Charlotte Caffey

Heather Anne Peel · March 31st, 2007, 10:42 PM

Charlotte is the lead guitarist for the Go-Gos, and is also a Tele player. I remember being a teenager and thinking that they were a great Pop band and it was cool that Charlotte played a Tele. They are all great musicians, and I met Charlotte and Belinda Carlisle when I worked at Hasting's Records here in Austin in the '80s. They were both very cool and down to earth. Now, here's a classic '80s Go-Gos clip for ya, featuring Charlotte on her Tele:

And nearly 20 years later in 2001 on her Jazzmaster:

tazzboy · March 31st, 2007, 11:38 PM

Yeah Heather but here she is playing telecaster

Heather Anne Peel · March 31st, 2007, 11:44 PM

Nice vid, tazz. Gina Schock is an amazing drummer, as well (Gina later worked with John Mellencamp and Mitch Ryder on Ryder's 1983 Mellencamp-produced "Never Kick A Sleeping Dog". That is a great, long out-of-print record). Anyway, I vividly remember cruising around in late '81/early '82 with my friends with "We Got The Beat" cranked way up!

zombywoof · April 1st, 2007, 12:02 AM

Kathy Valentine played bass with an early version of one of my favorite bands the Textones.

BTW, a couple of us went to see the Go-Gos in the early 1980s in Oklahoma. They were truly dreadful - a hoot and alot of fun but just dreadful.

aunchaki · April 1st, 2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

BTW, a couple of us went to see the Go-Gos in the early 1980s in Oklahoma. They were truly dreadful - a hoot and alot of fun but just dreadful.

I saw them in the early 80s (the Vacation tour) and thought they were terrific. It was my first concert. A Flock of Seagulls were the opening band and they were so loud (and bad) that I think my ears are still ringing!

lunchbox · April 1st, 2007, 12:42 AM

Saw them a while back and loved it. Me and the singer from my old band went cause we got free tickets but after seeing the show I would have paid to see it again.

Heather Anne Peel · April 1st, 2007, 12:45 AM

Charlotte and co-guitarist Jane Wiedlin wrote most of their songs. I remember bassist Kathy Valentine was in a series of Punk Rock bands here in Austin in the late '70s/early '80s, including the Violators. I think she made the right choice joining The Go-Go's!

jonzer · April 1st, 2007, 12:47 AM

I saw them on the head over heels tour, or whatever it was called. It was at Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, LA. My college cousin got me free tickets. Thing was, when I saw some friends there we all had to make excuses for being there. But the show sucked and the band threatened to walk off the stage because the audience was a bit hostile toward them. I had a great time.
The band played as though they hated each other.

Glen W · April 1st, 2007, 01:22 AM

Back in the '80s, I rember them opening for the Police. They were pretty good, actually.

timmer · April 1st, 2007, 01:43 AM

I was more of a Bangles "Hazy Shade of Winter" dude.

Paul in Colorado · April 4th, 2007, 09:34 PM

Back in the '80's I was sure Charlotte Cafferty and I were going to hook up because my two roommates had girlfriends who were blondes named Charlotte. I guess she never got my letters...

Skully · April 4th, 2007, 11:31 PM

I've seen the Go-Go's three times at the Universal Ampthitheatre (1990?), at the Troubadour (1994) and at the House of Blues (2005). The House of Blues show was by far the best.

My wife and I spent our most boring New Year's ever (1990?) at a small party attended by Caffey, her husband from Redd Kross and Sofia Coppola, who at the time was dating the other brother in Redd Kross. Sofia showed 16mm movies by her mother.

tazzboy · April 4th, 2007, 11:36 PM

If my memory serves me correct from the VH-1 Behind the Music segment didn't Charlotte have the drug problem in the ground and hid it from the rest of the them.

Skully · April 4th, 2007, 11:43 PM

Charlotte and Carlisle had the biggest problems, but I don't think any of them were strangers to the '80s rock & roll lifestyle. Charlotte's favorite poison was heroin. That she kept secret from the group. Carlisle's was coke.

Trivia Note #1: Caffey lived with Peter Case of The Plimsouls in the early '80s.

Trivia Note #2: Caffey's father is TV director Michael Caffey whose credits include "CHiPs," "T.J. Hooker" and "Trapper John, M.D."

Trivia Note #3: Born October 21st, 1953, Caffey is the oldest Go-Go.

tazzboy · April 5th, 2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmer

I was more of a Bangles "Hazy Shade of Winter" dude.

Mines more of this song

franchelB · April 5th, 2007, 11:43 AM

I was in love with Charlotte Caffey. I didn't know any female lead guitar players that looked that good...until I saw Jan Kuehnemund from Vixen!

Falstaff · April 5th, 2007, 11:50 AM

I love the Go Go's and have seen them quite a few times (first time was opening for the Police). Every time I have seen them they have been great. They did a reunion tour in the early 90's that was particularly good, especially the really slow version of "Vacation" they did.

Charlotte isn't Jeff Beck but she can sure write some good leads that work with the songs. "Skidmarks on my Heart" is my favorite of hers. :)

Cool thread...this forum is a lot of fun.

