You may have heard that the Go-Go’s aren’t too happy about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s decision to leave them out of its upcoming Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power exhibit, which opens on May 13.
The group’s bassist, Kathy Valentine, has been tweeting like crazy that the Rock Hall’s oversight may have something to do with the fact that the all-girl group recorded only three albums back when they mattered.
Or maybe there’s some other deeper conspiracy (like the one keeping Rush out of the Rock Hall … or so say conspiracy theorists).
But hold on a minute, says the Rock Hall. They’re finally opening up about all this. The Rock Hall tells Scene the group was invited to participate in the exhibit but, in typical rock-star fashion, they never heard back from the band:
The Go-Go’s played a pivotal role in the history of rock and roll. They were the first all-female band to make it to the top of all the major charts with songs they wrote themselves. If you want to have a serious discussion about Women in Rock, you have to include the Go-Go’s.
Our Women Who Rock exhibit this year is not intended to be a survey of the top female bands and artists. It’s meant to shed light on the myriad stories of female artists and the ways that their music shaped our society. That being said, we do think that the Go-Go’s are an important part of that history. Our team made several attempts to get them to participate in this exhibit, but never heard a response.
We cannot understate our desire to have the Go-Go’s voice in our program this year. While the exhibit itself is fully-designed and being installed now, our plan is to have a year-long series of live events, educational programs and other discussions. It’s important for the Go-Go’s to have their voice in this program and we fully intend to continue to reach out and seek their involvement.
We don’t want to take sides on this, because we think Beauty and the Beat is a really good album and it’s a great thing to preserve rock history the way the Rock Hall does. But after dealing with many, many absentminded rock stars over the years who weren’t around for a scheduled interview or showed up late for a meeting, we’re gonna take the Rock Hall’s word on this one.
After all, if they can make room for someone like Melissa Etheridge in the exhibit (yeah, we get it, she rocks, but she kinda sucks), surely they reached out to the awesome Go-Go’s. —Michael Gallucci
This article appears in Apr 20-26, 2011.
Michael, you and I disagree on many things, for example, you think Tiny Tim was a relevant social satirist using music as means of free expression, and I say he was just plain crazy. But I have to agree with you. Leaving the Go-Gos out of this is akin to having an exhibit on the San Francisco scene in the 1960s and not including Moby Grape. Now, do a little more research for me, and find out if they excluded Rickie Lee Jones. If they did, this means war. — Mark Kuhar
Gee, their carrier pigeon must have died of old age before it reached us.
Jane Wiedlin
Jane, you can’t stop the world, can’t stop the world, can’t stop the world, why let it stop you?
Apparently, RRHF doesn’t use facebook or email. I wouldn’t be so quick to take their thin excuse as truth.
Has @rock-hall ever heard of the internets? Things like Twitter? Oh wait, the @ would imply they DO. They may want to follow @kathy_valentine @janewiedlin @belindaofficial oh and MAYBE @officialgogos !
^^^ correction: @rock_hall . Dammit.
“We cannot UNDERSTATE our desire to have the Go-Go’s voice in our program this year.”
Well, yes, you CAN. By leaving us out of your exhibit, for example.
um i find this picture of the gogo’s in their underwear very distracting..
Jane, I just received word that the carrier pigeon was caught in an ionic storm.
–A1
Our management has always acted in our best interest, I can’t for the life of me imagine why they would take exception in this case! In fact, we’ve worked w/managers for years on developing a relationship w/this establishment in the hopes of being included and honored by their panel of men deciders. Even if they didn’t get a return call (unlikely) they could have reached out in any number of ways.
Kathy Valentine
oh the irony – YES, the Go-Gos were and are important for all the firsts YET, claiming that, Rolling Stone just had to put them on the cover in their underwear… cuz they’re female, and cheesecake/sex/sexism/whatever you want to call it – sells
oh please. If a guy such as myself who makes dirty movies for a living can get @ responses from two of the GoGos on Twitter, I think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can probably manage to get their attention.
Oh wait… maybe they wrote the message on the men’s room wall? I mean, THAT would explain it.
