Golden 'Nuggets'

 The Wild Honey Foundation put on a hell of an autism benefit last week in Glendale, Calif., featuring seminal garage rockers from the Seeds, Love and the Chocolate Watchband. Lenny Kaye served as emcee, resident historian, cheerleader and intermittent singer-guitarist for this semi-reconstruction of the 1972 compilation album “Nuggets." 

Read about the seminal album HERE.

Susanna Hoffs performed "I Want Candy" by the Strangeloves and teamed up with Weird Al and Owen Elliot (Mama Cass's daughter) for "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" by the Mojo Men.

With everything as wonderful as it was, I'm baffled as to why someone felt the need to aggressively filter this cute photo of the Bangles singer/guitarist with fellow musicians Carnie Wilson and Kathy Valentine. See the original BELOW.

Song of the Day: 'Vacation' by Brett

A gender-flipped and ethereal cover of the Go-Go's ode to time off? Sign me up!

This L.A.-based band from Washington, D.C., used to be known as the Dance Party, and also covered Wang Chung's "Dance Hall Days."

Song of the Day: 'Want You' by the Bluebonnets and Vicki Peterson

I'm pretty lazy about "going out" these days, between Covid and decrepitude. But when I heard Go-Go's bassist Kathy Valentine was bringing her Austin band to town -- and that Bangles guitarist Vicki Peterson was going to be their special guest -- you'd better believe I got my ass over to Arlene's Grocery right on time! (Note to self: That bar plays great music and the boys are super cute.) The Bonnets were on fire, dazzling the crowd with a selection from their three studio LPs -- and cribbing a few from the Delphines, Kathy and singer/bassist Dominique Davalos's previous band. Then Vicki joined them, which prompted a singalong version of the Faces' "Ooh La La" before launching into today's song of the day, a Vicki Peterson classic from the Bangles eponymous 1982 EP. 

After the show, I asked Vicki where they’d came up with that unexpected gem and she said it was Kathy's idea -- and that the Bonnets learned it during the soundcheck, which might explain why I ended up providing many of the backing vocals! 

Song of the Day: 'We Don't Get Along' by Kathy Valentine (Featuring Rhett Miller)

Interesting to hear a new male-female vocals twist to a song Kathy Valentine wrote some 40 years ago that has been recorded by her old band the Textones, the Go-Go's and her late friend Phil Seymour, who did kind of a rockabilly version for his 1980 debut album. 

More info HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Beneath the Blue Sky' by Kathy Valentine

 

Today's selection is "Beneath the Blue Sky" -- three times.  Kathy wrote the song with Jane Wiedlin for the Go-Go's 'Talk Show" LP in 1984 -- and while it was never a single, it remains a fan favorite. First up we have a new collaboration Kathy did with her cute daughter, Audrey, followed by a live version with the BlueBonnets and the original classic. Enjoy!

Info about a holiday special bundle of a personalized book with other cool stuff!! Partnering w/ @AntonesRecords coz they're awesome and I can sign the books, get them out in quick time. Link here:https://t.co/WKnbbtesLW pic.twitter.com/13y26mamot

— Kathy Valentine (@Kathy_Valentine) December 7, 2020

Order HERE. 

Song of the Day: 'What's Behind the Mask?' by the Cramps

 

Although everyone I know and their brother wore Cramps T-shirts when I was a teen, I never really explored the band. (Sorry!) So it was fun to finally face the music, via this all-star Halloween cover of "What's Behind the Mask?" featuring Kathy Valentine (Go-Go's), John Doe (X) and Clem Burke (Blondie) to benefit Bowery Electric in NYC, where I saw Kathy's Bluebonnets a few years ago.

Song of the Day: 'Sweet Dreams' by the Miraculous Love Kids

Today's Song of the Day that allows you to give back. 

Vicki Peterson of the Bangles writes:

Girls in Kabul, Afghanistan, have limited options -- but thanks to guitarist Lanny Cordola, the girls in Miraculous Love Kids are finding some joy, singing and learning to play guitar. I was so happy to be invited to record with the group and many incredible American artists, including Wayne Kramer, Kathy Valentine, Tom Morello and Cherie Curie. 

Check out the full story HERE -- and enjoy the video below:

Donate HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Can't Stop the World' by the Tiarra Girls

 

The Tiarra Girls -- a Mexican-American trio featuring sisters Tiffany, Tori and Sophia Baltierra -- have just released an updated cover of the Go-Go's "Can't Stop the World," which was penned by fellow Austin native Kathy Valentine. Read about the experience and how these young musicians are coping with the pandemic HERE.

Other listening options HERE.

Follow on Facebook HERE.

The Most '80s Night Ever

ICYMI: Would love to hear from anyone who attended this "Trouble in Paradise" gala, benefiting the Inner City Law Center's efforts on behalf of the homeless.

A little research reveals that it took place March 10, 1985, at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles. Molly Ringwald, Belinda Carlisle and Susanna Hoffs teamed up to perform "Midnight Confessions," which sounds about right given the Bangles beauty's fondness for the Grass Roots.

