READ THIS: Lips Unsealed by Belinda Carlisle

Doesn't everyone want to be a rock star?  Anything boys can do, girls can do better we always say, and the Go-Go's broke some major glass ceilings for us girls, no matter what it is that you do professionally.  However, the personal price that was paid by them was a secret to most of the world, until now.   

This is one of the most poignant, honest, inspirational accounts in an autobiography that we have ever read.  If you were old enough to be alive in the 1980's and were born with ears, surely you know of the Go-Go's and Belinda Carlisle.  Peachy Deegan feels a certain kinship with those that soak in bubble baths, eating chocolate and drinking champagne, so she loves the Go-Gos and Belinda especially, who wore a tiara.  Of course, she loves the music also and has been playing it for years.  Actually, decades.  She had no idea of who they really were though, however, until she read "Lips Unsealed."

Everyone is profoundly affected by the way they grew up, and Belinda clearly falls into this category in a major way.  At age 50, Belinda has stepped into a new world since coming clean, and certainly is the better for it.  But who we are is a compilation of all of the experiences we've had in life, and her trials and tribulations are almost confessed to in Lips Unsealed, though we believe she did the best she could at the time considering her circumstances.  Her zest for life and her inability to miss a thing only made her more passionate.  We love how she just packed up and moved to the South of France, a la The Murphys and Fitzgeralds.

We love the way how Belinda discovered style in 5th grade.  We love how Pet Sounds was one of her first albums-us too.  We love how she kept her cash assets in a Barbie Thermos.  Belinda is quite the likable character, so when she takes wrong turns your heart breaks too.  We really admire Morgan Mason for his clear vision, determined dedication to Belinda, and his unwavering confidence in her.  We admire Belinda Carlisle for all she has done professionally, but even more for how she has turned her life around personally.  This could not have been an easy book to write from an emotional standpoint.

And Belinda, we did notice on pages 180 and 181 you are using the word whom correctly!!!  We love it.  Lips Unsealed is well-written, and it is a beautiful account of a life that always looked beautiful from the outside.  Better, it is beautiful from the inside now too.

And to Duke, your mother is an asset, not a liability, to your political career!!!  Your mom is the one with The Beat, Duke and we imagine she can get you The Vote as well.  

Whom You Know highly recommends Lips Unsealed by Belinda Carlisle.  It's a must-read.  We are SIMPLY MAD ABOUT IT.  Take it on VACATION!  It will be all you ever wanted, and for someone that got weak, Belinda Carlisle certainly became strong.  We look forward to featuring her further!

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As both a solo artist and lead singer of the Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle is responsible for some of the most iconic songs of the eighties. Her memoir LIPS UNSEALED (on sale June 1)—one of the rare

adventures through rock stardom told by a woman—is a spellbinding look at life in the fast lane of the rock world and an exploration of her dramatic personal struggles.

The all-female members of the Go-Go's will always be remembered as they appeared on the back of their debut record: sunny, smiling, each soaking in her own private bubble bath with chocolates and champagne. The photo is a perfect tribute to the fun, irreverent brand of pop music that they created, but it also concealed the trials and secret demons that they—and, in particular, their lead singer, Belinda Carlisle— struggled with on their rise to stardom.

Leaving her unstable childhood home at the age of eighteen, Belinda battled serious weight issues, having been teased for her pudginess throughout grade school, and grappled with her confusion about being deserted by her biological father as a child. This talented but misguided teen found solace in the punk rock world that so openly welcomed misfits.  Not long after forming, the Go-Go's became queens of the L.A. punk scene, selling out venues, attracting a fiercely loyal fan base, and outpartying almost every male band they toured with. In the process, they kicked down the doors to the all-boys' club of eighties rock and roll. With a chart-topping debut album, Belinda found herself launched to international superstardom—and with that fame came more access to A-list parties, and even more alcohol and drugs to fuel the Go-Go's mania.

While struggling with addiction, Belinda married the love of her life and gave birth to a wonderful son. But the strain of keeping her vices a secret inevitably led her to self-destruct. Exactly how far she’d fallen was epitomized by a shocking series of events in which she put everything sacred to her—her husband, her son, and even her life—at risk. As improbable as it seems that a woman who appeared to have everything would suffer from such issues, it was only when Belinda finally quit running from the past and faced her pain and insecurities that she was able to start enjoying her life, her family, and feeling loved.

