Jane Wiedlin

Jane Wiedlin (born May 20, 1958, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's in the 1980s.

Background information

Birth name Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin
Also known as Jumping Jane Drano
Born May 20, 1958
Origin Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres Pop rock
Occupations Musician
Instruments Rhythm guitar
Years active 1978–present
Labels EMI/Manhattan Records, I.R.S. Records, Painful Discs
Associated acts The Go-Go's http://celeb.ag/celebrity-bilder/50171-go-gos.html#post390063
Website janewiedlin.com

Career

The Go-Go's

As Wiedlin describes it, she was around "pretty much from the beginning" of the Los Angeles punk scene. "Jane Drano"—as she came to be known then — started out designing punk-style clothing sold at “Granny Takes a Trip,” a Sunset Boulevard store. She became part of a scene that spawned bands like X, The Germs and The Weirdos. She and Belinda Carlisle formed The Go-Go's as a punk band in 1978, with Margot Olaverra on bass, and Elissa Bello on drums.

Acting career

Wiedlin has also acted in movies and provided the voice for several characters on TV and the big screen, including a one-line role in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Her other roles include Joan of Arc (with no spoken lines in English) in the time travel comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, an ill-fated singing ******** girl in the cult comedy/mystery film Clue and the White Fairy in Golan-Globus's Sleeping Beauty. She also played one of Bruce Wayne's girlfriends in an episode of The New Batman Adventures.

In a St. Petersburg Times online interview, Jane said this about her acting career in the 80s: "It turned out to be much harder than it looks, and as much as I enjoyed those experiences, I don't think I'm very good at it."

In 2000, she sang in the choir on the Frasier episode "They're Playing Our Song". In 2001, she had a regular role in MTV's Spyder Games, playing the "ex-rock chick who runs the local coffee house" where everyone hangs out.

She appeared as herself on the fourth season of VH1's The Surreal Life in 2005, wherein she talked about her interest in BDSM.

Wiedlin also appeared as the bus station lady wearing a neck brace in Steve Balderson's 2005 surrealist crime drama Firecracker, a film Roger Ebert named on his list of the year's best films.

In April 2009, Jane reconnected with director Steve Balderson for Stuck! - an homage to film noir women in prison dramas. Co-starring Karen Black, Pleasant Gehman, Susan Traylor, and cult icon Mink Stole, Stuck! was filmed in Macon, Georgia and is due for a release in 2010.

Wiedlin has done voice acting work, such as appearances on the animated program Mission Hill as Gwen, Andy's girlfriend. In 2009, Wiedlin provided the voice of the evil doll Baby Oopsie Daisy in the horror film, Demonic Toys: Personal Demons.

Their pop punk sound didn't emerge until later, after Charlotte Caffey joined on lead guitar and keyboards, and Bello was replaced on drums by Gina Schock. After a 1980 tour in England, the band returned home, adding Kathy Valentine on bass and signing with IRS Records in April 1981. Wiedlin remained part of the Go-Go's until October 1984, when she left to pursue a solo career. Rush Hour (1988] was her most successful single - having done well in both the American and British charts. The song was taken from her second album 'Fur'.

After a series of reunions during the 1990s, Wiedlin, Carlisle, Caffey, Schock, and Valentine re-formed the band again in 2000 to record God Bless The Go-Go's, their first studio album in 17 years; the album, originally titled Vision of Nowness, got its title and concept based on an idea from Wiedlin.

In 2010, the Go-Go's announced their "Happily Ever After Farewell Tour" to be held in July, only to later cancel the remainder of the tour due to ACL tears in both knees Wiedlin suffered in a fall while while on a nighttime hike.

Other work

Wiedlin contributed quotes to Girls Against Girls by author Bonnie Burton. In April 2009, Wiedlin was shot by photographer Austin Young as Bettie Page, for the "Heaven Bound" art show.

Her latest project is a comic book entitled Lady Robotika which she co-created with artist Bill Morrison. The series concerns the adventures of a woman, basically Jane herself, being abducted by aliens and turned into a cyborg superheroine, or as she puts it, "a super-rad rock chick cyborg."

Personal life

Wiedlin is a long-time animal rights activist, and has worked with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals since at least 1989 when she performed as part of a "Rock Against Fur" concert in New York City. She is friends with PETA's Dan Mathews.

Wiedlin had what she called a "short but dramatic romance" with Terry Hall of the Specials during their 1980 tour in England; Hall later sent her some lyrics prompted by their relationship, inspiring Wiedlin to write "Our Lips Are Sealed", a song on which Hall has co-writer credits.

Wiedlin has been married twice, to Ged Malone (from 1987-1999) and to David Trotter (from 2004-2005). Her first marriage was the subject of her 2000 song "The Good Wife." Her current partner is musician Travis Kasperbauer.

Wiedlin is an ordained minister, known as "Reverend Sister Go-Go", primarily in the capacity of officiating at weddings. These can be booked on her website.

Solo discography

Albums

* 1985: Jane Wiedlin (IRS Records) US #127
* 1988: Fur (EMI-Manhattan) US #105
* 1990: Tangled (EMI USA)
* 2000: Kissproof World (Painful Discs)

Singles

1983 "Cool Places" (with Sparks)
1985 "Blue Kiss"
1988 "Rush Hour"
1988 "Inside a Dream"
1990 "World on Fire"

Jane Wiedlin - 16x