Go-Go’s singer Belinda Carlisle says her life got interesting when she got sober

Belinda Carlisle says she’s been hit by lightning three times in her career: first with the success of the Go-Go’s, then with her solo hit “Mad About You,” and most of all with the global sensation “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” But behind that meteoric success, Belinda struggled for decades with a debilitating addiction to drugs, alcohol, and the chaos that came with them.

In this episode, Belinda traces her journey from a turbulent childhood in Southern California to the LA punk scene that gave her freedom and a sense of invincibility. She reflects on the dizzying rise of the Go-Go’s, the moment she finally hit rock bottom after a three-day bender in London, and why the most interesting part of her life didn’t begin until she got sober. Here are her songs.

1. The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”

2. The Beach Boys, “God Only Knows”

3. The Runaways, “Cherry Bomb”

4. Iggy Pop & The Stooges, “Search and Destroy”

5. Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”

6. David Bowie, “Fame”

7. Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug”