SINGING STAR BELINDA CARLISLE

Singer Belinda Carlisle, one of the biggest names in music in the eighties, has agreed to answer our questions!!

I'm here if you want me. You can ask away and I promise I'll get to as many as possible.

Thanks for this Belinda!!

From Askmen and Wikipedia websites....

Belinda Jo Kerzcheski was born August 17, 1958, in Hollywood, California, to parents Walt (who sold vacuum cleaners) and Joanne. Part of a family of 3 brothers (Butch, Joe and Josh) and 3 sisters (Hope, Mary and Sarah), Belinda was raised in a strict home (which may explain her rebellious behavior later on) by her mother and her stepfather, after her biological father took off.

A tomboy and a pretty good student, Belinda was part of the track and field team in her high school days. Her feminine side was displayed while bopping around in her cheerleading outfit, while she showed a boyish side as she played sports with the guys in her neighborhood. Even early on, Belinda had weight problems.

She was five years old when her father abandoned the family and upon her mother's second marriage, did not have a close relationship with her stepfather, Duke Kurczeski. Growing up in Ventura County's Thousand Oaks, a part of the Greater Los Angeles Area, she was a cheerleader at Newbury Park High School and, at the age of 19, left home.


BELINDA THE CHEERLEADER

Although she was awarded a scholarship for her athleticism, she didn't go off to college after graduation. Instead, she left home to gain her independence and moved to Hollywood. Her timing couldn't have been better, as California was just hit with the '80s punk movement.

She joined a small punk band called the Germs for a short while, but quit after a short period because she grew ill. She did get hired on as the group's manager though, and her time with the Germs is what led to her relationship with fellow future Go-Goer, Jane Wiedlin.


WITH THE GERMS

Jane and Belinda decided to form a band of their own, and after chance encounters, the Go-Gos were formed in 1978, consisting of Belinda on vocals, Jane on rhythm guitar, Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Gina Schock on drums.

Their debut album Beauty and the Beat spawned the hugely popular singles "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed" and went double platinum, while the albums Vacation and Talk Show offered more hit singles to the '80s pop scene. The Go-Go's revolutionized the female pop scene of the 1980s (in the era where MTV was just becoming popular) and became the first female group to top the US charts.


THE GO-GOS

Despite their success, the Go-Go's broke up in 1985 due to tension, busy schedules and extreme drug abuse. But that didn't mean that we would no longer hear Belinda, as she stepped out with her own solo career, which was a whole other success altogether. She released her debut solo album, Belinda, in 1986.

With the single "Mad About You," Belinda proved that she can go it on her own, and wowed audiences even more with her 1987 album, Heaven On Earth. The latter spawned the title track, "Heaven Is A Place On Earth," (which became a huge hit), followed by "Circle In The Sand" and "I Get Weak."



Her next albums, 1989's Runaway Horses, 1991's Live Your Life Be Free, 1993's Real, and 2000's Original Gold didn't see as much success as those of the early '80s (at least not in the US; she was topping the charts in Europe, especially the UK), unlike 1997's A Woman & A Man, which was a hit and featured Susanna Hoffs and Brian Wilson.

The albums showed a different Belinda: one with more edge than the poppiness she was known for (as opposed to A Woman & A Man, which was a return to the Belinda everyone knew and loved).



A veritable pop queen and survivor, Belinda has also made a foray into film, with roles in 1984's Swing Shift (starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell), and cameo appearances in 1988's She's Having a Baby and a 1996 episode of Shooting Stars. Belinda has also composed songs for the soundtracks of the films Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion and 200 Cigarettes.


ADVERTISING SHAMPOO

Belinda and the Go-Gos did reunite for a concert to benefit the Environmental Protection Initiative, which led to a small tour in 1990, the same time their unsuccessful Greatest Hits was released. 4 years later, the Go-Go's reunited once again for the release of the album, Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's, which included 3 new songs. In 1998, Belinda did bring a touch of the Go-Go's back when she sang a revamped version of "Our Lips Are Sealed" for a Super Bowl AT&T commercial.

In 2001, the Go-Go's reunited again and released an album of new material, God Bless The Go-Go's. Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong co-wrote the only released single "Unforgiven". God Bless The Go-Go's received mixed reviews from critics. Rolling Stone wrote "Every bit as Go-Go's, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is not a "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Go's decided it was now or never". Allmusic wrote "The album doesn't attempt to update the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electronic frippery, for which God should bless 'em, indeed. The girls' hold on the current pop world remains so strong that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ("Unforgiven") in impeccable Go-Go's drag".

