The Go-Go’s have been eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 2006, but received their first nomination this year.
The Los Angeles-based punk/New Wave band broke ground and opened doors, becoming the first all-female band (who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments) to top the Billboard albums chart.
They remain the most commercially successful all-female rock band of all-time.
The Go-Go’s released just three albums in the early 80s (Beauty and the Beat, Vacation and Talk Show) before splitting, but those albums produced several enduring hits. It’s hard to deny the appeal of ‘We Got the Beat,’ ‘Our Lips are Sealed,’ ‘Vacation’ or today’s SOTD.
Drug abuse and personal conflict led to a split in 1985, but the original lineup reformed in 2001 to release a fourth album, God Bless the Go-Go’s. In the meantime, lead singer (and one of my childhood crushes) Belinda Carlisle embarked on a moderately successful solo career.
It’s safe to say the Rock Hall’s blind spot for women artists kept The Go-Go’s waiting 15 years for inclusion. Their modest output might not make them obvious Hall of Famers, but there is no denying their influence or the fact that they blazed a trail for many women rockers to come.
I’ve nearly lost all track of time
In every direction
I couldn’t see the warning signs
I must be losin’ it
‘Cause my mind plays tricks on me
It looked so easy
But you know, looks sometimes deceive
Been running so fast
Right from the starting line
No more connections
I don’t need any more advice
One hand’s just reaching out
And one’s just hangin’ on
It seems my weaknesses
Just keep going strong
Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync
Been running so hard
When what I need is to unwind
The voice of reason
Is one I left so far behind
I’ve waited so long
So long to play this part
And just remembered
That I’d forgotten about my heart
Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync
Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync
Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync
Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync
Meet Me In Montauk 
I hate to be a naysayer, particularly because I have nothing against The Go-Go’s, but I really don’t see them as Hall of Fame worthy. Not only was their output limited, but I just don’t think they were all that impactful or influential.
I think this may be an over correction by the Hall for their previous blind spots for women.
I believe their influence was stronger than you think. Both Green Day and Nirvana, for example, cited The Go-Go’s as a cornerstone of their sound. They were pioneers in the pop-punk genre, not to mention to the idea of “women who rock.”