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Gina Schock

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Gina Schock
Schock in action (2008)
Schock in action (2008)
Background information
Birth nameRegina Ann Schock
Born (1957-08-31) August 31, 1957 (age 67)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Drummer
  • songwriter
  • memoirist
Years active1977–present
Websiteginaschock.com

Regina Ann Schock (born August 31, 1957) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band The Go-Go's.[1]

Schock was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021 as a member of The Go-Go's.[2]

Early life

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Regina Ann Schock was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 31, 1957 to June and John Schock. She was raised in the nearby working-class suburb of Dundalk. She lived in the German Hill neighborhood.[3] She was educated in private Catholic schools, attending Sacred Heart of Mary School and Catholic High School in Dundalk.[4] She was a bit of a troublemaker in school but did not get into serious trouble.[5] According to her mother, Schock never took drumming lessons, but had "natural rhythm."[6] When she was 13, she would come home from school, put on headphones and bang on the drums for hours, which was a challenge for her family to endure.[7]

Career

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The first serious band Schock was in was Scratch N Sniff, which took gigs in local Baltimore area venues.[8] However, Schock's career began to take off as drummer for the female punk band, Edie and the Eggs. Schock grew up down the street from Edie and the band came together in about a week, then toured the U.S.[9] Edie and the Eggs was a band assembled to feature the John Waters star Edith Massey. While they were performing in Los Angeles, future Go-Go's band mate, Charlotte Caffey, caught a performance of Edie and the Incredible Eggs.[10] Caffey was impressed by Edie's distinctive vocals and Schock's hard-pounding drums.[11] After her tour with Edie and the Incredible Eggs, Schock told her family she wanted to relocate to Los Angeles, California. Her parents were worried about her moving so far away, but eventually consented and her father helped her convert his truck for the move.[12]

Upon moving to Los Angeles, one of the first bands Schock saw perform was The Go-Go's.[13] She later met future Go-Go's band mates at a party at a time when they were looking for a drummer.[14] Soon after, in 1979, she joined The Go-Go's, replacing Elissa Bello as the band's drummer.[15][16] In the band's early days, Schock worked at a grocery store, where she would steal steaks to cook for her band mates.[17]

Schock recorded and toured steadily with The Go-Go's until the group disbanded in 1985 and reformed a few years later. The Go-Go's announced their breakup in 1985, but played reunion gigs in 1990 and 1994.[18]

In 1985, Schock was occasionally seen on television appearances as the drummer of the Norwegian band a-ha. However, this was just for promo on television, as she was never part of the official band.[19] In 1987, Schock and Vance DeGeneres formed the band House of Schock.[20] In 1997, she joined Dominique Davalos and Kathy Valentine's band The Delphines.[21]

In 1997, Schock sued the other members of The Go-Go's for unpaid royalties.[18] She demanded $100,000 in compensation and an accounting, claiming that she had not received any income from the band since 1986.[22]

Schock co-wrote, with Ted Bruner and Trey Vittetoe, the title track of Miley Cyrus' 2008 album, Breakout.[23] The song was previously recorded by Katy Perry.[24] She also co-wrote "Kiss & Tell," the b-side of "Naturally", recorded in 2009 by Selena Gomez and featured on her album Kiss & Tell.[25]

The Go-Go's announced an 11-date reunion tour scheduled to begin in June 2020; however, in May of that year the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] In May 2021, it was announced that The Go-Go's would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[27][28] The band confirmed plans for a UK tour with Billy Idol that would start in June 2022,[29] but it was later cancelled because of Idol's illness. The Go-Go's broke up shortly thereafter.

Schock's book, Made in Hollywood: All Access With the Go-Go's, was published in 2021.[30] The book consists of her photos of the Go-Go's and Schock's own writing. It also features writing from Jodie Foster, Paul Reubens, Martha Quinn, Kate Pierson, Dave Stewart, and members of the band, including a foreword from Kathy Valentine.[31][32][33]

Personal life

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In 1984, Schock was diagnosed with a hole in her heart.[21] She had open-heart surgery before the tour supporting the band's 1984 album Talk Show.[34]

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: The Go-Go's". Allmusic. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  2. ^ Billboard Staff (November 3, 2021). "Go-Go's Drummer Gina Schock Talks Hanging With Superfan Drew Barrymore at RRHOF and Career-Spanning Photo Book". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd". Dundalk, MD Patch. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd". Dundalk, MD Patch. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  5. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  6. ^ "Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd". Dundalk, MD Patch. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  7. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  8. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  9. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  10. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  11. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  12. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  13. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  14. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  15. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (May 20, 2016). "The Go-Go's Recall the Debauched Days of Their Hit 'We Got the Beat' 35 Years Later: 'We Were a Five-Headed Monster'". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Ryan, Kyle (September 17, 2013). "The Go-Go's made history with Beauty And The Beat—and barely survived it". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. ^ WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md ) (February 12, 1982), Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's, retrieved March 27, 2024
  18. ^ a b Giles, Jeff (May 15, 2016). "15 Years Ago: The Go-Go's Reunite for 'God Bless the Go-Go's'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Amar, Erin (November 15, 2011). "Gina Schock of The Go-Go's: Lips Unsealed". Rocker Zine.
  20. ^ Shapiro, Gregg (October 2, 2021). "Schock treatment: an interview with Gina Schock of the Go-Go's". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Neumaier, Joe (May 29, 1998). "The Go-Go's". Entertainment Weekly. No. 434.
  22. ^ Jolson-Colburn, Jeffrey (January 13, 1997). "Schock-ing, Smashing Suits". The Hollywood Reporter.
  23. ^ Semon, Craig S. (August 10, 2008). "100% Miley, 50% worthwhile". Telegram & Gazette. pp. G4 – via ProQuest.
  24. ^ "Katy Perry singing backing vocals for Miley Cyrus". Thaindian News. March 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  25. ^ Wood, Mikael (October 3, 2009). "Kiss & Tell". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 39. p. 56 – via ProQuest.
  26. ^ Varga, George (January 8, 2022). "The Go-Go's postpone reunion tour, which was set to open in San Diego in June". sandiegotribune.com.
  27. ^ "Class of 2021 Inductees". Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
  28. ^ Bloom, Madison (January 8, 2022). "Watch the Go-Go's Perform at Rock Hall 2021 Induction Ceremony". MSN.com.
  29. ^ Schube, Will (January 8, 2022). "The Go-Go's Announce 2022 UK Tour With Billy Idol". udiscovermusic.com.
  30. ^ Haring, Bruce (March 31, 2022). "Go-Gos Kathy Valentine And Gina Schock Bring It On Home With Special L.A. Book Readings". Deadline. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  31. ^ Willman, Chris (November 1, 2021). "Gina Schock, Go-Go's Drummer, Snares Readers With New Book of Photos and Memories". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  32. ^ Coleman, Danny (November 18, 2021). "Gina Schock talks about new book, 'Made in Hollywood: All Access With the Go-Go's'". NJArts.net. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  33. ^ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (October 21, 2021). "Go-Go's Gina Schock talks new book, Charlie Watts and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  34. ^ Connelly, Christopher (July 5, 1984). "The Go-Go's: A Year of Living Dangerously". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
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