Gina Schock

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.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-15 |title=Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd. |url=https://patch.com/maryland/dundalk/go-go-dundalk-girl-gets-star-on-hollywood-blvd |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Dundalk, MD Patch |language=en}} She was educated in private Catholic schools, attending Sacred Heart of Mary School and Catholic High School in Dundalk."Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd". Dundalk, MD Patch. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024. She was a bit of a troublemaker in school but did not get into serious trouble.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} According to her mother, Schock never took drumming lessons, but had "natural rhythm.""Go Go: Dundalk Girl Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd". Dundalk, MD Patch. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024. 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.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}}

The first serious band Schock was in was Scratch N Sniff, which took gigs in local Baltimore area venues.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} 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.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} 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.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} Caffey was impressed by Edie's distinctive vocals and Schock's hard-pounding drums.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} 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.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}}

Upon moving to Los Angeles, one of the first bands Schock saw perform was the Go-Go's.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} She later met future Go-Go's band mates at a party at a time when they were looking for a drummer.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}} Soon after, in 1979, she joined the Go-Go's, replacing Elissa Bello as the band's drummer.{{Cite magazine |last=Tannenbaum |first=Rob |date=May 20, 2016 |title=The Go-Go's Recall the Debauched Days of Their Hit 'We Got the Beat' 35 Years Later: 'We Were a Five-Headed Monster' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-go-gos-we-got-the-beat-35th-anniversary-interview-billboard-music-awards-7378161/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Kyle |date=September 17, 2013 |title=The Go-Go's made history with Beauty And The Beat – and barely survived it |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-go-go-s-made-history-with-beauty-and-the-beat-and-b-1798240609 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-us}} In the band's early days, Schock worked at a grocery store, where she would steal steaks to cook for her band mates.{{Citation |last=WJZ-TV (Television Station: Baltimore |first=Md ) |title=Evening Magazine: The Go-Go's |date=1982-02-12 |url=http://archive.org/details/WJZ-PMMAG-021-001 |access-date=2024-03-27}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=May 15, 2016 |title=15 Years Ago: The Go-Go's Reunite for 'God Bless the Go-Go's' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/go-gos-god-bless-the-go-gos/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |last=Amar |first=Erin |date=November 15, 2011 |title=Gina Schock of The Go-Go's: Lips Unsealed |url=http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2011/11/gina-schock-of-the-go-gos-lips-unsealed/ |publisher=Rocker Zine}} In 1987, Schock and Vance DeGeneres formed the band House of Schock.{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Gregg |date=October 2, 2021 |title=Schock treatment: an interview with Gina Schock of the Go-Go's |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/10/02/schock-treatment-an-interview-with-gina-schock-of-the-go-gos/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment |language=en-US}} In 1997, she joined Dominique Davalos and Kathy Valentine's band the Delphines.

In 1997, Schock sued the other members of the Go-Go's for unpaid royalties. She demanded $100,000 in compensation and an accounting, claiming that she had not received any income from the band since 1986.{{Cite news |last=Jolson-Colburn |first=Jeffrey |date=January 13, 1997 |title=Schock-ing, Smashing Suits |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}

Schock co-wrote, with Ted Bruner and Trey Vittetoe, the title track of Miley Cyrus' 2008 album, Breakout.{{Cite news |last=Semon |first=Craig S. |date=August 10, 2008 |title=100% Miley, 50% worthwhile |pages=G4 |work=Telegram & Gazette }} The song was previously recorded by Katy Perry.{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/katy-perry-singing-backing-vocals-for-miley-cyrus_100161308.html|title=Katy Perry singing backing vocals for Miley Cyrus|date=March 1, 2008|work=Thaindian News|access-date=November 2, 2009|archive-date=May 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504074945/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/katy-perry-singing-backing-vocals-for-miley-cyrus_100161308.html|url-status=dead}} She also co-wrote "Kiss & Tell," the b-side of "Naturally", recorded in 2009 by Selena Gomez and featured on her album Kiss & Tell.{{Cite magazine |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=October 3, 2009 |title=Kiss & Tell |magazine=Billboard |volume=121 |issue=39 |pages=56 }}

