How Belinda Carlisle Beat a 30-Year Drug Habit

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jun 2nd 2010 11:10AM

To Belinda Carlisle's fans, the gorgeous Go-Go appeared to have it all. She led a charmed life complete with musical success, a great marriage and unmatched beauty. But underneath it all, the singer has had her share of struggles. "I hit a lot of bottoms," she tells PopEater while discussing her searing new memoir, 'Lips Unsealed.' Those lows had an awful lot to do with a cocaine habit that grabbed hold of her for 30 years. Now 51, she's been sober only five years. "I don't know why it took me so long," she says. Her inspiration? The thought of her teenage son, Duke, whose dad is Morgan Mason, one day finding his mom dead of an overdose. "That's pretty low," she tells us. "You can't be my age and doing the amount of cocaine I was doing."

In our full interview, Carlisle talks candidly about how she kicked coke, the painful criticism about her weight ("It really messed my head up"), feeling bad for old friend Fergie and having no regrets about her gloriously-debauched days in The Go-Go's.

Your book made me sad! You struggled for so long.
Actually, it'd be really sad if it didn't have a happy ending. I'm glad I went through all that actually, and I'm really, really happy with where I'm at today.

How many years were you hooked on cocaine?
Probably 30 years with nine months off from drugs when I was pregnant. Everyday pretty much.

I remember reading about you living in the south of France, married to this really handsome guy and thinking you had an amazing life.
You never ever know what's going on underneath the surface. I think the thing that kept me going along for so long is I clean up really well. I could afford to have facials and massages and dress nicely and fool myself even that I was OK and fool everyone around me that I was OK, living in the south of France, jet-setting everywhere, looking great. Everything must be perfect. You know, I held it together and I gave that impression for years and years, but I think the last couple of years I wasn't fooling anybody.

What's amazing is that you didn't go to rehab.
I thought if it wasn't going to work, I'd go to rehab. That was kind of the last thing. I made so many promises to so many people so many times through the years that I was going to stop and I couldn't keep it and I knew it deep down inside. I hit a lot of bottoms. I don't know why it took me so long. I guess I just wasn't ready. It was weird when I quit. I was struck. I just knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would be dead if I continued. I just knew it came down to choosing life or death, and I chose life. I was at the end of a three-day binge. I remember thinking how humiliating it would be for my son to have his mom die in a hotel room of a cocaine overdose. That's pretty low. I knew if I didn't stop I'd be dead. You can't be my age and doing the amount of cocaine I was doing.

You were friends with Fergie. What's your take on what's being going on?
I feel really bad for her. Honestly, I couldn't even watch the tape. It's horrible. I feel really bad for her. To do something like that, you've got to be in a really bad place. God knows what she was thinking, but I feel really, really bad and embarrassed for her. I haven't seen her in ages. I just hung out with her that one summer. It was just one of those summer flings, I guess.

Over the years, the press really focused on your weight.
It really messed my head up. It really affected me in some ways. It really pushes my buttons today, although not as much because I figure if I'm going to be age fifty and obsess about that kind of stuff then something really wrong is going on. It absolutely fed into my whole eating disorder

How do you eat now?
It's funny because I haven't been in America in over a year until coming here for the book, and it's different in Europe and India, where I spend a lot of time. I forget what it's like. My eating habits are totally normal, I never deprive myself, and I just don't eat like a pig. I think I have a healthy relationship with food now. I do know that when I spend too much time in LA it messes with my head. In some ways, it's such a hard place to live in. It's really tough if you have any insecurities at all. I think being a woman in American society, where they definitely put emphasis on how much you weigh, it's just too tough.

Your son came out to you as a teen.
If there are any parents out there who are struggling with knowing their kid is gay, wanting to throw them out or not loving them -- which I don't understand at all -- then I hope this book helps. So I know if this can open somebody's mind just a little bit then I'm glad I wrote the book.

Is that why you included it?
It was a big deal in my life when my son came out to me. Most of my friends are gay and lesbian, but when it's your own kid ... My son's openly gay, so it wasn't like I was revealing anything. My son said the same thing -- that maybe it'll help some parent who's unaccepting of their child's sexuality.

What do you think of the current crop of female singers?
Honestly, I don't pay that much attention to new music. There's some good music out there though. I love Beyonce, Rihanna, Florence and the Machine.

The Go-Go's were quite debauched in their day.
Well, we were just doing what the boys did. I mean why not? We were young, we were rich, no responsibilities. We were famous and we had a good time with it. We had a great time.