March 31st, 2007, 10:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	Charlotte Caffey Charlotte is the lead guitarist for the Go-Gos, and is also a Tele player. I remember being a teenager and thinking that they were a great Pop band and it was cool that Charlotte played a Tele. They are all great musicians, and I met Charlotte and Belinda Carlisle when I worked at Hasting's Records here in Austin in the '80s. They were both very cool and down to earth. Now, here's a classic '80s Go-Gos clip for ya, featuring Charlotte on her Tele: And nearly 20 years later in 2001 on her Jazzmaster:

March 31st, 2007, 11:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
tazzboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 31 Posts: 3,188	Yeah Heather but here she is playing telecaster __________________ tazzboy

March 31st, 2007, 11:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	Nice vid, tazz. Gina Schock is an amazing drummer, as well (Gina later worked with John Mellencamp and Mitch Ryder on Ryder's 1983 Mellencamp-produced "Never Kick A Sleeping Dog". That is a great, long out-of-print record). Anyway, I vividly remember cruising around in late '81/early '82 with my friends with "We Got The Beat" cranked way up! Last edited by Heather Anne Peel; April 1st, 2007 at 12:58 AM.

April 1st, 2007, 12:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,904 17 Photos	Kathy Valentine played bass with an early version of one of my favorite bands the Textones. BTW, a couple of us went to see the Go-Gos in the early 1980s in Oklahoma. They were truly dreadful - a hoot and alot of fun but just dreadful. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

April 1st, 2007, 12:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
lunchbox Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Venice, Fl Age: 39 Posts: 549	Saw them a while back and loved it. Me and the singer from my old band went cause we got free tickets but after seeing the show I would have paid to see it again. __________________ TWANGALICIOUS!!!!

April 1st, 2007, 12:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	Charlotte and co-guitarist Jane Wiedlin wrote most of their songs. I remember bassist Kathy Valentine was in a series of Punk Rock bands here in Austin in the late '70s/early '80s, including the Violators. I think she made the right choice joining The Go-Go's!

April 1st, 2007, 12:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
jonzer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,068	I saw them on the head over heels tour, or whatever it was called. It was at Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, LA. My college cousin got me free tickets. Thing was, when I saw some friends there we all had to make excuses for being there. But the show sucked and the band threatened to walk off the stage because the audience was a bit hostile toward them. I had a great time. The band played as though they hated each other. __________________ http://816rocks.com/

April 1st, 2007, 01:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Glen W Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: CT Age: 59 Posts: 809 12 Photos	Back in the '80s, I rember them opening for the Police. They were pretty good, actually. __________________ Go big... or stay home.

April 4th, 2007, 09:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,336 3 Photos	Back in the '80's I was sure Charlotte Cafferty and I were going to hook up because my two roommates had girlfriends who were blondes named Charlotte. I guess she never got my letters...

April 4th, 2007, 11:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,989	I've seen the Go-Go's three times at the Universal Ampthitheatre (1990?), at the Troubadour (1994) and at the House of Blues (2005). The House of Blues show was by far the best. My wife and I spent our most boring New Year's ever (1990?) at a small party attended by Caffey, her husband from Redd Kross and Sofia Coppola, who at the time was dating the other brother in Redd Kross. Sofia showed 16mm movies by her mother. __________________ Myspace.com/skullysounds

April 4th, 2007, 11:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
tazzboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 31 Posts: 3,188	If my memory serves me correct from the VH-1 Behind the Music segment didn't Charlotte have the drug problem in the ground and hid it from the rest of the them. __________________ tazzboy

April 4th, 2007, 11:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,989	Charlotte and Carlisle had the biggest problems, but I don't think any of them were strangers to the '80s rock & roll lifestyle. Charlotte's favorite poison was heroin. That she kept secret from the group. Carlisle's was coke. Trivia Note #1: Caffey lived with Peter Case of The Plimsouls in the early '80s. Trivia Note #2: Caffey's father is TV director Michael Caffey whose credits include "CHiPs," "T.J. Hooker" and "Trapper John, M.D." Trivia Note #3: Born October 21st, 1953, Caffey is the oldest Go-Go. __________________ Myspace.com/skullysounds Last edited by Skully; April 5th, 2007 at 01:19 AM.

April 5th, 2007, 11:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
franchelB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 43 Posts: 1,862	I was in love with Charlotte Caffey. I didn't know any female lead guitar players that looked that good...until I saw Jan Kuehnemund from Vixen! __________________ Feel free to visit my homepage! http://www.myspace.com/francisbalagtas

April 5th, 2007, 11:50 AM	#17 (permalink)
Falstaff Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts, USA Age: 41 Posts: 299	I love the Go Go's and have seen them quite a few times (first time was opening for the Police). Every time I have seen them they have been great. They did a reunion tour in the early 90's that was particularly good, especially the really slow version of "Vacation" they did. Charlotte isn't Jeff Beck but she can sure write some good leads that work with the songs. "Skidmarks on my Heart" is my favorite of hers. :) Cool thread...this forum is a lot of fun.