As a fan of the Go-Gos and someone who follows Jane and Kathy I think I would have heard about something like that.
Jane is super easy. To contact. Seriously. She’s on facebook all the time. Not only do I know what she’s up to, I know what she’s wearing. Kathy’s pretty easy too. Now if they just reached out to belinda, well, this totally makes sense.
The bottom line is, if our management did make the mistake of not responding, our band still does not deserve to be overlooked for our contribution to Rock. There are ways of getting in touch with Rockstars, by the way, if you are in the industry. And let me tell you something else, we have discussed the RnR Hall of Fame and whether we are going to be included, for the last 15 years. Trust me when I tell you, that if any member of the Go-Go’s had known that the RnR HOF was trying to contact us, we would have responded immediately. THAT is the truth.
-Gina Schock, Go-Go’s.
I always kind of felt the Rolling Stone underwear picture was kind of meant to be ironic. It is pretty modest underwear (except for Jane’s) 🙂 after all. And it isn’t like the band didn’t use sexuality as part of their image. They were NEVER *quite* “the girls next door” or “America’s sweethearts” and anyone who thought they were wasn’t paying attention to them or their music. The dark undertone is a MAJOR element for them.
So, 3 Go-go’s have now personally responded here. I think it is time to look a little deeper into the assertions of the RRHOF. Followup piece Mr. Gallucci?
I’m really enjoying watching the RnR HoF guys backpedalling on this one! It’s funny how some people have to hang on to all those stupid elitist 80s attitudes.
What chaps my ass the most about all this is that they passed over the Go-Go’s, yet have included artists like Madonna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. The quality of their work or their popularity aside, what the holy hell have they got to do with rock and roll?
managers have combed through emails and phone logs to find….nada. zilch. same for publicist. I wonder who they contacted?
The Go’s Go’s like FANNY (The FIRST ALL GIRL RnR Band) are just over looked.
That just sucks
You say you don’t want to take sides but yet you state that because of whatever experiences you might have had with “absentminded rock stars” in the past, that this explanation somehow applies here. This oversight (if you are going to title an exhibit “Women Who Rock” and exclude them then it certainly qualifies as one) was the result of an obviously less-than thorough curation and now the HOF is backtracking and blaming the hard-to-locate, off the grid, reclusive Go-Go’s. Instead of commenting intelligently about the issue, you resort to snarky comments about “tweeting like crazy” (which btw negates the hard to contact excuse), “deeper conspiracy” and “awesome Go-Go’s”. Lazy writing from a HOF apologist.
Could someone please contact the RRHOF on my behalf? I’d like to tell them to induct the Go-Go’s but the only means of communication I currently have at my disposal are these two tin cans with a string stretched between them. Thank you.
Their excuse is completely and utterly ridiculous! Do they think we are all fools? In this age of social media and the internet, it is completely stupid to think that they could not reach management or one of the Go-Go’s? I’m sorry their statement is so flimsy and completely insulting that the only conclusion that can be made is that the RnRHoF is made up of a bunch of morons!
Given how accessible the band is (I’ve communicated with Kathy and Jane on Twitter, and they don’t know me from adam) and how crucial they are to any viable discussion of Women Who Rock, it boggles the mind that RRHOF could have put forth anything more than a profoundly trivial effort to contact them. It’s especially suspicious in light of numerous past indications that RRHOF is generally dismissive of the band and their place in the history of rock & roll. When a place that calls itself the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame honors artists who do not play rock & roll and dismisses groundbreaking bands that do, it loses all credibility in my eyes.
Could someone please contact the RRHOF on my behalf? I’d like to request that they induct the Go-Go’s but the only communicative tools I currently have at my disposal are these two tin cans with a string stretched between them. Thanks!
The RnR HOF is a joke! Their decisions have always been arbitrary & capricious! Leaving the Go-Go’s out of this exhibit is just another example of their stupidity!!!
So much for honesty on the Hall Of Fame’s part. According to ALL of the Go-Go’s, there’s been no attempt whatsoever to reach them to make this right.
