Belinda Carlisle's still 'got the Beat' FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Belinda Carlisle's still 'got the Beat' Former GoGo's lead singer Belinda Carlisle said she wouldn't change anything about her life, drug addictions and all. Post to Facebook Belinda Carlisle's still 'got the Beat' Former GoGo's lead singer Belinda Carlisle said she wouldn't change anything about her life, drug addictions and all. Check out this story on floridatoday.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Conversation Activate your digital access. Belinda Carlisle's still 'got the Beat' Mike Nunez, For FLORIDA TODAY Published 11:55 p.m. ET April 12, 2016 | Updated 9:43 a.m. ET April 13, 2016 Music today for longtime singer much different than before.

When Belinda Carlisle was the lead singer for the Go-Go's, some of their best hits include "Vacation," "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and "I get Weak." (Photo: PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL FURMANOVSKY) When she was with the Go-Gos, Carlisle had multiple hits like “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Head Over Heels” and more, as well as solo hits that include "Mad About You," “I Get Weak,” “Circle in the Sand” and “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” Belinda Carlisle, who quickly rose to prominence as the lead singer of the multi-Platinum band the Go-Go's and later went on to a successful solo career, will perform at the King Center in Melbourne on Tuesday. I spoke with Carlisle about her battles with drug addictions, recent music and her tour, so let’s “Shake, Rattle & Know”: Belinda Carlisle QUESTION: I imagine what motivated you to perform when you first started must be different than what motivates you today. What is your biggest motivation to perform now?

ANSWER: I just enjoy what I do, I love music, I love to sing. It really is as simple as that. I feel a lot more pressure now to be on the business treadmill now. The difference between your 20s and your 40s is how hard you have to work. I don’t feel pressure now to make music others want, but can be more selective and do what I want. Q: At the height of your career, what is the craziest thing someone did to try and meet you? A: I don’t really know, there have been so many over the years that it’s all a blur, so I can’t really think of just one. Q: What was your most embarrassing onstage moment? A: I remember a time back in 1983 where I had these huge stilettos on and when I kicked up my heels and they came down, it pulled my skirt off right on the stage. I remember another time I came out on stage and tripped right over the monitors. The Fray opens up about music, social media Q: You founded the Animal People Alliance. Can you tell me a little bit about that organization?

A: I spent a lot of time in India and lived there for a while. I noticed a lot of dogs were just living on the street with absolutely no care. They have a very different attitude toward animals there. A good friend of mine has an animal hospital in North India, and I told them about a few things I wanted to do to help. A friend has the organization called Made By Survivors that helps stop sex trafficking and works to empower women in Calcutta and South Asia. Together, the animal hospital and Made By Survivors work together to provide jobs for women helping to spay and neuter animals, providing emergency care for animals and to educate people on how to properly care for animals. We are able to employ these women in animal care positions, so that each organization compliments the other. MORE: Most memorable celeb Q&As of 2015 Q: How does the new music you are working on today differ from the heavily pop-influenced music you have previously done? A: It is as different as can be. In January, I finished an album that involves a lot of ancient chants and sound scripts. I really have enjoyed the benefits of chanting, but I realize there is a really limited audience for that genre.

I also did a French album in 2007 and that was special for me. I only want to work on things that really come from the heart now. Q: If you could go back in your career and do one thing over and do it differently, what would it be and why? A: I honestly wouldn’t do anything different; not even the drugs. I think that all those little things along the way brought me to where I am today. Q: What was the key to your recovery? A: I didn’t have a choice other than to choose between life and death. A lot of people have to hit rock bottom before they get help, whether that be physically, financially or spiritually. For me, I hit spiritual rock bottom and knew I had to turn it around or I would die. I knew that at age 47, I just couldn’t keep going that way and have been recovering for 10 years now. Lewis Black: 'Country could use lesson in etiquette' Q: What is the dumbest question you get asked at interviews? A: "What is it like to be a girl in an all-girl band." I mean, how dumb is that question?

Q: Which do you enjoy more, the creative side of making a record or performing your music live? A: I like them equally. I like performing because I get to travel and see different places. It is almost like being on a vacation. It gives me a chance to sleep in, spend some time along and work on self-care. Being in the studio is great, too, and I like the challenges that new projects bring. If you have an artist/band you’d like to recommend for review, contact Nunez at srkmusic@cfl.rr.com or follow Mike on Twitter: @srkmusicflorida The details When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 Where: King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne Cost: Tickets are $49-$59. Info: Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com .

