Thanks to Go-Go's fan Earl Howard, The city of West Hollywood Proclaims, May 15, 2001, Go-Go's Day!

May 15, 2001

Whereas the Go-Go's, have today released the band's first new album in 17 years, entitled God Bless the Go-Go's, and have returned home to California -- and West Hollywood in particular -- to launch this new album.

Whereas the Go-Go's, cut it's teeth as a young band in West Hollywood, playing several historic shows at West Hollywood's own Whiskey-A-Go-Go and other WeHo clubs in the early 80s, and returned to WeHo in 1990 once again to dazzle audiences with the band's critically acclaimed, comeback performance at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Throughout the 90s, the band returned to perform for West Hollywood audiences with well-received shows at West Hollywood's Viper Room and other area clubs and arenas.

Whereas the Go-Go's, are role models to many young women around the world for being the very first all-female band writing and playing it's own music, to have a Number One Album on the Billboard Top 100 Album Chart. In doing so, the Go-Go's combined shades of the Southern California surf sound with gorgeous female harmonies and upbeat tempos and tossed in a little Melrose thrift store glamour, to create an infectious sound and style that carried it's break-though debut album, Beauty & the Beat, all the way to number one in America, shattering the ceiling on the male-dominated recording business, in a most feminine way!

Whereas the Go-Go's today, twenty years after shattering that ceiling, remain the only commercially successful all-female band still playing it's own instruments and writing it's own music, a fact that will continue to inspire young woman to push harder to balance the playing field in the still male-dominated world of rock n' roll.

Whereas the Go-Go's, like many rock bands and everyday people, encountered trouble with alcohol and substance abuse in it's heyday, which led to a premature "breakup" of the band and other personal issues. But today, the Go-Go's are role models for all who struggle with addiction, as they stand clean, sober and drug-free -- looking and sounding better than ever in doing so!

Whereas the Go-Go's, are well known for taking progressive political stands over the years, including stands for animal rights, breast cancer and AIDS research and funding.Whereas the Go-Go's, are a much-cherished band to many in West Hollywood's Lesbian and Gay Community, a phenomenon witnessed over the years at varying West Hollywood Halloween events. In some years, there have been no less than 5 to 6 different groups of "Go-Go's" -- running around sporting the beauty mask/towel-wrapped hair/makeover look, the band made famous on the cover of it's number one album, Beauty & the Beat.

Whereas the Go-Go's: Gina Schock, Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin, have earned a special place in American music history and in our hearts with their happy, upbeat music, which celebrates and captures the decidedly female perspective, yet while remaining universal in its appeal around the world.

Now, therefore, let it be proclaimed that May 15, 2001, is God Bless the Go-Go's Day in West Hollywood, California.