While it is apparent to me that the author of this article cannot pass gas because his head is in the way, it is also obvious to me that the R&R Hall of Fame is using the old tried & true excuse of , “Blame it on those irresponsible Rock Stars”! Instead of following up on the staff and figuring out where the commincation broke down, or god forbid, just taking responsibility, they would rather blame the wind. I would think that if they really wanted the Go-Go’s, they would do whatever it took to get them. In this day and age, there are so many ways of getting in touch with people, that there is just no excuse. I would hope that the R&R Hall of Fame would do whatever it takes to remedy the situation and find a way to include the Go-Go’s. Makes me wonder just who is playing Rock Star.
It’s easily resolved: ask their contact person to show us their phone & email confirmation as well as ask them who they contacted. The R&R Hall of Fame flaks are full of shit
Melissa Etheridge earned her seat in the exhibit. While she may not be considered as “edgy” as she was when she first charted, she certainly doesn’t “suck.”
This is unreal , could not get ahold of the Band ? yeh with Technology they are a bitch to get info to , I have Heard from both Kathy & jane over the years .. I must have Magic powers … and the “Three albums” comment , “God Bless the Go go’s” is a steallar album & just as good as anything they ever put out , it may not have sold millions , but they can still write , play & kick some ass live (anyone who has seen them in the last 12 years can tell you that) …… Make this right & get the Go Go’s involved & up where they belong with so many other talented “Women who rock” !
I am with Gina on this one, there is absolutely no logical reason for the Go-Gos to have been passed over on this one, they made the music scene of the 80’s a fun place to be and they all still ROCK!
Rodney B. should be beating down the walls over this one.
How absolutely insulting – on the part of the author AND the Hall of Fame. I think the HOF is a crock of shit anyway. Who deserves to get in and who actually GETS in seems to be completely arbitrary. The Go-Go’s will ALWAYS rock in my world, I don’t need no museum to decide that!!!!
RRHF needs to manup/womanup you got the Go’sGo’s attention do the right thing and relay the rock n’roll history like it was to be told. It would not be a proper exhibit,and RRHF POP not ROCK
pls. don’t put a female pop star in a Rock Category. I know besides the Go’s Go’s you have to have The Runaways, Joan Jett,Heart, Lita Ford, Vixen, Blondie, Wendy O Williams, The Bangles, just to name a few. Make the exhibit kick ass and mean somthing not what you think your boss or financial contributors want to list as a favorite girl band.
Claiming not to take sides and then concluding your sentence with “but after dealing with many, many absentminded rock stars over the years who weren’t around for a scheduled interview or showed up late for a meeting, we’re gonna take the Rock Hall’s word on this one” is totally unfair and a completely biased statement. Obviously you have never interviewed the Go-Go’s. The R&R Hall of Fame is back peddling and trying to do damage control. That is obvious from their statement. How truly accessible are the Go-Go’s? All you have to do is read their comments on this page. C’mon R&R Hall of Fame… admit you made a mistake and do the right thing; give well-deserved recognition where it is due! These ladies are pioneers and trailblazers. They derserve a place in your exhibit, all politics aside. Frankly, to even have a Women in Rock exhibit and not include the Go-Go’s is a joke.
Shame on the R&R Hall of Fame!
I got here from Kathy Valentines Twitter link. If the Go-Go’s are reading this, please schedule a concert in Cleveland when the exhibit opens!
Rock Hall- show us the letters and phone logs you twits. Something tells me you called the wrong number at 3am and left and garbled message you incompetent fools.
We Want The Runaways!!!!
I find it hard to believe that The Go-Go’s would have ignored a request for input into the exhibit or to be a part of it. The Go-Go’s have their important place in music history regardless of gender. I follow all the ladies in their solo and collaborative efforts and have received acknowledgement from both Jane and Belinda in the past via Facebook and offical websites. The R&RHF could have easily contacted anyone in the group.
The Go-Go’s should stage an outdoor concert directly across the street from the Hall of Fame. That may get their attention!