For more on Belinda, visit belindacarlisle.com or send a Tweet to @belindaofficial 53 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: TOP VIDEOS Go-Go's singer to headline SLO Pride in the Plaza Go-Go’s singer to headline SLO Pride in the Plaza July 1, 2015 Belinda Carlisle By COLIN JONES Belinda Carlisle, lead singer for eighties, all-girl pop group the Go-Go’s, headlines ‘Pride in the Plaza’ on July 12 with a concert at Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo. The all-day festival, also featuring popular local musicians Jill Knight and Proxima Parada, caps off three days of Central Coast Pride activities. The entire pride event is expected to attract large crowds and take on added joy with the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. Carlisle, whose career spans 35 years as both the popular Southern California quintet’s front woman and successful solo artist, is scheduled to take the plaza stage at 5 p.,m.

Her dreamy, bubbly vocals helped spawn several catchy, hit singles like Mad About You, Heaven is a Place on Earth, We Got the Beat, Our Lips are Sealed and Vacation. Carlisle appeared locally with the Go-Go’s at the Chumash Casino in 2007 and 2012, but this will be her first solo performance ever on the Central Coast. Born in Los Angeles, she resides both there and in France. ‘Pride in the Plaza’ begins at noon on Sunday with an interfaith service, followed by live entertainment from 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Get more information about the entire Central Coast Pride weekend on July 10-12 here. Loading... MetroBall signs Belinda Carlisle as headliner MetroBall signs Belinda Carlisle as headliner Posted on 18 Dec 2014 at 12:01pm Tweet Belinda Carlisle MetroBall, which takes place on June 5 at S4, has signed Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Gos as its headliner. MetroBall benefits the Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund and over the past decade has raised more than $275,000.

Carlisle was the lead singer for the Go-Gos, before beginning a solo music career in 1985. The Go-Gos became the first all-girl band to hit No. 1 on the charts by writing and playing their own songs. Throughout the early 1980s, the Go-Gos remained one of the most beloved bands in America, with hit songs like “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed” dominating radio and MTV. The discography of Carlisle’s solo career includes seven studio albums, three compilation albums and 31 singles. Her memoir, Lips Unsealed, was published in 2010 by Crown Archetype. Belinda has a gay son. Earlier this year she and her son, James Duke Mason, spoke to a PFLAG group about Mason’s coming out. Duke is an actor, writer, candidate for the West Hollywood City Council and the grandson of the late British actor James Mason. The $30 advance tickets for MetroBall are now on sale here .

Articles about Belinda Carlisle - latimes Book Review: 'Lips Unsealed' by Belinda Carlisle June 3, 2010 | By Liz Brown, Special to the Los Angeles Times The rise and fall of the Go-Go's is well known — and well televised. One month after the single "Our Lips Are Sealed" came out in 1981, MTV was launched and songs from the double-platinum "Beauty and the Beat" were soon in constant video rotation. But if the ascent was quick, so was the downfall. In 1983 — just two albums later — guitarist Jane Wiedlin left to go solo. Lead singer Belinda Carlisle followed suit, eventually releasing pop hits like "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth." Advertisement Peoplewatch May 4, 1990 | BETH KLEID, Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press Mad About Animals: Pop singer Belinda Carlisle says she has withdrawn from a $35,000 contract to perform July 23 at Cheyenne, Wyo.

Frontier Days because she objects to the treatment of rodeo animals. "Watching people roughly rope terrified calves is not my idea of entertainment," Carlisle said in a statement released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a group for which she serves as a spokeswoman. ENTERTAINMENT Paris songs, L.A. style January 2, 2008 | Richard Cromelin, Times Staff Writer Patrons walking out of Walt Disney Concert Hall into the first moments of 2008 early Tuesday morning, some of them bedecked with the gold metallic streamers that had erupted at midnight, could hear the insistent thump of electronic dance music from one of the evening's open-air downtown events. That sound, along with some hip-hop and assorted forms of rock, dominated the L.A. ENTERTAINMENT Pop/rock March 19, 1987 | Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press Belinda Carlisle is on the verge of signing a multiple-record, seven-figure recording contract with PolyGram Records, says a source close to the former Go-Go's lead singer. Carlisle made her first solo album for I.R.S.

