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Belinda Carlisle Bares All About Her 30 Years of Drug Addiction

Posted on Jul 27th 2010 5:30PM by David Chiu

Bruce Glikas, FilmMagic

Belinda Carlisle can look back on March 14, 2005. It was on that date when, after locking herself in a hotel room in London on the eve of a tour, she concluded her three-day cocaine binge and promised she was quitting drugs. As she would later write in her recently published memoir, 'Lips Unsealed,' Carlisle had a vision that she would be discovered in her hotel room dead: "I knew if i even did one more line after that, I was going to die."

For fans who grew up knowing Carlisle in the '80s as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's and then as a successful solo artist, the thought of her having a 30-year substance abuse problem might seem shocking -- a contrast to her girl-next-door image. But as she details in her book, Carlisle has had a long journey with drugs and alcohol from the time she did acid in her early youth to when she did cocaine in the restroom of her young son Duke's school. Today, Carlisle, in her fifth year of sobriety, has retired from the Go-Go's to take it easy for a while. In this Spinner Interview, she talks about her battles with drugs, the support her husband and bandmates provided, and her reaction to her teenage son coming out as gay.

What made you decide to write 'Lips Unsealed'?

I always wanted to write a book, because I knew I had an extraordinary life anyway, and that it would make good reading. I didn't have the lucidity to be able write anything for years. Finally, with three years' sobriety, I thought that I was kind of ready to do it. And to actually to be able to write a book that's not just a book about music and rock 'n' roll but about overcoming obstacles and being able to make changes later in life.

In writing the book, was it difficult recalling some of the uncomfortable aspects of your life, such as the drug abuse?

Writing about the addiction was painful and creepy at times. I've been to therapy and I'm in the 12-step program, so you do a lot of work on yourself, a lot of introspection. I wasn't really prepared for a lot of the conclusions that [I] came to about myself in writing the book -- a lot of things I didn't realize. And remembering that my son thought I had lived at the airport was in my memory. But at the end, I thought it was very cleansing.

It was surprising to learn that you were doing drugs as recently as five years ago.

That was the biggest shock for most people that didn't realize that it went on for so long. They just assumed that I got cleaned after the Go-Go's and [the No. 3 US/No. 1 Canada single from 1986] 'Mad About You.' Back then, I considered myself sober. I had obviously made some positive changes in my life. So I just felt that the media ran with the ball and people just assumed I was sober. And I didn't correct them. Finally, after years of that, I got to a point where I would correct them and say, 'No, I'm not sober.' I was in denial and a big fat liar. It was kind of a shameful thing to have to live with for so long.

The experience that you described of being on that three-day cocaine binge in London from March 2005 is pretty harrowing.

It's horrible. I can look back to that moment. March 14th was the end. I can go back ... looking in the mirror and seeing what I saw, and keep remembering just how painful it really was.

Janette Beckman, Redferns

In retrospect, why did you take up drugs early on in your life?

I was always [a] contrarian. Watching anti-drugs [messages] in school made me want to do them -- anything to be different, anything to be contrary, anything what I thought to be cool. Of course, I just thought for years and years I did drugs because I liked to get high and have some fun. When I got sober, I realized that it was a lot of pain about my father issues -- things that I thought, "Oh, yeah, my father left. People have their reasons. No big deal. I don't care." When I got sober, I really did care and it really did affect me. The father-daughter relationship forms who you are and later in life.

It is remarkable that your husband, Morgan Mason, stood by you while all of this was going on for so long, whereas other people might have given up on you.

He saw the person underneath all the crap. But also, we had a son that was kind of the glue, and we both came from broken homes. He worked the best as he could to hold it together. I did have moments of lucidity when I was home where I kind of held it together, too. I think if we didn't have a son that it would probably be a different story.

How did your lifestyle affect your relationship with the other members of the Go-Go's? Did you keep your addiction from them or was it tolerated?

Oh, my God. A couple of them said they were really scared that they were going to get a phone call that I was dead. Towards the end, I didn't bother hiding it from them and I was very, very open about what I was doing. And they were very concerned because it was interfering with my work at that point. A couple of them would come into my room and talked to me and offered to help. They just kind of waited and let go like a lot of my friends and husband did.

One of the moving passages in the book is when your son, Duke, who was a teenager at the time, told you that he was gay. You came across as being a very understanding parent.

I was shocked. I wasn't disappointed because I just wasn't. I'd say 90 percent of my friends are gay and lesbian. It took a couple of months for me to digest it and it took at least three months for me to have the nerve to tell my husband. I didn't know how it would hit him. It's perfect the way it is [now]. My husband is totally 100 percent accepting. I can't imagine it any other way.

