Gina Schock

Regina Ann Schock (born August 31, 1957) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band The Go-Go's.

Schock was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021 as a member of The Go-Go's.

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. She was educated in private Catholic schools, attending Sacred Heart of Mary School and Catholic High School in Dundalk. She was a bit of a troublemaker in school but did not get into serious trouble. According to her mother, Schock never took drumming lessons, but had "natural rhythm." 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.

The first serious band Schock was in was Scratch N Sniff, which took gigs in local Baltimore area venues. 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. 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.[10] Caffey was impressed by Edie's distinctive vocals and Schock's hard-pounding drums.[11] 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.[12]

Upon moving to Los Angeles, one of the first bands Schock saw perform was The Go-Go's.[13] She later met future Go-Go's band mates at a party at a time when they were looking for a drummer.[14] Soon after, in 1979, she joined The Go-Go's, replacing Elissa Bello as the band's drummer.[15][16] In the band's early days, Schock worked at a grocery store, where she would steal steaks to cook for her band mates.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19] In 1987, Schock and Vance DeGeneres formed the band House of Schock.[20] In 1997, she joined Dominique Davalos and Kathy Valentine's band The Delphines.[21]

In 1997, Schock sued the other members of The Go-Go's for unpaid royalties.[18] She demanded $100,000 in compensation and an accounting, claiming that she had not received any income from the band since 1986.[22]

Schock co-wrote, with Ted Bruner and Trey Vittetoe, the title track of Miley Cyrus' 2008 album, Breakout.[23] The song was previously recorded by Katy Perry.[24] She also co-wrote "Kiss & Tell," the b-side of "Naturally", recorded in 2009 by Selena Gomez and featured on her album Kiss & Tell.[25]

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.[26] In May 2021, it was announced that The Go-Go's would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[27][28] The band confirmed plans for a UK tour with Billy Idol that would start in June 2022,[29] 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.[30] 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.[31][32][33]

In 1984, Schock was diagnosed with a hole in her heart.[21] She had open-heart surgery before the tour supporting the band's 1984 album Talk Show.[34]