Jane Wiedlin

Jane Wiedlin – Life, Music, and Famous Quotes

Dive into the life and legacy of Jane Wiedlin — co-founder of The Go-Go’s, solo artist, actor, and outspoken voice. Explore her biography, career, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Jane Wiedlin (born May 20, 1958) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the co-founding rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of the pioneering all-female new wave band The Go-Go’s. Over decades, she also carved out a solo music career, acted in films, and lent her voice to animation projects. Her life is a story of creativity, resilience, and constant reinvention.

In this article, we’ll cover her background, rise to fame, artistic work, personal challenges, legacy, and some of her most compelling quotes.

Early Life and Family

Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin was born on May 20, 1958, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S. Her father, Robert Arthur Wiedlin Sr., was an oral surgeon of German and Swiss ancestry, and her mother, Betty Jane (née Herro), was of Lebanese heritage. She was one of five children.

When Jane was about six, her father took a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at a VA hospital in Los Angeles, and the family relocated to Southern California. Jane later described her childhood as “extremely idyllic,” though she has acknowledged experiencing teenage angst and depression during high school years.

She attended William Howard Taft High School in Los Angeles from about 1972 to 1976.

Youth, Musical Influences & Beginnings

While younger, Jane Wiedlin was immersed in pop music of the 1960s. She cited listening to the Beatles, the Monkees, Herman’s Hermits, and other 60s pop acts as shaping her early musical taste.

In the Los Angeles punk and new wave scene, she became involved in creative and musical circles. She and Belinda Carlisle formed The Go-Go’s in 1978, initially with roots in the punk milieu. Before that, Jane also worked in fashion design and sold punk-style clothing under the name “Jane Drano.”

Her early years combined musical curiosity, creative entrepreneurship, and connection to the vibrant L.A. underground scene.

Career and Achievements

The Go-Go’s: Rise and Success

The Go-Go’s were formed in the late 1970s and rose to fame in the early 1980s as one of the few successful all-female rock bands writing and performing their own material. Their hits include “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation.”

Jane Wiedlin co-wrote “Our Lips Are Sealed”, a song for which she shares credit with Terry Hall of Fun Boy Three. Over the years, the Go-Go’s would reunite multiple times, releasing God Bless the Go-Go’s in 2001 after a long hiatus.

In recognition of their impact, The Go-Go’s were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. They also have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Solo Career & Other Projects

Jane Wiedlin launched a solo career and released four studio albums:

• Jane Wiedlin (1985)

• Fur (1988)

• Tangled (1990)

• Kissproof World (2000)

Her best-known solo hit is “Rush Hour”, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also released “Inside a Dream” from Fur, which reached number 57 on the Hot 100.

Between 1995 and 1998, Jane formed the pop-punk band froSTed (stylized) and released one album, Cold, in 1996.

Besides music, Jane Wiedlin has had a parallel acting and voice acting career. Some credits include:

• Singing telegram girl in Clue (1985)

• Joan of Arc in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

• Voice of Dusk in Scooby-Doo! / Hex Girls animated works

• Roles in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (small part), Sleeping Beauty (1987), and more

Challenges & Advocacy

Jane has been open about her struggles with depression and mental health. She has also been a long-time animal rights activist and has worked with PETA since about 1989.

In recent years, Jane Wiedlin made public allegations that, when she was around 15 years old, radio DJ Rodney Bingenheimer sexually assaulted her at his English Disco club in Los Angeles. She described being paralyzed and unable to react during the incident. The allegations surfaced amid the broader #MeToo era, and Jane spoke about the complexity of reconciling how Bingenheimer both gave prominence to The Go-Go’s early exposure and allegedly abused her.

Style, Themes & Influence

Jane Wiedlin’s contributions blend strong pop songwriting with punk/new wave energy and lyrical emotion. Her melodic sensibility, often tinged with introspection or lyrical tension, allowed her work with the Go-Go’s and as a solo artist to resonate.

Her background in a male-dominated music industry and punk/new wave scene gave her a perspective on voice, identity, and empowerment in music. Her advocacy for equality, truth-telling, and fairness also emerges in how she speaks publicly.

As an artist who has crossed into acting and voice work, she demonstrates artistic versatility. Her willingness to share personal struggles — mental health, abuse — gives her voice not just as a performer but as a survivor and advocate.

Legacy and Influence

• Pioneer in female rock: The Go-Go’s stand as an example of women writing, performing, and succeeding in rock/pop at a time when that was rare.

• Solo success: Her hit “Rush Hour” proved she could succeed outside the band context.

• Voice for mental health & abuse survivors: Her openness has contributed to conversations about trauma and recovery in the entertainment field.

• Influence on later artists: Her melodic/pop sensibility and feminist stance resonate with many female and new wave-influenced artists.

• Cultural presence: Her acting and voice roles, and her creative collaborations, enrich her footprint beyond just music.

Famous Quotes by Jane Wiedlin

Here are some notable and reflective Jane Wiedlin quotes:

• “What I’ve found — and the older I get, the more I understand this and stand behind it — is, my whole life has been an exploration of telling the truth. It’s scary to be truthful, and it’s scary to reveal yourself, and I’m very attracted to doing things that scare me.”

• “It’s just better to promote love and fairness and equality than it is to promote something you think is based on your religious beliefs.”

• “I’ve always gravitated towards songwriting that happens easily and spontaneously, because those have always been my best songs.”

• “If I was in charge, I’d keep doing The Go-Go’s forever, but it’s a band, so everyone has their say.”

• “Sometimes when you get old, you get a star on Hollywood Boulevard.”

• “It’s too heart-wrenching doing the solo thing. I throw myself into it and get so excited, and then 2000 people buy it and you’re, like, ‘Oh. I guess it’s not that good after all.’”

• “The whole punk scene is, of course, responsible for the Go-Go’s ever getting created. Because before punk rock happened, you couldn’t start a band if you didn’t know how to play an instrument. But when punk happened it was like, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter if you can play or not. Go ahead, make a band.’”

• “Sometimes I would write something that was so private, people would say, ‘Make it more universal.’ I never liked that idea. I always thought the more personal a song was, the more people would want to hear it.”

These quotations reflect her commitment to honesty, her balance between art and vulnerability, and her view of creative authenticity.

Lessons from Jane Wiedlin

From Jane Wiedlin’s life and career, several lessons emerge:

1. Be fearless in self-expression. Her path has often meant stepping into discomfort, telling truths, and owning her voice.

2. Collaboration and autonomy can coexist. In The Go-Go’s, she both contributed and negotiated power; in solo work, she asserted her individual vision.

3. Vulnerability is strength. Her willingness to speak about mental health and trauma helps reduce stigma and strengthens connection.

4. Creative reinvention matters. She has moved between band, solo, acting, and voice roles, adapting while staying true to her essence.

5. Advocacy comes through living. Her public statements on fairness, equality, and rights are not abstract but tied to her life choices and artworks.

Conclusion

Jane Wiedlin is more than a rock musician. She is a storyteller, an advocate, a survivor, and a creative spirit who has navigated both high visibility and personal challenge. From co-founding The Go-Go’s to charting solo hits, from acting to activism, her journey continues to inspire those who believe in the power of voice, honesty, and resilience.

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