February 5 and in the United States the following day, consisting of a blend of French pop tunes and chanson standards, as well as covers of Françoise Hardy and Édith Piaf's masterpieces.

Carlisle appeared on Dancing with the Stars for the eighth season in early 2009. On March 17, she became the first celebrity to be barred from the tournament. Carlisle took over Velma Von Tussle's role in London's West End production of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre in October 2009. She stayed with the show until late January 2010 and was replaced by Siobhán McCarthy.

Carlisle embarked on a Go-Go's tour to the United States, which included concerts at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2011 and the Hollywood Bowl in September 2012. Carlisle's first US single in 17 years, "Sun," an up-tempo pop song that was included on "ICON," a new greatest hits compilation album. The single was also released in the United Kingdom. Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's and singer-songwriter Gabe Lopez wrote the song. Lopez also produced the album. Although the track did not chart, it received positive feedback.

Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, Live Your Life, and Real were all released by Edsel Records in August 2013. Each album contained a remastered copy of the original LP, a second disc of remixes, and 12-inch versions of all the singles, as well as a DVD containing the singles' promotional videos. Some of singles and remixes had never been released on CD before. The Collection, which contained 18 hits and one new song, "Goodbye Just Go," was released along with a DVD of 18 videos in March 2014. The album debuted at number 24 in the UK albums chart.

Anthology, another digitally remastered, five-disc retrospective collection, was also released in March 2014. "Dancing in the City" was the anthology, but "Dancing in the City" was originally only available on Japanese LP/CD for the 1987 film "I Won't Say I'm in Love" (I Won't Say I'm in Love), which had only been released in France as a CD single. It also included all three singles from her debut album as well as all four singles from A Woman and a Man. Belinda, A Woman and a Voila, Carlisle's three other studio albums, were re-issued by Edsel on CD, but there were a few issues with their production later in 2014.

Carlisle revealed in a radio interview in August 2015 that she had finished work on a new album that had been earmarked for publication in January 2016. She said that Kundalini yoga, which she had started early in 1991/1992 and in which she had worked as a tutor since becoming sober in 2005, would be partially inspired by the music on the album. Edsel also published a box set of all the commercially released singles from Carlisle's studio albums in August, as well as a bonus disc containing a previously unreleased version of "In My Wildest Dreams," which had appeared in Mannequin's 1987 film Mannequin. The Go-Go's completed an international tour with Best Coast as a supporting act in late 2016, which Carlisle predicted would be their last tour together.

Wilder Shores, Carlisle's eighth studio album, was released in September 2017.

Carlisle and the Go-Goos have announced an 11-date reunion tour, which will commence in June 2020. However, the tour was postponed in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2021, it was announced that The Go-Go's would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the induction ceremony, the band performed "Vacation," "Our Lips Are Sealed," and "We Got the Beat."

Billy Idol, a 2022 British tour, has been confirmed by the band, which will begin in June 2022. Due to a COVID-19 lawsuit involving someone on the tour, the band was forced to postpone a brief West Coast tour planned for the first week of January 2022. New rescheduled dates for the performances will be revealed shortly.

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