Records last year--but although that LP included the hit "Mad About You," I.R.S. forgot to renew her contract and she became a free agent. The PolyGram deal should be completed by the end of the week. I.R.S. ENTERTAINMENT In Brief November 21, 1993 | JEAN ROSENBLUTH * * 1/2 Belinda Carlisle, "Real," Virgin. The former Go-Go has always stuck with pop of the sort the girl group was famous for--some of it good pop, some of it bad. On her fifth solo album she's armed with perhaps her best batch of songs yet, particularly the sly "Big Scary Animal," but she nonetheless manages to add a few tracks to the bad count with some unattractive vocal histrionics. New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent). ENTERTAINMENT * * * * Great Balls of Fire * * * Good Vibrations * * Maybe Baby * Running on Empty : : Belinda: Going Stronger November 1, 1987 | CONNIE JOHNSON * * 1/2 BELINDA CARLISLE.

"Heaven on Earth." MCA. This album is a big improvement over last year's "Belinda," Carlisle's debut solo album. That album was so nondescript that it made her seem foolhardy for leaving the Go-Go's, the female band she fronted through several effervescent albums. On "Belinda," she even managed to sound out of her depth on "Band of Gold," a lightweight '70s pop/soul hit by Freda Payne that should have given no problems to a confident, style-conscious singer. ENTERTAINMENT Pop Music Reviews : Carlisle's Smart Sock-Pop on Display at Universal May 13, 1988 | DUNCAN STRAUSS The people who think Belinda Carlisle can be a bit ditzy would've had to concede she was very smart Wednesday at the Universal Amphitheatre, for at least two reasons: She was sharp enough to rely quite heavily on vocal support from her singer-keyboardist and two backup singers, neatly neutralizing the fact that she's no great shakes as a vocalist.

ENTERTAINMENT Pop Review : Carlisle Lost Amid Plastic Hype May 17, 1986 | RICHARD CROMELIN If real life were a TV sitcom and the Go-Go's were the Monkees, this week's episode would find the girls kidnaping their departed lead singer Belinda Carlisle and trying to knock some sense into her head. They'd bring in a deprogrammer (Michael J. Pollard?) who'd make her watch a film of Thursday night's solo show at the Roxy over and over, and in an emotional climax Jane and Gina would remind Belinda of all the things that made rock 'n' roll fun for them and their fans in the first place. ENTERTAINMENT The Go-Go's July 14, 2006 | David A. Keeps, Times Staff Writer AFTER almost three decades of bonding, disbanding, and reforming, the Go-Go's are used to the hard way.

Though they have not recorded any new music since 2001's "God Bless the Go-Go's," a CD recently hailed by Steve Van Zandt on his "Underground Garage" radio show, they have toured at least six weeks every summer for the last eight years. NEWS She's a world traveler who knows how to make L.A. her vacation May 25, 2006 | Mark Sachs IT'S been 25 years since the Go-Go's got going, and L.A.'s own sirens of sun-drenched summer hits, such as "Vacation" and "We Got the Beat," are marking the milestone with a world tour that will eventually bring them home for a Greek Theatre date July 14. For the last 14 years, however, home for lead singer Belinda Carlisle has been in the South of France, where she shares a chateau with husband Morgan Mason and their son, James Duke. MAGAZINE The Go-Go's Ain't Gone September 10, 2000 | ALLISON ADATO, Allison Adato last wrote for the magazine about R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and his foray into feature film production.

