How many friends from youth do you keep in touch with? Us, we don't talk to any of those fuckers, but that's because we didn't have any friends. It's very sad, yes, but who needs friends when you have...um, well...we'll get back to you on that one.

Regular contributor and sometime punching bag Jack E. Jett, meanwhile, holds friends like we hold water. For example, punk rocker turned pop princess turned parent, Belinda Carlisle.

The friends catch-up after the jump, chatting about everything from Carlisle's new French language album, Voila to The Go-Go's jerking off a coke-head to her husband's collection of Ronald Reagan memorabilia.

We're so overwhelmed that we have no choice but to let Jett take it from here...

Calling Sister Go-Go, or Travels Avec Belinda
I've Belinda Carlisle for more than 20 years. From taking a hit of acid before attending the very first MTV Video Awards to doing lines of blow with INXS in excess, we’ve done it all.

Prior to co-creating The Go-Go’s, Belinda was briefly known as Dottie Danger, the drummer of The Germs, a 70’s punk rock band from Los Angeles. Interestingly enough, their 1977 single, “Forming/Sexyboy” is known to be the first punk record from Los Angeles. Unfortunately, her career with The Germs was cut short by a nasty case of Mononucleosis. After recovering, Belinda - known as Babe to her friends – got the boot from Baskin-Robbins for ripping off the cash register, giving her a boost of determination and prompted a move to a house called Disgraceland.

At this time in Los Angeles, people were either known as punk rockers or poseurs. The Go-Go’s were kind of in the middle, which more than likely helped their commercial success. Belinda looked just as good in a trash bag cinched with a belt as a poodle hoop skirt.

Fast forward to 1982, I am now on tour with The Go-Go’s as Ms. Carlisle’s personal assistant (read: have joint and glass of red wine waiting when she came off stage). It was the easiest gig in the world.

After achieving superstar status, Belinda left The Go-Go’s in 1985 to embark on a solo career. Shortly thereafter, she met, fell in love with and married Morgan Mason, son of actor James Mason and Chief of Protocol for Ronald Reagan. I could not accept Sister Go-Go marrying a Republican in the beginning. He was, however, much better than the previous boyfriend, [baseball player] Mike Marshall, who would announce my phone calls with, “Belinda, it’s your fag friend on the line”. I was glad to see that one go. Morgan helped Belinda reinvent herself as a new wave Ann Margaret.

Belinda released her first solo album in 1986, aptly titled, Belinda. Success seemed to come easily for her: the first hit off of that album - Mad About You - was number three on the US charts. A steady flow of successful albums followed. In 1987, Belinda released her second solo album, Heaven on Earth which provided her with six hit singles; three of them in the US top ten. Babe followed up her success with the 1989 release of Runaway Horses. While there were a few hits from that album - most memorably “Leave a Light on for Me, - it didn’t match Heaven on Earth.

In 1991, Belinda made a life-change: she and Morgan decided to leave the swank life of Beverly Hills, California. Surprising everyone, they loaded up the truck and moved to the South of France. That wasn’t the only life-changing event: on April 27, 1992, she gave birth to James Duke Mason. James, lovingly known to his family and friends as “Dukey,” is the apple of his mom and dad’s eyes. He inherited his parents’ artistic talents and has appeared in a couple of theatrical releases. He even produced several short films of his own.

These days, Madam Carlisle keeps busy as the secretary of her local French Alcoholic Anonymous chapter. But, between occasional tours with “The Go-Go’s,” she found time to record her first CD recorded entirely in French, Voila. I am so impressed with her pulling this off, that I am impressed with myself for knowing her.

I recently caught up with the Sister Go-Go. After laughing at all the details the Reverend Ted Cocksucker story, W being back on the booze and the number of Republican congressmen that wear eye shadow, we finally got down to business.

JJ: Even before the infiltration of Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, and George W. Bush, you got out of dodge. Are you a psychic pop princess? I mean, did you foresee the coming of the decline of western civilization?

BC: I left because I wanted to experience the European lifestyle and attitude, which in France and other Mediterranean countries is different. Not better, not worse, just different. I was disillusioned by the life we were living in Los Angeles. It lacked depth and it just seemed we were on this annoying hamster wheel spinning round and not really going anywhere. I wanted adventure and something new. When I come back to The States now, I’m pretty mortified by what I see. Between the pharmaceutical commercials, the obsession with Paris Hilton and the politics, it's depressing.

JJ: Who or what was Dottie Danger? Was she a punk or a poseur?

BC: Dottie Danger thought she was a punk. She was my alter ego in the early punk rock days in Los Angeles. I was Donna Rhea before that.

JJ: Will punk rock live forever?

BC: I hope so. There are new bands that are obviously influenced by that music and some of them are really good.

JJ: Which Go-Go was the most fucked up of all?

BC: I can only speak for myself, but I ranked among the top two.