Kathy Valentine -- who would be blindsided by the demise of the Go-Go's right around the time this event took place -- wrote on Twitter that she was in the backing band and helped select the artists and material for the night. In addition to Kathy, the band consisted of Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), David Lindley, Gary Myrick, Ran Manzarek (the Doors), Phil Chen and Curly Smith

Someone on Twitter asked Kathy: 

Is Christine McVie the coolest person or what? 

To which she replied: 

YES

Looks like a total riot. I also spot Vicki & Debbi Peterson and Michael Steele of the Bangles, Terri Nunn and John Crawford of Berlin, Jackson Browne, a pensive Carla Olson (Kathy's former Textones bandmate) and the late Phil Seymour, among many others.

As one person on Facebook put it, "There has never been so much cocaine in one room since Nicholson’s '79 Christmas party."

Do THESE THREE need to be separated?

Song of the Day: 'I'm on E' by Blondie

When forced to decide, I always cite "Plastic Letters" as my favorite Blondie album. Sure, "Parallel Lines" is probably the best, and "Autoamerican" is in a league of its own. But there's something about the sophomore release -- more mature than the debut but still gritty and experimental -- that has always stayed with me. So it really tickled me to see Go-Go's bassist Kathy Valentine cited it as one of the 10 Albums That Changed My Life in Goldmine magazine. My brother Bill had bought the first five Blondie albums while he was in college and "Fan Mail," "I'm on E" and "Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)" -- plus the singles "Denis" and "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear" -- quickly became some of my favorite songs by Debbie and the boys. Cute to read that Kathy more or less bought it contemporaneously -- and that she picked it out first at the record store because she preferred the cover to the eponymous debut. Unlike me, however, I never dated one of the band members!

Song of the Day: 'I'm the Only One' by the Rockats

Here's an unexpected treat that popped up on my Go-Go's Facebook page -- a rare demo of "I'm the Only One," a song Kathy Valentine wrote with then-boyfriend Danny B. Harvey (way to go, girl) and friend Carlene Carter for KV's beau's band, the Rockats. 

What was apparently intended to appear on the rockabilly boys' 1983 LP, "Make That Move," instead wound up on "Talk Show," the third and final album by the Go-Go's during their first incarnation. The Rockats never achieved the success of peers like the Stray Cats. But they were every bit as fun, as demonstrated here.

Rockats demo.

The Go-Go's rehearse their version on Cinemax's "Album Flash." 

Word is Belinda isn't a fan of the song -- it isn't very Go-Go's-like -- which seems odd given what a good fit it is for her voice.

Valentine's Day

If you're not already wanting to read Kathy Valentine's rock 'n' roll memoir, "All I Ever Wanted," this new trailer should do the trick. Blondie fans will especially appreciate details in the pages about the Go-Go's bassist's relationship with drummer Clem Burke.

Order HERE.

On This Day in Herstory: The Go-Go's Sign Deal With IRS Records

If what transpired at Kelbo's Tiki Hut in Hollywood on April 1, 1981, is as significant to you as it is for me, there's no better place to read all about it than HERE.

Thirty-nine years ago today, #thegogos signed a recording contract with IRS Records at Kelbo's Tiki Hut.
"The only sure way for a small company to get ahead is to take chances. But, we don't feel like we're doing that with the Go-Go's. They're a safe bet." --Miles Copeland pic.twitter.com/CvMX5TOqzU

— The Go-Go's (@officialgogos) April 1, 2020

It's Everything but Party (in Person) Time

ICYMI: Kathy Valentine will celebrate the release of "All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir' today at 7 p.m. Central time. Details HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Camouflage' by Kathy Valentine

Go-Go's bassist Kathy Valentine's long-awaited memoir, "All I Ever Wanted," finally comes out this week, and I sure feel for my pal as it has to be hard to not be able to promote it the way she wanted to with live events and face-to-face conversations. Still, she's getting some incredible press -- I've read it and it's a real page-turner! -- and not just for the book. The quixotic accompanying soundtrack is out now, too.

Billboard: Kathy Valentine on Writing Her Memoir and Rejoining the Go-Go's

Icon vs. Icon: Kathy Valentine on Bringing Her Rock 'n' Roll Memoir to Life

Houston Press: Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's Reveals All She Ever Wanted

Listen to the soundtrack on Spotify HERE.

Listen to Kathy on "WTF With Marco Maron" HERE. 

Page 1 Round (03/17)

The Daily News: Last Call! New Yorkers head to bars for final beverage before state coronavirus shutdown

 Joe Biden won the Washington state presidential primary. He now has won five of the six states that voted last Tuesday, yet Bernie Sanders isn't going anywhere.

French President Macron orders all residents to stay home for 15 days to stem coronavirus spread

Twitter: New challenge: QUARANTENNIS.

Instagram: JJ Watt's cute brother TJ is a winner

The Guardian: 'Big Brother' guests unaware of pandemic

Dlisted: Jim Halpert is rejoicing somewhere

Gr8er Days: Anyone else hot for "Ponch" back in sixth grade?