She wishes she had been born a Go-Go Monday, 7:15 p.m. It's raining in New York. Kathy Valentine is contemplating a suntan from a bottle and Belinda Carlisle is naked, save for a lace thong under an NYPD-issued blue-plastic rain poncho. Days before their concert tour is to begin in Detroit, the Go-Go's have agreed to play a handful of songs on an outdoor stage in Times Square as part of the city's Fleet Week festivities. From their dressing room, they peek at the crowd, mainly uniformed sailors on shore leave getting drenched. ENTERTAINMENT In Brief November 21, 1993 | JEAN ROSENBLUTH * * 1/2 Belinda Carlisle, "Real," Virgin. The former Go-Go has always stuck with pop of the sort the girl group was famous for--some of it good pop, some of it bad. On her fifth solo album she's armed with perhaps her best batch of songs yet, particularly the sly "Big Scary Animal," but she nonetheless manages to add a few tracks to the bad count with some unattractive vocal histrionics.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent). ENTERTAINMENT Peoplewatch May 4, 1990 | BETH KLEID, Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press Mad About Animals: Pop singer Belinda Carlisle says she has withdrawn from a $35,000 contract to perform July 23 at Cheyenne, Wyo. Frontier Days because she objects to the treatment of rodeo animals. "Watching people roughly rope terrified calves is not my idea of entertainment," Carlisle said in a statement released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a group for which she serves as a spokeswoman. ENTERTAINMENT POP MUSIC REVIEW : The Go-Go's Got the Beat--Again March 29, 1990 | CHRIS WILLMAN It's difficult to recall just how startling the arrival of the Go-Go's on the scene really was almost a decade ago. There were other female bands around, but these were not leather girls nor mystical chiffon goddesses.

That first album cover, with its aggressively cute imagery of beauty make-overs, threw it in your face, paving the way for the quintet to introduce a new, incontrovertible element into rock 'n' roll: frisky, unapologetic American femininity. NEWS She's a world traveler who knows how to make L.A. her vacation May 25, 2006 | Mark Sachs IT'S been 25 years since the Go-Go's got going, and L.A.'s own sirens of sun-drenched summer hits, such as "Vacation" and "We Got the Beat," are marking the milestone with a world tour that will eventually bring them home for a Greek Theatre date July 14. For the last 14 years, however, home for lead singer Belinda Carlisle has been in the South of France, where she shares a chateau with husband Morgan Mason and their son, James Duke. ENTERTAINMENT POP MUSIC REVIEW : The Go-Go's Got the Beat--Again March 29, 1990 | CHRIS WILLMAN It's difficult to recall just how startling the arrival of the Go-Go's on the scene really was almost a decade ago.

There were other female bands around, but these were not leather girls nor mystical chiffon goddesses. That first album cover, with its aggressively cute imagery of beauty make-overs, threw it in your face, paving the way for the quintet to introduce a new, incontrovertible element into rock 'n' roll: frisky, unapologetic American femininity. Simmons Lacks Expertise to Operate Lockheed March 25, 1990 I am concerned about Harold C. Simmons' intentions to acquire large blocks of Lockheed stock. Simmons has no experience in managing a high-tech organization such as Lockheed. If he intends to run Lockheed, this is a risky way to obtain on-the-job training. Simmons' expertise is gaining control of a corporation, then breaking it up and selling it off piece by piece to make a profit. The United States cannot afford to have Lockheed broken up. Lockheed is a national asset. R. G. FULLER Encino ENTERTAINMENT Carlisle's Spirit Not Go-Gone : BELINDA CARLISLE "Runaway Horses." MCA ** 1/2: Albums are rated on a scale of one (poor) to five (a classic) stars.

October 1, 1989 | DENNIS HUNT The former lead singer of the Go-Go's, suffers from Stevie Nicks-itis--a malady whose major symptom is a bleating vibrato. Often on this album, Carlisle comes across as a minor-league Nicks sound-alike, with grating vocals that detract from the sleek pop-craftsmanship of several songs. She's best when her vocals are low-key or smothered in lush, ABBA-like harmonies. Carlisle has improved since the Go-Go's. Top 25 solo singers - Page 2 Top 25 solo singers Big-time band to solo success Share Tumble Combined comments & shares on social media Who are the top 25 singers who have left hit bands to find solo success? Say hello to Justin Timberlake, America! But is Timberlake number one? Only a handful of artists have managed to find solo success after leaving the band that made them famous. Natalie Merchant It doesn’t take 10,000 Maniacs to figure out where the magic behind the maniacs lies.

Natalie Merchant’s vocal prowess found new heights with her Tigerlily release that told audiences that 9,999 fewer Maniacs’ involvement from equaled musical mastery. George Michael Wham and you are a solo superstar. That is how it was for the British singer who secured his place in history with his Faith record that dominated the charts for several years. Pushing an envelope that now seems tame, I Want Your Sex alone deserves an award for its stimulating nature. George Michael - New Music - More Music Videos Belinda Carlisle The Go-Go’s were huge. During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, America found Heaven Is a Place on Earth when it came to Go-Go’s leading lady, Belinda Carlisle. After an initial career boost, Belinda Carlisle returned to her Go-Go past where you can still find her rocking the country. Rob Thomas The Matchbox 20 singer may have released his solo CD recently, Cradle Song, but his heart still lies with his band. From his Grammy winning jam with Santana to his passionate albums, Rob Thomas exemplifies this category. Vote for your favorite Rob Thomas video and let us know of his many incarnations, which one rocks you!

