'Go-Go Redhead': Top 9 facts about the beautiful Belinda Carlisle ...

One of the most recognisable voices of the 80s - at one time Belinda Carlisle was one of the best selling artists!

The life that the singer has left behind is full of contradictions... And probably not many people know about her. That's why we've gathered 9 of the most interesting facts about the magnificent legend of the music industry - Belinda Carlisle....

Top 9 facts about Belinda Carlisle

9. She was born first in a family of seven children ....

Belinda Jo Carlisle was born on 17 August 1958. The girl was the first of seven children and quickly established herself, or rather her undeniable musical talent!

8. Her family was so poor that as a child, she had almost no clothes....

When Belinda was five years old, her father left the large family, leaving her mother barely making ends meet... In one of her interviews, Carlisle admitted that she had "about two outfits" as a teenager.

7. She started out as a drummer, not a singer!

Carlisle entered the music world as... a drummer! She was 19 years old at the time.

Belinda's first band was the punk rock band The Germs, after leaving the band she became a founding member of The Misfits (later renamed Go-Go).

6. The Go-Go's became the first female group in music history to top the US charts!

The Go-Go's released their first album Beauty and the Beat in 1981. It went to number one in the US, making them the first female group in history to: write their own songs, play them on their own instruments and achieve success!

The Go-Go's sold more than seven million records worldwide, but Carlisle soon wanted to break free - to build a career as a solo singer...

5. She sang one of the most popular and recognisable songs of all time!

Carlisle's classic hit single "Heaven is a Place on Earth" reached number one in both the US and UK, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance!

And the album of the same name, on which the track was released, reached the top five in the UK and in Australia!

4. Struggled with drug and alcohol addiction until 2005.....

Carlisle spoke honestly about her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. The singer also mentioned that she started using while in Go-Go.

It wasn't until 2005 that Carlisle managed to kick her addiction completely....

3. A voice told her to quit drugs

Carlisle said that one day she looked at herself in the mirror and "saw no light or soul" in her eyes.

She also experienced a hallucination when a voice told her that she would be found dead in a hotel room if she didn't stop using... This incident changed her life forever.

2. Her autobiography became a bestseller!

In June 2010, Carlisle released her autobiography, which was very well received!

The book, titled Lips Unsealed, became a New York Times bestseller, receiving mostly positive reviews.

1. Married for over 30 years!

In 1986, Carlisle married producer Morgan Mason, with whom she gave birth to a son, James. Despite all the difficulties, the couple are still together!