Oh shut up Jimi!!!! xo Toyah
you girl,s worked hard who else any girl band been around the world 3 times like the go,s go,s not know one else. these girl,s worked very hard to get where they are now.. people who run thease things like hollywood forget good talant. all the time thease people suckand should eat shit and die.
I belive the Go Gos being excluded from the exibit was a polictical move, now there’s a backlash and the RNRHOF is using this as a excuse. How could those people ignore the biggest selling “female” rock band of all time. Kathy Valentine, thought it “may have something to do with the fact that the all-girl group recorded only three albums back when they mattered”. The Sex Pistols recorded only one album (not counting the “Spunk” bootleg and the posthumous “Great Rock & Roll Swindle” soundtrack), The Runaways did 2 (not counting the live album which was released only in Japan and canada), The Stooges recorded three during their brief career, so they’re good to go in.
Look, I’m sure the R&RHoF attempted to hunt down Elissa Bello… and when they couldn’t find her they must have made an all out effort to get to Margot Olaverra… and if that wasn’t enough to get the group’s attention, well then what more could they possibly do? They REALLY, REALLY tried!!! Or at least they thought about trying. After someone reminded them.
From Galley “The Go-Go’s should stage an outdoor concert directly across the street from the Hall of Fame. That may get their attention!” The Back of the Municipal and County Court Houses (…and a nice, big grassy mall between the two buildings.) face the RRHOF. Plenty of room to hold one there. Or at or in front of Cleveland Browns Stadium which is just down the street is another good site
“The Rock Hall tells Scene the group was invited to participate in the exhibit but, in typical rock-star fashion, they never heard back from the band.”
I don’t believe for one second the girls (or management) would ignore an invitation to participate. RRHOF missed the boat and now they are trying to cover their butts.
I’m not surprised that the RRHOF claims they couldn’t reach any member of The Go-Go’s or their management when in fact they probably didn’t even try to.
there should be a special spot for Warhol/Bowie glam diva Cherry Vanilla!!!
Gallucci writes, “We don’t want to take sides on this.” Then in the very next sentence, he does exactly that! By the way, who is “we”? Gallucci and the mouse in his pocket?
There is NO excuse why the Go-Go’s cannot be included in this exhibit. I don’t care if it is already being installed… last minute changes can always be accommodated. RRHOF…suck it up, admit it was an oversight AND make this right by including them. ‘Nuff said.
P.S. And this writer is insane to even consider the RRHOF’s lame excuse… C’mon, I cannot believe they could not reach anyone in management NOR any of the ladies?!? Give me a break.
Since when did the Go-Gos EVER rock? Their sound was “catchy pop” at best, and even that’s a stretch! If you put them on the same stage with Patti Smith, they’d get boo’ed off!
RRHOF admit your fuck up and correct it! No more excuses.
Whether you like them or hate them is besides the point..you CAN NOT dismiss this very basic, powerful FACT…PRE Go-Go’s= 50 % of popultion (female) thinks “Wow I can be a rock star’s girlfriend”
POST Go-Go’s = 50% of the population reconsiders and says “Wow, I can BE the rock star!”
Enough said.
“While the exhibit itself is fully-designed and being installed now…” Well good grief! Correct your design flaw before it’s too late. Simply put- It’s ridiculous to exclude the Go-Go’s.
The Go-Go’s were NEVER catchy pop. You aren’t listening closely enough if you think that. Yes, there were pop elements, but also rock elements. And before they were popular, they were a punk band (no a great punk band, but punk nevertheless). Really for many decades, one really hasn’t been able to disassociate rock and pop. The overlap is simply too huge. I mean The Everly Bros aren’t really rock. They’re pop, but we count them. Half of Elvis P.’s catalog is pop. Its just not a distinction that makes sense to pursue.
Oh, BTW, another has-been who obviously doesn’t belong in the HOF because he only had 3 albums in his lifetime?: Buddy Holly. 😛
If you can’t listen to Vacation and be able to distinguish whether it is a pop song or a rock song, then perhaps YOU aren’t listening closely enough! Our Lips Are Sealed, same thing. There is nothing rock about either song. Head Over Heals, same thing. There are definite differences between rock and pop songs, and with the Go-Go’s, the differences are obvious.