Morrissey The Smiths defined a genre all their own. The man behind their sound has stepped out on his own path to modest success defined mostly by legions of fans who find his haunting operatic voice something of an enigma. Lauryn Hill The Fugees broke barriers and so did Lauryn Hill in her solo debut. The songstress’ debut solo record was so incredibly successful, winning an armful of Grammy’s – Lauryn Hill has never truly returned with another solo recording. Lauryn Hill - New Music - More Music Videos Gloria Estefan Mirroring Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan got huge with versatile band, put her name in front of band, then lost the band’s name and scored by going solo. But Estefan’s path was unique in how she still recorded with her sound machine while scoring hits under her own name and still returns to the Miami Sound roots. Billy Idol Remember Generation X? Probably not, but Billy Idol catapulted out of the UK with this band before finding hits with Rebel Yell, Dancing With Myself, Mony Mony, Eyes Without a Face and one of the first, Hot in the City.

Peter Gabriel The original lead singer of Genesis left the band when a drummer arrived who seem to want the microphone more than he wanted to provide the rhythm. Peter Gabriel’s triumph transcended music to the iconic stature of film with John Cusack hoisting his In Your Eyes in Say Anything. You can’t miss his work in the Oscar-winning score of Wall-E . Belinda Carlisle Tickets, Tour Dates 2017 & Concerts – Songkick Perth Concert Hall Perth, UK Biography Belinda Carlisle (born August 17, 1958) is an American pop singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the popular all-female band the Go-Gos, hailing from Hollywood, California, U.S. Born the first of seven siblings, Carlisle’s earliest musical excursion was playing drums in the punk band Germs under the moniker Dottie Danger. After leaving the Germs and providing backing vocals for Black Randy and the Metrosquad, the singer co-formed the Go-Gos alongside Margot Olavarria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin.

The line-up changed soon after and became Carlisle on lead vocals, Charlotte Caffet on guitar, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Gina Shock on drums. The Go-Gos proved ever popular across the U.S., were the first all-female band to achieve a No. 1 U.S. album, and help introduce the new wave genre to the ‘80s with their debut album “Beauty and the Beat”. The group went on to sell over seven million records and become one of the world most successful all-female bands. In 1985 the group disbanded and Carlisle pursued a solo career. The year after in 1986 the singer released her debut solo album “Belinda” to positive reviews, led by the summer hit “Mad About You”. The album later spawned the singles “I Feel the Magic”, “Band of Gold”, and “Since You’ve Gone”, and led to Carlisle contributing songs to the film soundtracks “Mannequin”, “Out of Bounds”, and “Burglar”.

Taking her sound in a more power-pop direction, Belinda Carlisle’s sophomore album “Heaven on Earth” was a Top Five hit in the UK and Australia, and proved to be the singer's most successful album. Earning Carlisle a Grammy nomination, the album was supported by a worldwide tour including a sold-out show at Wembley Arena in London. The singer’s subsequent album “Runaway Horses” (1989) once again rose to the Top Five in the UK and Australia, aided by the singles “Leave a Light On” featuring George Harrison, “Summer Rain”, “La Luna”, and “(We Want) The Same Thing”. The year after Carlisle reunited with the Go-Gos for a worldwide tour in support of their best-of compilation album “Greatest”. Carlisle’s fourth solo effort “Live Your Life Be Free” arrived in 1991, which became her first album to fail to reach the charts. Coupled with the commercial disappointment of her fifth album “Real”, Carlisle resumed the comeback with the Go-Gos in 1994 and embarked on a celebrated world tour.

