GO GO/’s Jane Wiedlin MADPOD INTERVIEW

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GO GO/’s Jane Wiedlin MADPOD INTERVIEW

Jane Wiedlin was the first to leave the Go-Go’s in 1984 and a solo
career was her main agenda. Not as successful as her fellow mate
Belinda Carlisle, Wiedlin’s sparse recording career appeared creatively
uneven. Her intent to establish herself as a supreme singer/songwriter
didn’t match the dynamics of her former band, and unfortunately critics
decided that from the beginning. Her 1985 self-titled debut went
practically unnoticed and the single Blue Kiss was a big hit. Three
years later, Fur showcased a more pop-driven Wiedlin. The playfulness
lost on the first album was apparent and “Rush Hour” was her biggest
chart-topping hit to date. Tangled (1990) was campy, something a bit
harsh compared to her earlier work. It had a hard rock edge and snippy
rock & roll flare, and the theatrical single “World on Fire” had a short
stint on MTV. By the end of 1990, Jane Wiedlin was at a loss. The last
five years had been musically unsatisfying, and her direction was
blurred. The ’90s would be spent attending several ho-hum Go-Go’s
reunions along with a return to punk with her band, Frosted. Again, her
attempt to be taken seriously was laughed at by the critics and
Frosted’s eponymous debut in 1995 was tossed aside. By 2000, the
Go-Go’s had pushed all animosity aside for a real regrouping, and
Wiedlin welcomed the effort. She and the band issued God Bless the
Go-Go’s (2001), after two successful comeback tours. Wiedlin also lent
her voice to Gwen on the WB’s Mission Hill. Her quirky sweet voiceovers
can be heard in spots for King of the Hill, Batman: The Animated Series,
and Pinky and the Brain. She also released her first solo album in ten
years, Kissproof World, in 2001. Jane speaks with Shadoe from her home
in Los Angeles.