A Star is Born

Yes, this is yet another post about The Go-Go's. But I've got actual news to share. Rather cool news, in fact. At least I think so and since this is my blog, I'm going to write about it.

Picture it, February 2002. The Go-Go's had recently released their fourth CD and I, along with a couple friends decided that they deserved a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. DeDe, who lives in San Jose, Joseph who lives in Las Vegas and me, here in Chicago, decided to research how one goes about getting a star. I won't bore you with all the details about what qualifies a celebrity for a star, but there has to be a nomination document prepared, the celebrity has to be willing to appear at the ceremony (unless they're dead), and the nominating party has to be able to write a check for $15,000 over to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Hmm...

So we brainstormed and came up with some ideas. We contacted members of the band and since they were scheduled to perform a handful of shows around the country, we asked them if they would let us auction off "Meet and Greet" events at each of their shows. They were 100 percent on board and agreed. We set up a Paypal account and created a website and people donated. Much to our surprise, we raised OVER $15,000 in 34 days.

Then it was up to us to write the nominating document. It was a labor of love for us. We poured over articles that chronicled their Los Angeles roots and their rapid rise to fame. The end result was a great presentation. We even solicited for celebrity testimonials and we got them. Finally, we got a letter from their management stating the band's committment to appear at a ceremony, should they receive a star. I organized the box, which included CDs and a DVD of their work and sent it to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. We were thrilled with our work and felt like we were a shoe-in.

Nope.

Undaunted, we knew we needed to do nothing but send a letter during the next year's nomination period to have our nomination renewed. We did, again feeling very confident.

Nothing.

Each year, we kept it up. We tweaked the nomination, updated it and kept submitting it.

No-go.

Back in 2008, I spoke with their current manager, who was committed to see this through. By now the fee had been increased to $25,000. He said that the balance would be raised elsewhere. At that same event, I had a brief chat with Belinda Carlisle about it and she was so surprised that they hadn't been awarded their star but thanked me for my continued efforts. The nomination period came and went and again, no star.

2009 - no star.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the band, who had been working together a few weeks each year, would embark on their final tour, dubbed "Happily Ever After - The Go-Go's Farewell Tour." The Star would be a do or die effort as far as we were concerned. Having raised the money, thereby making a committment to all of the investors, we knew we would have to continue, but with the band finished, the chances of getting the star would have been even worse.

The band's management has been doing their part to keep the nomination alive. Not having seen what was submitted, we were nervous but hopeful.

Unfortunately, The Go-Go's had to cancel their "Farewell Tour." Guitarist Jane Wiedlin was injured in an accident while hiking near her home and tore the ACL in her left knee. Surgery was done on July 16, she is recovering at home.

Thursday July 17, a headline appeared online that The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced their 2011 nominees for Stars. 30 recipients were announced, the article named about 10. I glanced through the list, shrugged and went back to my work.

I received a text message from a friend who said "Jane just posted on Facebook that The Go-Go's are getting their star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Is it true?"

"What?"

I began to search online, I could not find a complete list of nominees. Thankfully the work day was over so I left for home, but before I got there, I had an email from DeDe telling me that it had finally happened.

The Go-Go's got their Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!!

I still can't believe it. If it hadn't been for us brainstorming one night, this would never have happened. Because of our efforts, the band that has meant so much to us for nearly 30 years will finally be immortalized in the very pavement where they, as a band, were born. Let me tell you, it's a great feeling knowing that I played a part in that.

Next up, the placement of the star. It probably will be a few months before it happens. I will be there. I can't wait!

More California Pictures

File Under: LA - the pictures

Friday's adventures included a trip to The Grove, an outdoor shopping venue, which is adjacent to the world famous Farmers Market.

The Farmers Market

The Grove

Next, we stalked...I mean visited the 3rd Street Dance Studio, rehearsal space used by "Dancing With The Stars!" We found where they park.