The singer has subsequently released the solo albums “A Woman and a Man” in 1996, and “Voila” in 2007, both of which performed well in the charts, and which rejuvenated the Go-Gos continued touring and compilation albums. Read more Live reviews Former lead singer of the Go-Go’s Belinda Carlisle has been going strong with an impressive solo career for decades, and she recently began touring again, which gives old and new fans alike an opportunity to see her live show. When Carlisle performs in venues like Marsh Meadow in Cookham, fans are in for a true treat. There’s something about Belinda that just screams stage presence. She’s a pro when it comes to making you feel like you’re the only person she’s singing to in the entire audience, and despite the audience screaming and singing along, her crisp voice pierces through the arena.Singing along is one of the best parts about a Belinda Carlisle show. She’s not full of herself like so many other artists. She’ll spend a lot of her time on stage holding the microphone out over the audience and allowing the crowd to sing with her.

Especially when singing her smash hit “Heaven Is A Place on Earth,” the entire audience has a chance to be interactive with Belinda. One thing that stands out is just how striking she is, dressed in all black and looking incredible for someone over 50 years of age. Her voice is also as angelic and commanding as it has ever been; great quality for a live show. Belinda Carlisle Ranks Her Top Hits (Q&A) | Billboard Belinda Carlisle Ranks Her Top Hits (Q&A) COMMENTS The lead singer of the Go-Go's is back with her first solo single since 1997. She discusses the difference between her group and solo music, previews the future of the band and, in a Chart Beat exclusive, counts down her top 10 favorite hits. Belinda's back. With "Sun," Belinda Carlisle has released her first solo single in the U.S. since 1997. The song, which she co-wrote with fellow Go-Go Jane Wiedlin, appears on her new "Icon" hits collection.

"Sun" bursts with the same tempo and hooky chorus that's infused her solo catalog, which includes the 1987 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and the top 10s "Mad About You" (No. 3, 1986), "I Get Weak" (No. 2, 1988) and "Circle in the Sand" (No. 7, 1988). She added the No. 11 hit "Leave a Light On" in 1989 and "Summer Rain" (No. 30) in 1990. Since her last American release, 1997's "A Woman and a Man," which generated the single "In Too Deep," the Go-Go's reunited for 2001's "God Bless the Go-Go's," their first studio album since 1984. The set yielded the top 25 Adult Pop Songs hit "Unforgiven," which Wiedlin and the band's Charlotte Caffey co-wrote with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong.

Until "Icon," Carlisle had last issued new music in the U.S. in 2007 with "Voila," a set of covers of French and American pop standards. The album was informed by her discovery of French pop after she'd moved to France. Ahead of the Go-Go's' summer tour (without Kathy Valentine, who departed the band in March due to "irreconcilable differences"), which kicks off on June 13, Chart Beat checked in with Carlisle to find out more about her new single; get caught up on the future of the Go-Go's; and - since we're Billboard … - find out her favorite hits from throughout her career, exclusively ranked from No. 10 to No. 1. Please tell us what led to your recording "Sun." I'm at a point in my career where I don't have to record something unless I really love it. And for the last 15 years or so, truly great songs haven't been easy to find. So when I heard "Sun," I loved it, and I decided to record it. It's age-appropriate, while still being modern and youthful in its spirit, and I particularly appreciated that part of it.

Gabe Lopez actually gave me the song initially; it was called "Run," and while Gabe's lyrics were good, I wanted something a little different that was more specific to me and my style. Jane is an amazing lyricist so I approached her, and she came up with concept of "Sun," which was great. You've recorded so many great pure pop songs. How do you know when you've written a song, or heard a song written by someone else, that it's one you want to record? I just know it instinctively. Most of the stuff that's released these days is unoriginal and bland, so when you hear something that's unique, it really stands out. Does "Sun" make you want to record an album of all-new material? (P.S.: … Um, can you please record an album of all-new material?) I'm recording new music now actually; I'm not sure yet when it'll all be released, but I've got a great selection of songs from a cool array of songwriters, some of whom I've worked with before. I'm really excited to see where it goes! Very sweet of you. Thank you for the support! What current artists do you like? Not many.

Music has just become way too commercial these days and record companies simply don't develop artistic talent anymore. There are a few that are good, like Lady Gaga, but most of them don't have any originality to them. You said recently that while you and Madonna are a day apart in age, you can't imagine keeping up the touring and publicity schedule that she does. It seems that you're impressed with her - but you'd rather not go through such a grind at this point? No, I couldn't do it the way she does. Life is too short. I respect her, but I can't imagine living the kind of life that she has. I'm very happy with where I am in my journey, and I'm very proud of the career that I've had over the last 35 years. Never mind the music industry, the world itself is very different now from when you last released new music. You're pretty active on Twitter and Facebook. You're a fan of social media? There are good and bad things about it, to be honest. Social media is a necessary evil these days. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I hate it!

