The Go-Go's were the most popular all-female band to emerge from the punk/new wave explosion of the late '70s and early '80s, becoming one of the first commercially successful female groups that wasn't controlled by male producers or managers. While their hit singles – "We Got the Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "Vacation," "Head Over Heels" – were bright, energetic new wave pop, the group was an integral part of the Californian punk scene. And they did play punk rock, even if many of their rougher edges were ironed out by the time they recorded their first album, 1981's ‘Beauty and the Beat’. Even as they became America's darlings, the Go-Go's lived the wild life of rockers. More importantly, their earliest music - now collected on ‘Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's’- was raw and rocking; it may not have directly inspired the female alternative rockers and riot grrrls of the '90s, but it certainly foreshadowed it.

Originally formed in 1978 as the Misfits, the group featured Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, vocals), Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar, keyboards), Margot Olaverra (bass), and Elissa Bello (drums). The band soon changed its name to the Go-Go's and began playing local parties and small clubs in California. In 1979, Gina Schock became the group's drummer. During that year, the band recorded a demo and supported the British ska revival group Madness in both Los Angeles and England. The Go-Go's spent half of 1980 touring England, earning a sizable following and releasing ‘We Got the Beat’ on Stiff Records. An import copy of ‘We Got the Beat’ became an underground club hit in the U.S.

Early in 1981, the Go-Go's signed with IRS Records. Released in the summer of 1981, their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat", became one of the surprise hits of the year, staying at number one for six weeks and selling over two million copies; "Our Lips Are Sealed" hit number 20 and a re-recorded version of "We Got the Beat" spent three weeks at number two.

The group had a brief reunion in 1990, where they performed at a benefit for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; they also recorded a version of "Cool Jerk" for their 1990 Greatest Hits album. The Go-Go's reunited once more in 1994, recording three new songs for the double-disc compilation "Return of the Valley of the Go-Go's".

After recording new material, the group decided to continue as a full-time unit. In 2000, they appeared on VH1's Behind the Music series and released an accompanying best-of album, "VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Go's Collection". "God Bless the Go-Go's", the band's first studio album comprised entirely of new material, followed in 2001.