'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

How The GO-GO's Gina Schock Powered the Band to Rock History (encore)


Listen Later

Anyone who knows The Go-Go's knows they got the beat.

But in the recent television documentary about them, fans also learn the true story of how they got it, lost it, and found it again. The film shows where The Go-Gos are today: making new music together for the first time in 20 something years.

We catch up with drummer, Gina Schock and listen, mesmerized as she tells her incredible story.

Gina Schock, born Regina Ann Schock in Baltimore, Maryland, is celebrated as the powerhouse drummer of The Go-Go's, one of the most influential all-female rock bands in history.

Raised in a working-class neighbourhood, Gina discovered her passion for drumming as a teenager, teaching herself the craft and dreaming of a life in music. Her ambition led her to move to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, where she joined The Go-Go’s in 1979, just as the band began making waves in the punk scene.

The Go-Go’s were pioneers, becoming the first all-women band to achieve mainstream success while writing their own music and playing their own instruments.

Gina’s hard-hitting, high-energy drumming became a key element of the band’s signature sound, driving hits like We Got the Beat, Vacation, and Our Lips Are Sealed. The band’s debut album, Beauty and the Beat (1981), topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks, establishing The Go-Go’s as trailblazers in both pop and rock music.

Despite their success, the band faced challenges, including grueling tours and internal tensions, leading to their initial breakup in 1985. During this time, Gina underwent heart surgery for a congenital defect, a personal challenge that underscored her resilience.

Post-Go-Go’s, she pursued songwriting and producing, contributing to projects for stars like Miley Cyrus (Breakout) and Selena Gomez. She also ventured into acting and photography, showcasing her multifaceted creativity.

The Go-Go’s reunited several times over the years, maintaining their legacy through tours, new music, and a Broadway musical, Head Over Heels, which featured their songs.

Their enduring influence was cemented when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, a milestone highlighting their groundbreaking achievements.

Beyond music, Gina is also known for her vivacious personality, humour, and advocacy for women in the arts. She remains an inspiring figure, balancing her love for music with personal passions like photography and sharing her life story to empower future generations of musicians.

Gina Schock joins us this week to provide an insight into her amazing world. If you'd like to know what songs she wrote, how she got her start, what life has been like for her over the years ... then you've come to the right place.

I'm certain you'll enjoy hearing Gina Schock tell her story.


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIRBy Sandy Kaye

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

22 ratings


More shows like '60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,887 Listeners

Tara Brach by Tara Brach

Tara Brach

10,432 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,200 Listeners

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

29,516 Listeners

The Eddie Trunk Podcast by SiriusXM

The Eddie Trunk Podcast

1,315 Listeners

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds by Nate Goyer, Record Collector, Music Fan, Vinyl Maniac

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

514 Listeners

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell by Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

7,263 Listeners

The Bob Lefsetz Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

The Bob Lefsetz Podcast

435 Listeners

Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda by Alan Alda

Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

3,756 Listeners

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles by Gamut Podcast Network

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

378 Listeners

Something About the Beatles by Evergreen Podcasts

Something About the Beatles

347 Listeners

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt by Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

318 Listeners

Word In Your Ear by Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Word In Your Ear

64 Listeners

Naked Lunch by Phil Rosenthal, David Wild, and Straw Hut Media

Naked Lunch

859 Listeners

The Briefing with Jen Psaki by MSNBC

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

1,285 Listeners