LIPS UNSEALED is filled with the wild stories that Belinda Carlisle fans are dying to hear—stories about the band's crazy days on tour with acts like the Police and Madness and the fabulous parties and people to whom the Go-Go's had exclusive access. But more than that, this candid memoir reveals the underbelly of the glamour, as Belinda shares in vivid detail her private struggles with abusive relationships, weight, self-esteem, and a thirty-year battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Here are some of the topics that Belinda addresses in LIPS UNSEALED:

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALL-FEMALE BAND OF ALL TIME: The Go-Go’s rose from the gritty world of punk to make pop-music history as the first all-girl band to write and play their way to #1 on the Billboard charts with hits such as “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Cool Jerk,” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” At that time rock was truly a man's world; even though they were popular and played to sold-out crowds, it took some time for them to land a record deal because they were told by label after label that an all-girl band couldn't sell records. As a solo artist, Belinda also was one of the biggest pop stars of the late eighties and early nineties. “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” "Mad About You,” “I Get Weak,” and “Circle in the Sand” are some of her chart-topping songs.

SECRET STRUGGLE WITH DRUGS: Belinda was an addict for most of her life. This is well documented in her youth, but unbeknownst to the public, she struggled with drugs until 2005. For years she hid her addiction to cocaine from her husband and son, driving her into a cycle of self-hatred and depression.

MAINTAINING HER MARRIAGE: Belinda met the love of her life, Morgan Mason, but her struggle with drugs pushed his patience to the limit and put incredible strains on their marriage. Morgan’s willingness to be there for her and understand her addiction almost defies belief, while at the same time reveals a love of incredible depth. Belinda’s eventual confessions offer a window on this great love story.

BATTLE WITH WEIGHT: Belinda struggled with her weight from the time she was a young girl. The press always referred to her as “the chubby one” in the Go-Go’s, and almost every media story pointed out her size. When she lost weight and was lauded for it, she developed an eating disorder in which she would ping-pong between starving herself and bingeing.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND DEPRESSION: Even in her early days of success, Belinda never felt that she deserved any acclaim or the good things she received. When she found out the Go-Go’s album Beauty and the Beat had hit #1 on the Billboard charts, she locked herself in her apartment and did drugs, terrified that her fans and everyone else would find out how terrible she really was. Her disappearance prompted rumors of her death. Throughout her life, no matter what happened to her, she always doubted herself and never believed anyone when they tried to show her love or give her praise. This was the fear she was masking with drugs.

FAMILY PAIN: Belinda’s father left their family when she was just a small child; his absence was never explained, so she sat by the window each night, awaiting his return. Her mother soon remarried and told Belinda she should call her alcoholic stepfather “Dad.” Her biological father often tried to get in touch with her after she became well-known; that reunion that did not end well.

CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS (a few examples):

*John Belushi—In a New York club, Belushi lectured the Go-Go’s about the evils of drug abuse after Belinda asked him if he had any cocaine. Shortly thereafter they saw firsthand what his own behaviors really were when it came to drugs.

*Rod Stewart—A wild, all-night party with Rod Stewart in Rio de Janeiro led a grumpy, hungover Rod to devise a way to make Belinda suffer as much as he did during his next day’s performance.

*Michael Hutchence—Belinda had a brief but passionate affair with Michael Hutchence of INXS. The girls in the band begged Michael to talk to her about the effect the drugs were having on her performances. He did, and gave her some insightful advice about the relationship between a rock star and his/her audience.

*Brian Wilson— A long-time idol of Belinda’s, Wilson agreed to provide background vocals on one of her solo albums. She was thrilled to work with him, but her excitement quickly turned to discomfort when she experienced the quirky realities of the disheveled genius.

*Fergie (Sarah Ferguson)— A friend of Belinda and her husband, Morgan, the three spent a day at the beach together. Tabloids then had a field day with photos of Fergie with her “new man.”

HER SON’S SEXUALITY: Belinda discusses how her son, Duke, came out to her and how she and

her husband tried to balance their concern for their son's safety with giving him unconditional love and support.

HER 2005 REBIRTH AS A WIFE, MOTHER, AND SOBER ARTIST: Belinda’s life changed five years ago when she dedicated herself to a 12-step program, yoga, and a new spiritual practice.

LIPS UNSEALED shares all the details of the eighties decadence that Belinda epitomized, but also reveals the dark despair hidden behind her charming smile. An open and honest account of her rise, fall, and the healthy and happy life she has since built for herself, LIPS UNSEALED tells the story of a life fully lived.

This review is dedicated to everyone who received a complementary phone call from the four girls in Edmonds 824 before Christmas break junior year!  We played Belinda singing...you know who you are but you didn't know who we are...!  Now our lips are unsealed too.

LIPS UNSEALED by Belinda Carlisle

Crown Publishers • On sale June 1, 2010 • ISBN 978-0-307-46349-4

272 pages with eight-page photo insert • $26.00 • www.crownpublishing.com