Oh, and by the way, since you brought up The Everly Brothers…they released the very first version of Love Hurts, a song made famous with rock audiences by Nazareth on their Hair Of The Dog album. If a pop group can influence a rock group, that’s saying something. The Go-Go’s influence was with other pop bands.
We want justice for the Go-Go’s!! These ladies have worked their butts off for 30 plus years. Not only did they insipire girls like me to play music, but they are iconic figures of our time. They paved the way for other girl bands to get signed and to have careers. Even today, their music stands alone and is still played in stations, movies, TV shows world wide!
Actually, the Go-Go’s have influenced plenty of ‘rock’ bands…not only all-girl and female fronted rock bands like L7, The Donnas and Hole but also guy-centric bands like Green Day and Redd Kross.
I god damn love those girls. And Rush. I wouldn’t buy anything the hall is selling.
This just smacks of the same old excuses that Cleveland politicos make….The number one issue should always go back to…why isn’t every event pertaining to the RRHOF in Cleveland? Until Cleveland takes Cleveland back, similar situations, such as with the GoGo’s will occur and detour….Get it together Cleveland…there is a lot of talent here and just because certain people hold management positions, does not mean that things can’t change…ala, Dimora, Russo and the beat goes. The anti rock star comments asserting that they are, so often irresponsible…well Michael, you must be a Saint or bloody boring.
There MAY well have been a communication breakdown between whoever works for the band/and the band/and the rock hall…..it’s totally possible, even likely. That’s totally believable.
Still, it’s embarrassing that they would even go fucking forward with “a women who rock” FEATURED exhibit without even SOME Go-Gos place in the thing. It’s like doing a feature on the British Invasion without mentioning The Beatles…
Remember, this is the Wenner Media (boys club) sanctioned “institution” that inducted Billy Joel and Jackson Browne as members but will NEVER induct the Go-Go’s or Rush or Cheap Trick….
Nuff Said!
Enough of all of the bashing back and forth. Instead of battling back and forth one side should call the other and see if something can be done at this point. Laying blame accomplishes nothing. Maturity would dictate that both sides swallow pride to achieve the desired result of including them in the exhibit. Maybe the GoGo’s could just call and offer some exhibit material and fly them out to them and it would be over with. Wouldn’t that set this all to rest? All of this doesn’t take away what they’ve accomplished…
I find it incredibly unbelievable (or incompetent) that the R&R HOF is claiming that they couldn’t reach someone in this day and age of 24/7 communication. The Go-Go’s were SO very important and inspirational in the world of Rock Music. They made a huge breakthrough in a very heavily male-dominated field at the time and gave a lot of us girls & women who were aspiring musicians hope that we COULD make it as popular musicians and not just tambourine-shaking vocalists in R&R. This is a very disgusting oversight – SHAME ON YOU RnR Hall of Fame!!!!!
All hail the Go Go’s! Beauty and the Beat is the first album I picked-out and purchased for myself (the second being by the group Blondie). The Go Go’s are a MUST for any exhibit on women in rock! Mike from Cleveland.
This is an “exclusive” news story fo Scene b/c no one else cares enough to report on it.
SO THE FUCK WHAT!! They are in their underwear on Rolling Stone….Lots of male rock stars appeared TOTALLY NUDE( Chili Peppers, Blind Melon, and lets not forget Hootie and the blowfish! Why are the Go go’s shamed for having fun and looking good doing it?? NO SLUT SHAMING!! TIRED, OLD, BORING!!
IN TODAY’S TRUMP FUELED, NASTY, BACKWARDS STEP INTO TIME, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO IGNORE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE GO GO’S TO MUSIC, AND ROCK…..HOPEFULLY IN 2020 WHEN THE ORANGE MENACE IS NOTHING BUT A MEMORY, WE WILL GET BACK TO REALIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN, MEN, GAYS, STRAIGHTS, BLACK, WHITES, ETC..#NO DIVISION, ONLY REVISION!!!