But...nobody was there. Just an empty dance studio.

So we left, and drove around, I snapped pictures of store fronts.

My new favorite name for a bakery - "Kiss My Bundt!"

We went to The Standard for snacks and cold beverages. Gnome came along, too!

Groovy, huh?

Walking back to the car, we found a dog park which was down the hill from us. We watched the dogs running around for a bit. See?

After dog watching, we drove back to Orange County in Friday afternoon rush hour.

Dinner that evening was at The Azteca Mexican Restaurant. It was both delicious and FUN!

Entertained and full, we stopped to buy some booze, then went home to watch the movie "Heathers." Bedtime followed.

The end!

LA Adventure, Continued

File Under: La-La-Land-a-Go-Go

Saturday morning began with a workout and then breakfast. Mark and I relaxed a while and then hit the road back to Los Angeles to meet up with our friends DeDe and Kim. I've not seen DeDe since January 2007 when we met up in Vegas. I've not seen Kim since August 2001 when a large group of us met up in Vegas. Yes, both were for G0-Go's shows. :) For this trip, both were staying on Sunset, right down the street from The House of Blues.




Kim, Jim, DeDe

Here's a picture of the larger group of us. Mark is in the black t-shirt, he was my host on this trip. Kim's in grey, then our friend Damon is in the center, next is DeDe in pale blue and finally me.



Now for a little secret about my trip. I traveled with props. No, nothing naughty, just something to take to the show. As the regular readers of my blog know, Belinda Carlisle, lead singer of The Go-Go's, recently appeared on "Dancing With the Stars." She never got a score higher than a 6 from any of the judges. I decided that she deserved some 10's, so I made judges paddles and took them with me. I was going to see to it that Belinda got her 10's. More about that later.

At the venue we took our "standing room only" spots in front of the stage, we were all clustered near one another, approimately 4 "rows" back. The wait began at about 7:50 pm.

Around 9:30, the opening act appeared. They were called "The Upper Crust" and were hilarious! Four men, dressed in 18th century period clothing, powdered wigs and white makeup faces. They put on a great show. I spotted Belinda and Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock watching the show from the balcony, both seemed to enjoy it.

Finally at 10:30, The Go-Go's came out and the crowd went wild. They opened with their hit single "Vacation." Belinda began her trademark moves, at which point, DeDe, Kim and I raised our "10" paddles. Belinda looked over and was completely surprised and very happy to see the scores. She smiled wide, bowed a bit and moouthed out "THANK YOU!" However, our work was not complete.

I received kudos from Jane. She spoke and said that while surveying the crowd, she saw so many familiar faces - friends from the UK, from the East coast, and Chicago!! She waved at me when she said Chicago. I love Jane. :)

Back in the early days of the band, they adopted the song "Cool Jerk," the song by The Capitols from the 1960's. They've been performing it for about 30 years. Often, the band would bring somebody on stage to dance for them and be their "Cool Jerk." On Saturday, Belinda introduced the song by saying "I've spent so many years looking for my Cool Jerk and I finally found him, about 3 months ago. Tonight I would like all of you to meet him. Jonathan, come on out, please!" Out walked Jonathan Roberts, Belinda's dance partner from "DWTS." They hugged and he waved and the three "judges" in the audience waived our 10's high. Belinda pointed them out to him and he smiled, pointed at them, indicating his surprise, then waved at us. Then the dance began. He got to see how she does things. And so do you. I filmed it once the song began.



The song ended, Jonathan took a bow and waved to the crowd, and the band played on. The show ended at about midnight and after chatting with some friends in the crowd, the group of us wandered back to DeDe's hotel for drinks and catching up. Finally, Mark and I hit the road at about 1:15 and managed to get back to his house at about 2.

Next up, Sunday! Highlights include a lost phone, a beach, nearly-naked surfer boys, and scary dolls!

Thanks to DeDe for the use of some of her photographs in this post.