The album sold fewer copies than the previous Go-Go's studio albums but still managed to chart in the U.S. Billboard 200, peaking at number #57.

Around the time of the Go-Go's definitive reunion tour, Carlisle appeared nude for the cover feature and a full pictorial of the August 2001 edition of Playboy



Outside of appearances on tour with The Go-Go's, Carlisle continued her string of TV appearances.

In 2004, Carlisle was the first star to be voted off the UK reality TV show Hell's Kitchen.

In 2006, she appeared on the Simon Cowell-produced Celebrity Duets, a Fox network reality competition, pairing celebrities not famous for singing (like Lucy Lawless and Cheech Marin) with actual singers like Carlisle, Michael Bolton, Jon Secada, Taylor Dayne and Macy Gray. Carlisle sang "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak" with Lea Thompson on the September 7 episode.

In 2008 she appeared as a judge on the MTV reality show Rock the Cradle, a competition reality show featuring aspiring musicians who were also the children of famous musicians.

In 2009 Carlisle was on the 8th season of Dancing with the Stars, paired with Jonathan Roberts. She was the first star to be eliminated from the competition, on March 17.

In 2011 Carlisle performed on "Good Morning America", Friday June 3 in an appearance for the shows "Summer Concert Series", in New York City's Central Park.


DANCING WITH THE STARS

In the early 1980s, Carlisle dated Mike Marshall, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 1986, Carlisle married Morgan Mason, former Special Assistant to the President of the United States and son of British actor James Mason. Mason made appearances in Carlisle's videos "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". They have a son, James Duke Mason, born on April 27, 1992.

Leaving behind a life of heroin abuse and fluctuating weight, Belinda is now a mother and always a legend.

She has been reported as being "deeply into Buddhism" and chants Nam Myoho Renge Kyo daily. In an interview, printed on March 7, 2007, the singer stated that: "I was wondering about happiness and started reading a lot of books by the Dalai Lama, and slowly embraced Buddhism" (published by Newindpress, India). She told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I don't smoke any more, I don't drink any more and I don't do drugs any more. I am very much into my Buddhism. I found turning 40 a real passage in time for me."

You have sung some tremendous pop songs, which are your favourites? Have you been involved in writing any?

When you were starting in the music business who were your heroes, who did you want to be like?

Were you recognised as a talent at school? Did you star in school concerts and shows?

Did your family support your wish to become a singer? Or did they try to dissuade you?

Is there any singer you would particularly like to sing / record with?

Before you went solo you had great success with the Go-Gos, why did you split up? Did you regret breaking up?

Are you superstitious? Are there things you do or things you wear for good luck?

I do so envy you, you have always looked lovely, has it been easy to keep your looks or have you had to work at it? Got any tips?? Is there a part of your body that you are especially proud of? Any bits you wish were different and would like to change?

Did you choose Carlisle as your stagename because you liked its sound or was there a particular reason?

I read that your husband is the son of film star James Mason, did you meet James Mason before he died?

Jillyanne wrote:I read that your husband is the son of film star James Mason, did you meet James Mason before he died?

no, i didn't meet james mason

Jillyanne wrote:Did you choose Carlisle as your stagename because you liked its sound or was there a particular reason?

carlisle is my real name, i was born belinda jo carlisle

Jillyanne wrote:I do so envy you, you have always looked lovely, has it been easy to keep your looks or have you had to work at it? Got any tips?? Is there a part of your body that you are especially proud of? Any bits you wish were different and would like to change?

yoga, yoga and more yoga. i like myself and all of my imperfections

Jillyanne wrote:Are you superstitious? Are there things you do or things you wear for good luck?

no i'm not superstitious at all, THANK GOD!!! i put shoes on beds and walk under ladders...

Jillyanne wrote:Before you went solo you had great success with the Go-Gos, why did you split up? Did you regret breaking up?

we split up over the cliches, drugs, money and ego. and i don't regret breaking up when we did. would have been sad if we hadn't.

SaintMike wrote:Is there any singer you would particularly like to sing / record with?

i always say neil finn

i'll continue later

Lips Unsealed was fascinating, are you planning any more books?

Are you still touring? Are you planning coming to the UK?

How can a candle ever burn so bright? Casting a shadow on my life.... I am blinded by your light Even without you
Brilliant lyrics in that song, were you involved in writing it?

Did the Germs make any records? Do you know if any are still available? Did you enjoy that part of your life?

I read that you had a weight problem at an early age, how did you deal with it?