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The godmothers of SoCal power pop are currently touring the U.S. in support of God Bless the Go-Go's, their first new album in 17 years. And on Friday, July 20, 10pm/9c, VH1 is proudly airing the opening night of the tour, which took place on
VH1: God Bless the Go-Go's is unmistakably a Go-Go's album. What's the secret to maintaining your signature sound over all these years? Jane Wiedlin: Well, having original members helps a lot, and beyond that I think the fact that we all play pretty simply. I mean, our skills are good but we don't really try and play a lot of fancy stuff, so I don't see how our sound could really change a whole lot. VH1: Is there a strong chemistry between you all? Wiedlin: Yeah, absolutely. I believe that is why, as many times as we've gotten together and then gone apart, we've always gotten back together again. And now that we've made this new album we've really finally realized that we're a lot better the five of us together than we are apart. VH1: How is it different from working on solo projects? What's the difference in the dynamic or the artistic atmosphere? Wiedlin: Solo projects are probably a lot more calm and faster to get finished because you don't have five people's opinions for everything. But there's a definite excitement and energy when the five of us work together that you can't re-create on your own. VH1: How did Billie Joe Armstrong get involved with the writing of "Unforgiven"? Wiedlin: He came to a couple of our Bay Area shows last year and we were really big fans of Green Day, so Charlotte [Caffey] asked him if he would write with us. VH1: Did that make you feel like the grand dames of West Coast punk or was it more a meeting of peers? Wiedlin: Um, he didn't make me feel old. But I often do feel like a grand dame of punk. It's kind of funny, it's almost like, I see teenagers now, dressed punk, and I almost wanna run up to them and say [in an old lady voice], "I was a punk rocker when you were just a twinkle in your daddy's eye!" [Laughs] But of course, I don't. I just think that. VH1: You're in the middle of a U.S. tour. How has the concert climate changed, for better or worse? And what kind of crowds are you drawing? Wiedlin: Well, it's definitely a hard summer to be out touring because basically every band that ever existed is touring; there's a lot of competition. For this band every night's totally different 'cause our popularity's different in every market. In some places we're playing amphitheaters; in some places we're playing large clubs. But we've had amazing audience responses everywhere we've gone. And we've been kind of feeding off that energy. VH1: So VH1 is broadcasting your Central Park concert next week. How was that night for you? Wiedlin: It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. We hadn't had any time to rehearse, so we went to do this very important show with zero rehearsal, and in the back of all of our minds was, are we gonna blow this? But luckily I think it looks really great and I'm very excited to see the finished product … I think it's just a good rock concert. And I think people are gonna be surprised how we look: I think we all look really good. If I do say so myself. VH1: It's true, you all do look really great. What's your beauty secret? Wiedlin: It's good lighting and carefully applied makeup. [Laughs] VH1: Belinda Carlisle posed naked for the August Playboy. What's your response to that? Wiedlin: I'm just jealous 'cause I would have liked to make that money. But other than that, it's fine with me. I don't see what's wrong with the human body. Everybody's nekkid under their clothes. We're very proud of her. I think she looks beautiful. VH1: I'm curious what, if any, responsibility you feel toward the young female audience, in terms of being a role model for them. Wiedlin: I don't feel the need to be a role model outside of the fact that my job is being a female guitarist and there are very few of us. I think the impact on a young girl seeing the Go-Go's for the first time can be very profound. Because before that all they saw was the Spice Girls or other local bands. But other than that I feel no responsibility towards them whatsoever. VH1: So since we are VH1, what's your impression of your Behind the Music? Wiedlin: Oh, I adored it. I thought it was really dramatic television. It's inescapable, too: Every interview we do, people talk about it. I can't even believe how often VH1 plays it; it's very flattering that they like it so much. But I can't believe what an impact it seems to have had. VH1: What's your favorite or least favorite moment of it? Wiedlin: My most favorite part of it is the announcer. He's so funny. He keeps talking about Charlotte's "descent into hell" and Charlotte's "dance with the devil." Oh my God, I teased her about that for months! VH1: It must be pretty wild to see your life TV-ized. How did the process compare to an interview? Wiedlin: It was more like an interrogation. Each of us got interviewed alone for five hours straight. And by the end of it they could have asked for war secrets and you would have given them away because they kind of break you down. Which is good, because that's how they get the good stuff. They're trying to get the emotional stuff and you're dealing, with any band, with people who answer the same questions over and over and get very good at giving pat responses. Like I said, I think it came out fantastically. VH1: I'm wondering about your choices of album cover art. On Beauty and the Beat you wore face masks and played with stereotypes about female beauty; this time you're playing with stereotypes about chastity and purity. Wiedlin: The way that I thought of the album cover, was that after Behind the Musicthe Go-Go's had been portrayed so strongly as being fallen angels or sinners, so I thought, wouldn't it be brilliant to portray ourselves as saints? That's all there was behind that, just playing with our image and what people think of us and making a little joke out of that. VH1: And yet you've gotten a lot of flak for that from the Catholic League. Wiedlin: Yeah, well, some people need to grow a sense of humor, but I can't help them with that. Listen to every song on the new album!
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