JJ: Al Goldstein, who currently has a new rags to riches and back again book out, sells a film that he bills as a Go-Go’s sex film. It is not - I see it as a safe sex, anti-drug flick. At one point, you are squinting at the camera and telling everyone the joys of masturbation, safe sex before there was a concern about safe sex, and you guys are trying to get some guy, who is coked out of his mind, to jack off. Men on cocaine have a tough time getting an erection no matter how many Go-Go’s are trying to get him to get it up. How did this film come to be?

BC: I think we can attribute that to the lethal combination of Quaaludes, cocaine, and boredom.

JJ: People freaked out when you went from being cute and pudgy Belinda Carlisle to slim, trim and beautiful Belinda. People just loved it. You had penises coming at you from every direction. Did you love the new you? Were any of your old fans disappointed that you sold out?

BC: Well, people couldn’t believe the transition I made! It was dieting and not partying. People assumed, of course, that it was plastic surgery or drugs (for weight loss). I felt great about myself, but then the pressure came to maintain that image, which wasn't fun. Around the release of Runaway Horses I was a mess trying to live with the pressure of maintaining this glamorous front. I guess it was a double-edged sword.

JJ: What in the hell are the Po-Go’s, and in order to give this interview a more French flair, could you start each statement with oooo-la-la?

BC: Les pogos son tune bande des jeunes femmes oooo-la-la. There are a group of young girls that will be recording an album for Disney, ooooh-la-la, of half Go-Go’s songs and the other half songs, ooooh-la-la, written for them by a member of the Go-Go’s.

JJ: I heard someone say the other day that Belinda Carlisle looks like she was born to be a star. You turn down a lot of TV and film offers. Why?

BC: Back in the Mad About You days, I got offered a deal by Disney where they were going to put me under contract like the old days in Hollywood. They sent me to acting school and spent a fortune on me. They hired the director, Randa Haines, of Children of a Lesser God fame, to direct my screen test. As they were filming the screen test, I could tell I was bad, really bad. I knew it was a disaster. I never knew it was so difficult to walk and talk at the same time. I never heard from Disney again. I still get offers, but I am smart enough to know my limits.

JJ: Let’s talk politics. You may or may not know that we now have a law in the United States that says you are either with us, or you are a fucking communist terrorist. So, which is it Ms. Frenchie?

BC: Well, then I guess I’m against you. Sorry, but I think American foreign policy has made the world a much more dangerous place. It’s obvious. Thanks a lot, Mr. Bush.

JJ: In your house, you have a basement that is full of Ronald Reagan memorabilia. Why? How? What?

BC: My husband worked for Ronald Reagan during his first term in the White House as special assistant to the president. He loved Reagan. We always laugh because during the time he was working in the White House, I had green hair and piercings, and was hanging out at the punk rock club, The Masque, doing Acid every weekend.

JJ: You have a 14-year old son, who is a big fan of Nancy Pelosi. When you and your husband, Morgan heard that did you think…job well done? How did he get involved in American politics living in the heather land of France?

BC: Oh, my son worships Nancy Pelosi. Bizarre, huh? He has been into politics for the past few years. We have let him stay up all night to watch key elections on CNN and skip school the next day. In fact, when Bush won the first term, when it was officially announced, he was crying hysterically and was impossible to calm down. I think his fascination with politics comes from his dad. My husband has amazing stories. I think it all seems so glamorous to him.

JJ: Do Europeans hate us (Americans) as much as we think they do?

BC: I’ve only gotten attitude a few times. Most Europeans despise Bush and realize that it’s not the people themselves who are to blame for the mess that’s been created. Although, I do have to say that I had a favorite Arabic restaurant I used to love that I would get attitude from and be made to feel uncomfortable because I was American; no question about it. And this was before September 11th. I wouldn’t dare go now. When I travel to Morocco, I don’t advertise where I’m from. No talking on the mobile phone loudly, etc.

JJ: So, now the little girl that used to sing unintelligible punk rock lyrics while wearing a trash bag has become a French chanteuse?

BC: For the past ten years or so, I have had NO desire to make another pop album, nor another album in the same vein as the other solo stuff I’ve done. Been there, done that. It just didn’t (and still doesn’t) seem interesting to me. Living in France, I became interested in French music and artists. There is some amazing stuff out there. I thought if I were ever going to do anything, I would love to make an album of classic chansons. I was at a music conference in France and mentioned this to a record company and they loved the idea.

I played around with some songs with John Reynolds, the producer, and it sounded good, so we went for it. The project started taking on a life of its own, which has been a great surprise and pleasure. It is really a labor of love and I have no expectations. I am so proud of this - it has been a great challenge to me.

JJ: Well, you should be proud of your accomplishments, Babe. I’ve listened to the album and I’ve shared it with friends. They are very impressed by the way you’ve mastered the language. On top of it all, it’s really a great album. I wish you the best of luck with it and hope to see you soon.

BC: Thank you.