So where are you right now in your life since your sobriety?

I'm living between France and India. My world is so vast and interesting. I'm happier than I've ever been. I think I'm doing exactly what I want to do and when I want to do it, taking care of my happiness and being the best possible mother and wife that I can be. I record sometimes and I'm working on my website in India, which is why I'm there a lot. So I'm all over the place. Now I'm at the point in my life where I kind of want to sit back a little bit and enjoy the fruits of my labor and just do things that I really love and not for the sake of doing them. So whatever I do or whatever I put out, it's a labor of love.

Do you have any regrets from those 30 years of drug and alcohol abuse?

Maybe that I wasn't as present as a mother than I should have been. I don't regret the drugs or the drinking. I don't regret any of it. Because of that, I wouldn't be where I am. I think that the 12-step program is an amazing guide to living. I think everybody should do it whether they have a problem or not because the world would be a different place. I'd like to think I'm a wise person from all of this and that I have a little bit of wisdom to give back.

Janette Beckman, Redferns

Why did you decided to retire from the Go-Go's?

I had age 50 in my head. I think it's really important to go out with a little bit of dignity. But also I have a life here in Europe and I can't really make the commitment to the band anymore. My life is different now that I can't make this commitment. I thought it was better that I resigned, and that's what happened. The other girls had different ideas about it and there was a lot of anger about it from some people. It's weird how things worked out because the whole cancellation of the [Happy Farewell] tour has kind of opened up communication with each other again. It was such stress the last couple of years of me not committing as much. There is an open dialogue now [and] everybody seems to be communicating and talking. Whether we do a makeup tour on this, I don't know. Who knows? We'll probably do something around the star on Hollywood. [Editor's Note: The Go-Go's were recently selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for 2011.]

Is there anything you're going to miss about being part of the band?

Ninety-nine percent of my memories are great memories. I remember walking down the hallway last year in Las Vegas [before doing a show] at this posh hotel to go to work thinking, "This is an amazing life," and realizing really how special being a Go-Go is and being part of this amazing, amazing band. It's been quite an experience and one I know everyone in the band feels the same way about.

Do you think about how the Go-Go's paved the way for future female rock groups?

I'd like to think that, but there haven't been that many female rock bands. There are a few, but not as many that I have would like to see. But we definitely changed the face of music, we definitely changed the face of radio at that time. And there were people before us who paved the way.

We did it our way. We weren't put together by a Svengali and told [to play] the same songs and dress a certain way. We did it ourselves. We started from nothing -- we had no idea about how to play instruments and write songs, plug guitars into amplifiers -- to being the number one band in America two and a half years later is an unbelievable feat. I think that's something that should be recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- I'm sorry. I think it's something we're all very, very proud of. That's a story against all odds.

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Senior

I thing she is one on the most beautiful woman of her era. She sounds as though she is also a great person and probably as beautiful on the inside. Happy for her! As for those of you who are down on her, GFY!

October 19 2012 at 4:26 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Senior

I thing she is one on the most beautiful woman of her era. She sounds as though she is also a great person and probably as beautiful on the inside. Happy for her!

October 19 2012 at 4:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

c.krupa

Where is your compassion for this lady? Some of these comments I've read leave my stomach raw. This woman has/had courage and is a hero. She may have made some poor decisions..heck we all have....it is complete ignorance to shame someone..celebrity or not because of their past. The good and amazing news is that she turned her life around and is a better person for it...and I would say a role model. I don't have to have been a "coke-addict" or a "drug-user" to get Belinda's story. I'm not any of those things. But that certainly doesn't make me better than her or anyone else. I can understand how life events..esp. personal relationships w/ a family member can cause irreparable harm and I commend her for accepting this fact. She isn't blaming a "bad" relationship with her father for drug use. She says that it hurt her...so this is what she chose to do. She thought doing drugs "was cool." Ironically, for me, my father told me never to touch the stuff and since I was terrified of him..I didn't. This man was also responsible for a lot of pain in my life. I am grateful he terrified me in some ways...because it stopped me from endangering my life. Some of us aren't that lucky. Really...not all of you..but really people..unless you've walked in someone else's shoes you have no room to judge. Even if you can't relate to her story..the very least you can/could say is "well-done." "I'm happy for her." But to take the time to leave a comment condemning this woman and then actually making fun of her..that is such a shame..shameful. You'd want the same treatment in return if this were you..and no..I'm not afraid and needing a name like "123caligirl" to post my cowardly comments. Look me up..I don't care. I'd say this here as well as to your face or anyone else's face. It's called integrity and I know that I have it. It's really easy to hide behind a name and a computer screen and condemn someone.

