In 1982, the Go-Go’s Rolling Stone cover marked a major moment in the band’s fast-rising career. Their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, had just topped the Billboard chart. Powered by hit singles like “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed,” the album made history as the first number-one record by an all-female band that played their own instruments.
So when Rolling Stone invited them to appear on the cover, the offer felt like another breakthrough. But as Parade reports, what should have been a proud moment left the band feeling uncomfortable. Their appearance, styled in white underwear and cold cream, told a very different story than they had imagined.
The Controversial Shoot Behind The Go-Go’s Rolling Stone Cover
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The Go-Go’s had prepared for the cover shoot with their own chosen outfits. But when famed photographer Annie Leibovitz stepped in, she had a different idea. She asked them to change into Hanes underwear and towels. Band members later admitted they went along with it, even if it didn’t sit right. “You kind of do what you’re told sometimes,” bassist Kathy Valentine later shared.
According to Parade, the real blow, however, came from the magazine’s headline. Titled “Go-Go’s Put Out,” it felt like a dig. “That was unmistakably a dig,” Valentine recalled. While the photo could have played on their ‘wholesome’ image, the words painted another picture. Fans noticed too. One Instagram user wrote, “Even my 17-year-old brain caught the dig.”
How Fans Reclaimed The Go-Go’s Rolling Stone Cover
Despite the rocky history, fans have embraced the Go-Go’s Rolling Stone cover as part of the band’s legacy. On Instagram, many called the photo iconic. One follower wrote, “I thought these girls were so damn cool, and it made me want to be just like them.”
The band has also made peace with the moment. Valentine reflected that the creative intent may have come from a good place. Still, the experience opened lasting conversations about image, respect, and control.