Greg in Hollywood: Victor Garber turns 71

The Hill: Romney proposes giving $1,000 to every American adult as coronavirus response measure

The AIDS Memorial: Remembering Adam Balzano, an aspiring actor who died in 1993 at 29

Extra: Former "7th Heaven" child actor turned hunk dies at 21

Axios: Barr's DOJ moves to drop charges against Russians accused of funding troll farm

Washington Blade: Built queer historian pens book

Towleroad: RuPaul just got canceled again

Coronavirus: Three lessons from the AIDS crisis

New York Post: Unprecedented coronavirus shutdown leaves tri-state area a ghost town

 Wow. Guns sure do keep people safe

Soccer coach Francisco Garcia dies from coronavirus at age 21

BosGuy: Are these Scottish lads strippers in training?

The Washington Post: How U.S. coronavirus testing stalled: Flawed tests, red tape and resistance to using the millions of tests produced by the WHO

On Fox News, suddenly a very different tune about the coronavirus

Michael Gerson: Never have GOP votes against impeachment seemed more shortsighted

The New York Times: With re-election economy in peril, Trump urges caution

Trump's guidelines are not mandatory and do not go as far as health officials urged

Italy’s coronavirus victims face death alone, With funerals postponed

Bucking court ruling, Ohio postpones primary as governor declares health emergency

The Wall Street Journal: As Virus spreads, Dow plummets nearly 2,000 points and then another 1,000 after Trump speaks 

Israel’s president asks Benny Gantz to form new government

Airlines seek $50 billion coronavirus aid package ... and a box of Obama phones?

Coronavirus canceled sports, but the sports talk shows must go on

View this post on Instagram

here is a ray of sunshine in all the daily worsening news....yes, Rocky is back!!! 6 days after disappearing. 💕💝❤️🥰

A post shared by Kathy Valentine (@kathy.valentine) on Mar 16, 2020 at 8:04am PDT

Hot Cat of the Day: Lest you think all news is bad anymore, my pal Kathy Valentine shared this morsel of joy yesterday!

A Go-Go Comes Clean

Kathy Valentine -- aka the George Harrison of Go-Go's -- is coming to a venue near you to promote "All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir," due out on March 31. While fans of the first (and only) all-female band to hit No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart will enjoy hearing about the group's rise and fall, it's Valentine's Wild West childhood that provides the book's most compelling moments. Pre-order HERE.

Book tour details HERE.

LA Weekly selected "All I Ever Wanted" as its book of the month. Read HERE.

Kathy discusses her book with music writer Anthony DeCurtis at the New York Public Library on April 15. Info HERE.

Remains of the Day (12/13)

UT Press: Whether you're a Go-Go's fan or not, Kathy Valentine's "All I Ever Wanted" promises to be the rock 'n' roll memoir of the year

HuffPost: The Progressive Caucus used Freedom Caucus tactics to win on prescription drugs -- is this the new normal?

Twitter: Thiem's ass would make a nice postcard series

CNN: Nigeria is trying 47 men arrested in a hotel under its anti-gay laws

Boy Culture: Nicolas Rouye was born to wear that clingy blue underwear

The New York Times: Six classic series left out of the streaming boom

Deadline: HBO lands Sundance-bound "Welcome to Chechnya," documentary about harsh plight of LGBTQ community in Russian republic

CBS News: Man with autism opens own coffee shop after no one would hire him

CNBC: Warren campaign disputes Wharton study that finds her wealth tax would raise $1 trillion less than she estimates

Tennis World: Serena Williams builds schools in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Jamaica

The Independent: Speaking of which, wasn't that Donald Trump mocking someone on the spectrum again?

Metrosource: This is how AIDS killed "America's Favorite Dad," actor Robert Reed

The Daily Beast: Remember when Brett Kavanaugh wrote that hiding evidence from Congress is an impeachable offense? 

Greg in Hollywood: In case you have a thing for blond footballers

NewNowNext: YouTube updated its harassment policy -- but will it be enforced?

Hot Cat of the Day: Way cuter than Demi and Patrick!

Going to a Go-Go?

Go-Go’s fans were driving in risk upon seeing this photo dated today outside the Whisky on the Sunset Strip. A call to the venue informed me that there is no (public) performance tonight -- marquee be damned -- so I’m guessing there is some additional footage being shot for the upcoming documentary about the band. Can it possibly top their "Behind the Music"?!!!

UPDATE:

Kathy confirmed they are filming for the Showty doc.



#GoGosDoc

This town ...

Rehearsal ...

Birthday girl ...

Happy International Women's Day

Two of my favorite posts from International Women's Day -- my pal Kathy recognizes female rockers who have inspired her, above, and Eric Swalwell,of my favorite politicians, ponders his daughter's future. My mom is definitely the most influential woman in my life. Can't even ponder where I'd be today without her. (Billie Jean King also cites the influence of her mom HERE.)

Oh, Daddy!

The Washington Post has seven of history's greatest women-led protests HERE.