"Every time, I say never again," swears Belinda Carlisle on the subject of the repeating Go-Go's reunion phenomenon, "I should know by now not to say never, because every few years we always end up getting together for something." Indeed, when the singer joins Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffrey, Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine in Seattle on July 3 for the first date of the Go-Go's brief summer tour it will mark their third reunion of the decade. Not since the Who has a band had a harder time sticking to break-up vows. Not that there's anything wrong with that: anyone who caught the women on their last go around four years ago can testify that they've still got the beat, still rock, still look great and, unlike the Who, don't travel with an orchestra. Calling from her home in London three days before jetting to the States for rehearsals, Carlisle discussed the recurring tug of the Go-Go's, why she still enjoys a thriving solo career everywhere in the world but America and, most importantly, what it's gonna take to snag the choice Belinda role in the forthcoming Go-Go's flick.

You're coming up on the third Go-Go's reunion of the Nineties. Why didn't things stick the last time you got together?

Well, without going into gory details, there was a lawsuit within the band that made things a little bit uncomfortable (laughs). So that's pretty much why nothing ever worked out after that. But since then, everyone's gotten over it, made amends, and now that we're in our forties, we all hope that we can be more mature and honest and more respectful and loving of each other.

What brought you back together this time around?

We had been approached by a lot of people about this Go-Go's movie, and we had decided to go with Ted and Amanda Demme. And through getting together with them to discuss this whole movie project, everybody started talking, and then it was this whole idea of [manager] Miles Copeland to do a summer tour, and we all thought it was a great idea. And although we always say never, once again, it's happening. (Laughs)

When three new songs surfaced on the anthology Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's in '94, there was talk about a new album. Is that still being kicked around?

No. That's what's so great about this -- there's no pressure to do anything. There's the possibility of maybe doing a tour next summer, but that's too far away to even say yes or no to. But if something came up and the timing was right, I don't think any of us would be opposed to doing new material or even a new record, or album, or whatever they call it these days -- I'm still in vinyl mode.

So what's the status of the movie?

That could have been made yesterday, but our main concern with doing a movie on our story is that we have control and it's not some stupid Hollywood piece of schlock. We wanted it done on our terms, and of course if you want control, it takes a little bit longer. There's lots of interest, but we're just taking our time with it. If it's meant to be, it will happen, and if it's not meant to be my parents will be really happy (laughs).

Would you be playing yourselves, a la Howard Stern?

No no no. I don't want to pretend I'm twenty. And I don't even want to try.

Do you each have a list of ideal candidates?

Well, we don't have a list. My original thing was either Drew Barrymore or Christina Ricci. And then through the grapevine I heard Cameron Diaz wanted to do it, and I thought, well she's too skinny. It has to be someone with the meat and the potatoes. But I have no doubt in my mind that we could get that sort of caliber, whether it's them or anybody else.

People are going to ask, why a Go-Go's movie?

Well, it's the story of the American dream. It's a story of being able to achieve anything you want to achieve. Women at that time in music weren't expected to know how to write songs or play their own instruments. In retrospect, I look back and I think we were pretty brave and nanve to think we could pull it off, but we did. So it's a real success story. And of course you have the lurid bits, of which there are plenty. It's a story of fame and the darker side of that.

Speaking of women in music, did the Go-Go's get any offers for Lilith Fair this year?

I wouldn't do Lilith anyway, because I think it's sexist. I don't think we'd fit in at all. I never considered us feminists; we were just feminists in the sense that we did what we wanted to do, but we weren't conscious about being feminists. I mean, I'm all for women and all for power, but I just think it's sexism. Nothing against any of the artists or anything, because I like some of the artists that have been involved, but I just don't like the idea of a one-gender music festival, male or female.

Shifting gears, you've put out four solo albums since Heaven on Earth that have done well every where but in the States. In 1987, you were inescapable on MTV, then -- poof! Nothing. Were you blacklisted?

Yeah, I think somebody has a thing against me there. I forgot the name of the person. Maybe I was at a party and I got really drunk and insulted somebody, but who knows. It makes sense that I am blacklisted because, as you said, all of a sudden the support just disappeared. But my career is so up and down, I just try to go with the flow. Really since Heaven, my career has been in Europe and in Asia. And of course I'd love a hit in the States, but it's not something I think about much. I wanted a hit in Europe for years and it never happened and I forgot about it, and all of a sudden, this is where my work is. Once you've got a base in Europe, it's one of those places you can always work. They have a thing here about California, I have to say, and they think of me as sort of the quintessential California girl. But I don't try to take it apart and analyze it, because it's working and I keep forging on with what I'm doing.

What are you working on now?

I'm recording two new singles for a second best-of that's coming out in October here. Then I'll do another album after that. My full intention is to work really closely with Charlotte and get more involved in the writing and production, because I had a blast the last time I did that [on 1993's Real], and that's really the bottom line. But that'll be out maybe sometime in the end of 2000. God, it's scary to even say that. It's so weird.

So where will you be this New Years?

I'm going to be holed up in my other house in France with all my food stock. I'm totally into conspiracy theories, like this whole Y2K thing with computers is going to be manipulated by the New World Order. So I have my Y2K family preparedness list with all my food and gas and fuel and whatever, and I'm going to hole myself up in France and hope for the best.

And close out all your bank accounts?

Absolutely. I'm a paranoid person now from reading all that stuff. I can't help it, but it's one of my favorite things to do.

RICHARD SKANSE
(July 2, 1999)