The Go-Go's were the most successful female band in the 1980s and were one of the first high-selling all-female bands. The group formed in southern California in 1978 under the original name of The Misfits. The band went through some member changes and by 1980 they were The Go-Go's, with their final line-up of lead singer Belinda Carlisle, guitarists Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey, bassist Kathy Valentine, and drummer Gina Shock. The Go-Go's 1981 album "Beauty and the Beat" was at number one for six weeks and sold over two million copies. It spawned hits like "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed." Their follow-up album, "Vacation" went gold and hit the top ten.
The Bangles began in Los Angeles in 1981. The group consisted of lead singer Susanna Hoffs, guitarist Vicki Peterson, drummer Debbi Peterson and bassist Annette Zilinskas. The Bangles released albums in 1982 and '84, but it was their 1986 album "Different Light" that contained the singles "Manic Monday" and the smash hit "Walk Like An Egyptian," which went to number one in six countries, including the United States. The Bangles also scored a number two hit with 1987's "Hazy Shade of Winter" and with the ballad "Eternal Flame" in 1989.
Bananarama formed in London in 1981. The trio was made up of Keren Woodward, Sarah Dallin and Siobhan Fahey. The band had early hits in Britain with "Shy Boy" and "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)." Their first top ten hit in the United States came with the song "Cruel Summer" from the 1983 album "Bananarama." In 1986, their album "True Confessions" went to number 15 in the United States and spawned the hit single "Venus" which went to number one. The group's 1987 album "Wow" featured the single "I Heard a Rumor." Bananarama had nine singles hit the top ten in Britain, a record for a girl band rivaled only by the Spice Girls.
The group Girlschool was one of the first all-female groups to venture into the male dominated world of hard rock. The band formed in South London in 1977. Girlschool consisted of singer Kim McAuliffe, guitarist Kelly Johnson, bassist Enid Williams and drummer Denise Dufort. Their 1980 debut album "Demolition" reached the top 30 in Britain and gave the group four well known singles. Their 1981 album "Hit and Run" did even better in the UK, reaching number five on the British charts. That same year, a compilation of those first two albums was released under the "Hit and Run" title in the United States. The band enjoyed success with singles such as "Emergency" and "Race With the Devil."