1980 April Go-ing off to ENGLAND

Go-ings On

• April - July 1980 - the GoGo's tour around in England with Madness and the Specials
  
• May 9, 1980 Stiff Records in England records 4 GoGo songs
  
• May 1980 the GoGo's are nominated - Most Improved Band at the Club 88 Awards
  
• June 17 1980 Sound Magazine write up (English magazine)
  

After opening for Madness at the Whisky, Belinda started to date Madness band member Suggs. The GoGo's then got an opportunity to open for Madness over in England in late spring/early summer of 1980.

photo: Charlie Gillette

They GoGos quit their day jobs, pawned most of their stuff and spent several months touring England in mid 1980.

The GoGo's were offered the Specials tour too. This band was in the same ska scene in England as Madness.

This UK tours turned out to be very important to the band in terms of moving their career forward. It was during this time that they signed a one-off deal with Stiff Records.

Stiff Records was created in 1976 by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Initially intending to specialize in "pub rock" by artists such as Ian Dury and Wreckless Eric, the label quickly got caught up in the punk, ska & new wave movements, and helped launch the careers of such artists as Elvis Costello, Madness, The Damned, Nick Lowe, The Pogues and many others. source: Stiff Records

The GoGo's recorded a demo tape with four songs for STIFF Records. On the demo were the songs: We Got The Beat, Lust To Love, Cool Jerk and How Much More. They released a rough version of We Got the Beat as a single and it became an under ground dance hit in the UK and US.

It was also during this time that Jane met Terry Hall, then of the Specials and began a relationship that would eventually bloom into Our Lips are Sealed. Belinda and Jane were also recruited by Hall's band Fun Boy Three to sing background vocals for them on a number of tracks.

May 9 1980
Article: Stiff Records: Go-Go’s For the Play List.

A brand new single by a Stiff Record band: the Go-Go’s. Their single “We Got the Beat: produced in Hollywood by Paul Wexler- (his father founded Atlantic records).

photo: Charlie Gillette

We Got The Beat
Label: Stiff Recoreds
Format: Vinly 7"
Country: UK
Released 1980
Genre: Pop, Rock
Style: Punk

Tracklisting
A We Got the Beat
Written by Caffey

B How Much More
Written by Caffey, Wiedlin

June 17 1980

Venue (England) article in Sound Magazine

The GoGo's would remember the time spent in England with mixed feelings. It was very difficult for them over there at first. No one knew them. People in the audience would throw stuff at them. Charlotte recalls that they'd get off the stage every night and cry.

They had no money and it was wet and cold. They were on a stipend of only 40$ a week, which nobody can live on. They would get a bonus if they lost weight. Jane got really pimply because she was doing crystal meth to lose weight.

However, by the end of the tour, they’d won over a substantial part of the ska audience. By the time they got back to Los Angeles, they were an incredibly tight band. Also, they brought back a different attitude. Punk was on the way out over in England. They bought new clothes with a more mod style.

May 1980: The Go-Go's are nominated for Most Improved Band at the Club 88 awards.

photo: Jenny Lens

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