July 14 2012 at 2:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

LRS

What's creepy to me is she raised a child while addicted. If you think your child or children didn't suffer because of your own selfish desire to be loaded, you're crazy. And, guess what? You can never make up for it.

August 01 2010 at 7:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

RYAN

I took my brother to rehab 2 days ago,drove 600 miles to a place in south GA right next to florida.He has had the same problem for 15 years,COKE.....the family has lost 10s of thousands in stuff we owned,he nearly ruined the rep of the family store,he lost the best wife a man could ask for and had a child which I LOVE TO DEATH with an idiot fcking moron,a leftover from running wild on drugs.Until someone decides to quit they will not stop .The court ordered this treatment so Im not expecting much but we shall see.The treatment places arent that great either.This place I took my little brother had a campus much closer and within 30 seconds of being there this guy that was supposed to be treating him was looking through is suitecase and started talking to him like he was a dog....This went on for about 10 minutes,it was all I could do to not knock this dude out....IM NOT JOKING...my brother is being a gentleman but he finally snapped,he told the guy that he was talking to a grown man and he wasnt going to be talked to in that way ANYMORE.....this guy was blown away,must be the way he starts his treatment with everyone....they said this guy got voted number 1 in the state last year.....we left....2 days later we went to the south campus....we'll see how it goes.The people were very nice at the new place.

August 01 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bill

OMG!!! another rock star with a history of drug use, what is the world coming to

August 01 2010 at 4:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

gordonr

Addiction is tough stuff, its a disease that tells you, you don't have a disease, a disease of isolation, we are bankrupt spiritually, mentally and physically, then one day we are blessed with a new life and freedom, God saves us in spite of ourselves. AWESOME!!! I have been there, done that, 35 years out now life is still awesome, go girl. www.gordonrouston.com Wrote a book that has helped many, check it out.

August 01 2010 at 6:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

NurseRiverBoat

I think Belinda lived a life of total COP-OUT ness and she was so lucky to have a successful band and famous songs to live on the rest of her life.
There is a point where a person has to stop blaming her upbringing and her divorced parents. They are not to blame for her self-imposed addictions. SHE is the problem and somehow, she became her own solution. Good thing...old addicts are so pathetic.
It is always old news to hear about somebody with a 30 year addiction...so she got clean...why does the world have to treat her like she's some sort of hero?
She's the villan who destroyed a huge part of her own life, after all. Belinda's life could have been so much more, but due to her self-described contrariness, it was compromised to such a low degree - we'll never know how much more she could have given the world in terms of her own talents. That has been destroyed withot compromise....ahh well. I hope she's happy with herself and her contrary nature....but it was a stupid waste.

August 01 2010 at 1:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

pEte PUmA

I AM a AoL REEder bUT I KANt spEL BUt I HAv a LOt ov uPInyuNS AnD I Am GoINg tWo TeL tHEm ToO yOO eVENn thO I kaNt TyPE eITHer REed THe BiBLE anD tHRo awaY the wEGe bOard aDdiCsHUns Not A dizEzE or AdDICtshUn itS sToOpid I sHouLD nO kUz thE BiBle saYz

July 30 2010 at 3:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Thomas

Some of these comments are so uneducated and so ignorant.
#1 Addiction is a disease that some people actually do have and others don't. It's different for everyone..doesn't mean someone is stupid if they are addicted to drugs...just means you're ignorant for thinking that.
#2 If you haven't read the book, then maybe you shouldn't comment about Belinda moaning about her life. The book is actually a great read and captures more than the drug addiction.
#3 Everyone's experiences affect people differently..some are more sensitive and internalize issues..others can easily brush it off. Obviously Belinda was the first of the two. For someone to think she was stupid for this...is displaying pure ignorance.
#4 Why bring God into this? Really? Don't judge and say things like: AND BURNING IN HELL FOR EVER IS NOT A GOOD THING. You DON'T know what is going to happen once you die. There are so many theories and ideas, but none have ever been proven. Also, if you are a true believer of God, then you know the bible clearly states that you should not judge and that God will be the judge in the end..which means shut the hell up and keep your judgements to yourself.

Belinda's book was a great read that even a non fan would enjoy. She really captures the late 70's and early 80's punk and new wave rise. She gives inside information about certain famous stars. She also invites you into her personal life to show you her flaws and weaknesses. I think it was brave..especially knowing that he son, family, and friends will read her book and know the dirty secrets she's kept hidden. So instead of judging, complaining, moaning, ...go buy her book and read it before you make ignorant comments.

I really

July 30 2010 at 2:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply