Belinda Carlisle
This season’s first expelled celebrity from “Dancing with the Stars” seemed a bit more unlikely give some other contestants – it was former Go-Gos frontwoman Belinda Carlisle.
Belinda was born in Hollywood California on August 17, 1958. She became interested in music and joined the punk band The Germs as the drummer, but she soon left after a bout with mononucleosis. She formed The Go-Gos in 1978 with Margot Olaverria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin. Olaverria and Bello were soon replaced with Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock. It would be this lineup that would prove to be one of the most successful New Wave bands of the ‘80s. The Go-Gos became one of the first all-female rock bands to have an album (Beauty and the Beat) on which they played their own instruments and written their own songs, go to #1 on the charts. Their debut album eventually went double platinum. The Go-Gos would release two more studio albums (Vacation and Talk Show) before splitting in 1985.
Before the split, Belinda became interested in acting. She made an appearance in the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell flick Swing Shift. She also did backing vocals for Don Henley’s “She’s on the Zoom.”
After the breakup of The Go-Gos, Belinda set out on a solo career. She released her self titled solo debut album in 1986. The album produced the singles “Mad About You,” “I Feel the Magic,” and “Band of Gold.” Her next album, Heaven on Earth, produced the hit singles “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “I Get Weak.” Belinda’s third solo album, Runaway Horses, did well in the U.K., Canada, and Australia, but none of the singles cracked the Top 10 in the U.S. Live Your Life Be Free was Belinda’s fourth album and was released in 1991. It was successful in Europe, but the highest single on the U.S. charts reached #73. The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 reached #1 in the U.K. and Australia. She released continued to release solo albums as well as record songs for movie soundtracks through to ‘90s. She did not release her seventh studio album until 2007.
In 1990, Belinda reunited with the other Go-Gos and released a two disc retrospective album titled Return to the Valley of The Go-Go’s. That was followed by 2001’s God Bless The Go-Gos. The band has occasionally reunited for tours since then, but The Go-Gos say they have no plans to release any new music.
Belinda performed at the Free at the Dee concert in 2006 and as part of the Regeneration Tour in 2008, which included Boy George, Bananarama, Howard Jones, ABC, and Cutting Crew.
Belinda appeared in the U.K. version of “Hell’s Kitchen” in 2004, but she was the first one voted off the show. She also appeared on “Celebrity Duets” in 2006 and MTV’s “Rock the Cradle” in 2008.
Belinda married her husband Morgan Mason in 1986 and the couple has one son, James Duke Mason.
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