Belinda Carlisle

Belinda Jo Carlisle (born August 17, 1958) is an American singer who gained fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands in history. Raised in Southern California, she was the first of seven siblings. Her first venture into music was as a drummer for the punk rock band the Germs under the name Dottie Danger. Soon after, she co-founded the Go-Go's with Jane Wiedlin.

The Go-Go's Era

The Go-Go's became a cornerstone of the American new wave scene. Their 1981 debut album, "Beauty and the Beat," was a landmark achievement, topping the Billboard album chart for six weeks. It made them the first and only all-female band that wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to have a number-one album. The band sold over seven million records worldwide with hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat". After two more albums, "Vacation" and "Talk Show," internal conflicts and creative differences led to the band's breakup in May 1985. The Go-Go's have reunited for tours and special projects over the years and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Solo Career

Following the Go-Go's split, Carlisle embarked on a successful solo career. Her debut solo album, "Belinda" (1986), featured the hit single "Mad About You," which reached number 3 in the U.S. Her international breakthrough came with her second album, "Heaven on Earth" (1987). The lead single, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," became a global number-one hit and earned her a Grammy nomination. The album also included other successful singles like "I Get Weak" and "Circle in the Sand". "Heaven on Earth" achieved multi-platinum status in the UK and was certified platinum in the US. Her 1989 album, "Runaway Horses," also performed well, particularly in the UK and Australia, with hits like "Leave a Light On" and "Summer Rain".

Later Work and Personal Life

Carlisle continued to release albums throughout the 1990s, including "Live Your Life Be Free" (1991) and "Real" (1993). In 1996, she released "A Woman and a Man," which revitalized her career in Europe with singles like "In Too Deep". In later years, she released "Voila" (2007), an album of French chansons, and "Wilder Shores" (2017), which featured Kundalini yoga chants. In 2023, she released an EP titled "Kismet". In 1986, Carlisle married film producer and political operative Morgan Mason, and they have one son, James Duke Mason. She has been open about her past struggles with addiction and is a practicing Buddhist. Her autobiography, "Lips Unsealed," was published in 2010 and became a New York Times Best Seller.