Alison Ellwood's documentary about the band, The Go-Go's, was released in 2020. Schock later stated that "99% of the photos in Alison's documentary are [hers]".{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Gregg |date=2021-10-02 |title=Schock treatment: an interview with Gina Schock of the Go-Go's |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/10/02/schock-treatment-an-interview-with-gina-schock-of-the-go-gos/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2020-05-13/the-go-gos-postpone-reunion-tour-which-was-set-to-open-in-san-diego-in-june|title=The Go-Go's postpone reunion tour, which was set to open in San Diego in June|first=George|last=Varga|website=sandiegotribune.com|date=January 8, 2022}} In May 2021, it was announced that the Go-Go's would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhall.com/class-2021-inductees|title=Class of 2021 Inductees|website=Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/watch-the-go-gos-perform-at-rock-hall-2021-induction-ceremony/ar-AAQ8Zll|title=Watch the Go-Go's Perform at Rock Hall 2021 Induction Ceremony|first=Madison|last=Bloom|website=MSN.com|date=January 8, 2022}} The band confirmed plans for a UK tour with Billy Idol that would start in June 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/go-gos-2022-uk-tour-billy-idol/#:~:text=Rock%20icons%20The%20Go-Go%E2%80%99s%20have%20announced%20that%20they,in%20June%20of%202022%E2%80%94go%20on%20sale%20Thursday%20%289%2F30%29.|title=The Go-Go's Announce 2022 UK Tour With Billy Idol|first=Will|last=Schube|website=udiscovermusic.com|date=January 8, 2022}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Go-Gos Kathy Valentine And Gina Schock Bring It On Home With Special L.A. Book Readings |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/go-gos-kathy-valentine-gina-schock-book-reading-event-los-angeles-1234991423/ |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=November 1, 2021 |title=Gina Schock, Go-Go's Drummer, Snares Readers With New Book of Photos and Memories |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/go-gos-gina-schock-book-drummer-made-in-hollywood-1235102226/ |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Danny |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Gina Schock talks about new book, 'Made in Hollywood: All Access With the Go-Go's' |url=https://www.njarts.net/gina-schock-talks-about-new-book-made-in-hollywood-all-access-with-the-go-gos/ |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=NJArts.net |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fadroski |first=Kelli Skye |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Go-Go's Gina Schock talks new book, Charlie Watts and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2021/10/21/go-gos-gina-schock-talks-new-book-charlie-watts-and-rock-roll-hall-of-fame |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

In 1984, Schock was diagnosed with a hole in her heart.{{cite magazine |last=Neumaier |first=Joe |date=May 29, 1998 |title=The Go-Go's |url= |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |location= |publisher= |issue=434 |access-date=}}She had open-heart surgery before the tour supporting the band's 1984 album Talk Show.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-go-gos-a-year-of-living-dangerously-60900/|title=The Go-Go's: A Year of Living Dangerously|first=Christopher|last=Connelly|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 5, 1984|accessdate=August 5, 2021}} In the 2020 documentary, The Go-Go's, Schock stated that she and Jane Wiedlin "were girlfriends for a while" until Wiedlin ended things.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Karl |date=2020-08-14 |title=Pioneering female rockers still go-going strong despite everything |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/pioneering-female-rockers-still-go-going-strong-despite-everything-20200812-p55l05.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/gina-schock Gina Schock Interview] NAMM Oral History Library (2015)

{{The Go-Go's}}

{{2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schock, Gina}}

Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:American rock drummers

Category:People from Dundalk, Maryland

Category:The Go-Go's members

Category:American new wave musicians

Category:American women drummers

Category:New wave drummers

Category:20th-century American drummers

Category:20th-century American women musicians

Category:21st-century American women

Category:Women in punk

Category:Drummers from Maryland