Anything boys can do, girls can do better. That’s what an all-girl group, the Go-Gos, proved in the 80s, winning over audiences with bouncy pop tunes awash in a distinct New Wave influence. They made music history (how many bands can say that?) by becoming the first all-female band to top the Billboard charts with a #1 album. They wrote their own songs, played their own instruments and composed their own music. Right on, sisters.

The quintet got together in 1978 as a decidedly punky band, nurtured in L.A.’s rich music scene. They soon left for a tour of England, supporting the seminal ska band Madness there, and in the US. They also recorded the single “Our Lips Are Sealed”, which quickly became a favorite in L.A. dance clubs due to its punk- and surf-flavored beat. The girls’ energy and sweet harmony worked very well in live venues, packing in the fans—and all before a record contract was in sight.

The Go-Gos finally signed to a label, IRS Records, which released their first album, Beauty and the Beat. The album included a re-worked version of “Our Lips Are Sealed”, which found a wider audience than its original incarnation and climbed in the Top 20. An accompanying video featuring the band became a hit on the newly launched MTV. Another single, “We Got the Beat”, skyrocketed to #2 and appeared in the opening credits of the wildly popular movie, Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Good fortune continued to grace the Go-Gos: their sophomore album, Vacation, and its title track made the Top 10. Continuing to utilize the TV medium, the band released a music video for another popular single from that album, “Get Up and Go”, where they sang and danced with claymation replicas of themselves. Around this time, bassist Kathy Valentine suffered a wrist injury and the band decided to take a break while she recuperated. Their return album was 1984’s Talk Show, featuring a more polished sound than their previous efforts. Another success, it produced two Top 40 hits, "Head Over Heels" and "Turn To You."

Following Talk Show’s success, the Go-Gos surprised everyone by calling it quits and going after solo projects. Guitarist Jane Wieldin did well with “Rush Hour”, a Top 10 hit and lead singer Belinda Carlisle made a name for herself with a slew of pop hits, like "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is A Place On Earth." The girls still kept in touch and frequently reunited during the 90s; they also released a greatest hits album in 1990, featuring a new song, “Cool Jerk”. In 1995, they embarked on a major tour in support of a two-disc compilation, titled Beyond the Valley of the Go-Gos. Lately, the band celebrated the 25th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat with a tour that reminded old and new fans why they fell in love with these cool chicks in the first place.