But it's true that it gives me a better ability to connect with my fans out there, which is great. You've enjoyed success with the Go-Go's and on your own. When you look at your group and solo catalogs, what are the main differences, in both the music and simply the overall experience? Is one more rewarding, or more fun? No, both are equally as great in their own different ways. The musical differences are obvious, The Go-Go's are more punk, while my solo work is more soft pop. But they're equally as fun and enjoyable for me. I couldn't possibly put one over the other. After breakups and reunions over the years, what's the future of the Go-Go's? I think we'll probably stay together for at least another few years. You never know what the future holds, and certainly we've been wrong in the past about what we expected for the band. A few years ago we were planning on saying farewell, but our feelings changed and we decided to keep on going, so who knows how long we'll last? You've been very forthcoming about your troubles with substance abuse. If I may ask, are you in a good place now?

I'm honestly happier than I've ever been. I've got a great family, great career, great friends and a lot of passions which make my life interesting and fulfilling every day. Although I've definitely had some tough times in my life, it's all led up to where I am at this moment, and I'm very satisfied. You and Jane have also been very open in your support of marriage equality. What is your overall take such an important issue? For me, it's simple: everybody deserves the same rights. My son is gay, and I want the best for him. I can't believe that it's 2013 and we're still debating equality in this country. Since I was a young girl in the punk scene, almost all of my friends have been gay or lesbian, so for me it's an obvious answer when it comes to whether or not gay people should be recognized as equal. As we're Billboard, let's close with three chart-related questions. The Go-Go's made major chart history in the '80s by becoming the first all-girl group to top the Billboard 200 album chart (with 1981's "Beauty and the Beat").

How do you look back on the legacy of the band? There's no question we were pioneers of women in music, and it definitely means a lot. Getting our star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was a huge honor and we were all so grateful to receive it, so it feels great to know that our work has been acknowledged and that it means something to a lot of people. That's the greatest thing a musician could ask for. How aware were you over the years of your Billboard chart success? What has it meant to you to see your name at No. 1? I'm very proud of the success I've had, both with the band and as a solo artist. It's pretty surreal for a Valley Girl to go from working as a secretary to hitting the top of the Billboard charts within a three-year period, so it definitely meant a lot to me at the time. It still makes me smile to think about it now. As a member of the Billboard charts department, I get to make charts all the time. Now I'm offering you the chance! If you think about your entire career, from Go-Go's to solo, please, if you'd like, rank your 10 favorite songs that you've recorded, from No.

10 to No. 1. It's your chance to be Casey Kasem, with all the songs by you! I would say … 9, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" 8, "Vacation" (Go-Go's; a No. 8 Hot 100 hit in 1982) 7, "Head Over Heels" (Go-Go's; No. 11, 1984) 6, "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Go-Go's; No. 20, 1981) 5, "Mercenary" (Go-Go's) 4, "Circle in the Sand" 3, "Too Much Water" Belinda Carlisle California - Belinda Carlisle Net Worth Belinda Carlisle California Read more... Belinda Carlisle Belinda Carlisle Net Worth is $15 Million. Belinda Carlisle is a talented singer and has acquired a net worth of $15 million. Belinda Carlisle earned her net worth through the many hit songs, both solo and as a member of the famed "GoGo's." She was b. Belinda Jo Carlisle (born Au...

Belinda Carlisle Net Worth is $15 Million. Belinda Carlisle Net Worth is $15 Million. Belinda Carlisle is a talented singer and has acquired a net worth of $15 million. Belinda Carlisle earned her net worth through the many hit songs, both solo and as a member of the famed "GoGo's." She was b Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands of all time and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments. Topping the Billboard charts with the Go-Go's, she sold more than seven million albums in just three years and later went on to a successful solo career with hits "Mad About You", "Summer Rain", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and others, which were major successes in the United States and United Kingdom as well as internationally. Her autobiography, Lips Unsealed, published in June 2010, reached No. 27 on the The New York Times Best Seller list and received favorable reviews.

On August 11, 2011, she received, as a member of the Go-Go's, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Belinda Carlisle was born in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles to Harold, a ...

Question: Before going solo, Belinda Carlisle was lead singer with which all-girl group?
Answer: GO-GOS