The Go-Go’s have issued a statement in response to the news they are part of the 2021 induction class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“We are so EXCITED to announce that we will be inducted into the 2021 Rock Hall of Fame,” shared the band via Twitter. “Women have always been a vital part of the ever-changing music business and we are so proud to have our success story honored and recognized by the Rock Hall and our wonderful fans!
We are so EXCITED to announce that we will be … inducted into the 2021 Rock Hall of Fame!! Women have always been a vital part of the ever changing music business and we are so proud to have our success story honored and recognized by the @rockhall and our wonderful fans! pic.twitter.com/7q175tQjQU
— The Go-Go’s (@officialgogos) May 12, 2021
Like many fans, pundits and other artists, The Go-Go’s have been critical of the Rock Hall for their lack of women artists in the Rock Hall. Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin touched on the gender disparity in a July 2020 feature with Rolling Stone.
Carlisle said, “I thought the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was about innovators, no matter if you like their music or not. You would think the first or only one of their kind would be recognized by an entity like that. But at the end of the day, I really could give a flying f—. I get sent the ballot to vote and every single time, I just write the Go-Go’s down and I check it off, in and out.”
Wiedlin added, “Whether you like it or not, you can’t take away our accomplishments. So it’s a little weird. But I’ve never lost sleep over it.”
Carlisle double-downed on her original point by saying, “I think in some ways, the Rock Hall has discredited themselves … just with the lack of women. Without going into too much detail, I think the fact that Suzi Quatro’s not in there is a disgrace. There are a lot of people who are innovators that aren’t in there, like the B-52’s, Cher, it goes on and on. It’s just, who are they anyway? At the end of the day, they’re a bunch of guys and women in a room making decisions on who’ll bring in revenue on T-shirts and beer koozies. So I don’t really care.”
The Go-Go’s are one of three artists who were counted on the Rock Hall’s Fans’ Ballot to be inducted as part of the 2021 class. The other two artists from the Fans’ Ballot to be inducted are Foo Fighters and Tina Turner.
As previously reported, the Rock Hall is planning on an in-person induction ceremony with fans taking place on Saturday, October 30 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena in Cleveland. Tickets are expected to go on sale in July. The 2021 Induction Ceremony will air on HBO and stream on HBO Max at a later date.
