Jane Wiedlin’s Memoir Reveals the Personal Struggles Behind Her Go-Go’s Fame

Jane Wiedlin says her new memoir, TMI, is an attempt to tell her life story without softening the difficult parts. In an interview about the book, the Go-Go’s co-founder describes herself as someone who has always wanted to be candid, even when the details may not present her in the best light. She says she wanted to take responsibility for her choices rather than blame others. The memoir revisits Wiedlin’s place in the pioneering all-female band, which formed in the late 1970s. The Go-Go’s wrote and played their own material, reached the top of the US album chart and later entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their songs, including “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “Vacation,” helped establish the group’s lasting influence. Wiedlin notes that several bandmates have published memoirs too, but says she feels less protective of her private life and wanted to include the parts of her story others might leave out. Wiedlin also discusses living with depression and bipolar disorder. She says she first experienced depression at 11 and has faced periods of severe distress, including two suicide attempts and continuing thoughts of suicide at times. She describes manic episodes as contributing to impulsive decisions and strain in her relationships. Wiedlin has been married and divorced three times, and, according to the interview, she believes former partners would have found her difficult during some periods. The singer’s account does not frame her experiences as a simple story of fame and success. Instead, she presents the memoir as a candid reckoning with mental health, relationships and mistakes, while acknowledging that some circumstances were beyond her control. She says the book gave her the opportunity to tell what she considers her real story.