What's a typical day for you?
If I'm home, I get up and do yoga and go for a hike and then I take an old lady nap. I read a lot. Same thing at my place in Goa, India.

How does one get friendly enough with you to score an invite to your house in France?
We're pretty private. It's funny because Sandra Bernhard was saying, "You've never invited us to your house," and I was like, "I never really think about it." I'm so over the place. This past year, I've hardly been there myself.

So the answer is you can't.
(Laughs) Yeah.

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Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

Belinda Carlisle visits 'Good Morning America' on June 1 to promote her memoir, 'Lips Unsealed.' Check out more pics of the bonafide music icon >>

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Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM It's a good morning at "Good Morning America." Picture Shows: Belinda Carlisle NON-EXCLUSIVE June 1, 2010 Job: 100601X3 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

Singer Belinda Carlisle sighting in Covent Garden on November 25, 2009 in London, England. Celebrity Sightings In London - November 25, 2009 London, England United Kingdom November 25, 2009 Photo by Nat Jag/FilmMagic.com To license this image (59008405), contact FilmMagic.com

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 29: Belinda Carlisle performs as part of the 'Here and Now Tour' at Pavilhao Atlantico on May 29, 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Rui M. Leal/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Belinda Carlisle

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off," was Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts. Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Tom Bergeron, Samantha Harris, Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts star in the "Episode 802A" - After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off," was Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts. Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Tom Bergeron, Samantha Harris, Belinda Carlisle, Jonathan Roberts star in the "Episode 802A" - After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off," was Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts. Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts star in the "Episode 802A" - After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off," was Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts. Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Lil' Kim, Derek Hough, Belinda Carlisle, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska, Lawrence Taylor, Lacey Schwimmer, Steve-O, Cheryl Burke, Giles Marini, Julianne Hough, Chuck Wicks, Holly Madison, Dmitry Chaplin, Chelsie Hightower, Ty Murray, Shawn Johnson, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, Steve Wozniak, Kym Johnson, David Alan Grier, Denise Richards, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani star in the "Episode 802A" - After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off." Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts star in the "Episode 802A" - In a thrilling new twist, the bottom two couples facing elimination, Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts, and Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff, determined by the lowest combined viewer votes and judges' scores from the first two weeks of the competition, performed a "Dance Off" to determine who was dismissed in the first Results Show. The couples selected one of the two dances they have performed to dance for new scores from the judges for that specific dance. The judges' scores from the "Dance Off" performance replaced their scores from the first two weeks. A combination of just the new judges' scores from the "Dance Off" dance, along with viewers votes from both Mondays' shows, were calculated following the "Dance Off." Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

DANCING WITH THE STARS 8 Chelsie Hightower and Ty Murray star in the "Episode 802A" - After two exciting and impressive performance shows, the first couple to be eliminated on the Season Eight premiere of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show" with its first ever "Dance Off," was Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts. Airs Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Belinda Carlisle Snapshots

Tags: Belinda Carlisle, Lips Unsealed, The Go-Gos

Comments

(134)

Wednesday 02 June

By Amy

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Belinda....you rock! You are beautiful, honest, and best of all at peace with your life. The Go Go's were the soundtrack to my high school days, and I just adore you. So glad you are in a good place! XO

By Al Schrader

Vote down Vote up Report this

I just have one question. Do thay have a beat ?....Al-

By jack

I always thought Belinda was extremely sexy and talented. Fat, drugged out, or wasted. Whatever! She's my 80s crush. Are lips are sealed is still one of my favorite songs. I can't believe she's 53 and look so lovely after all she's been through.

By PANTYsniffer

i agree, also my 80's crush, i was prolly 14-15 years old when the go-go's were at their peak. anyway, belinda was so fine, i loved her hair and what a pretty face and i happened to think she had a nice body too as i dont care for broomsticks with boobs. she was one that you remember forever and the naughty fantacies about her too.

By James

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You must have not read the article well. She is 51 not 53 and the song lyrics are "Our lips are Sealed" not "Are lips are Sealed". I had no idea she used drugs, but glad she is clean now and looking great.

By MandiP

I have always thought the GoGo's were OVERRATED. They were lucky partiers. I am not surprised at any of this information at all.

By Eric Johnson

You will always be an icon!I am glad you were finally ready to quit ,before like in so many others it was to late!Congrats on saving as much of your conscious as you did.It is hard enough to find your car in the parking lot during middle age .
I could write a book about my bout with the drug,and if I thought I could garner an audience that would benefit, I would ! In the beginning Cocaine makes you feel like you are superhuman ,without much of a down side, at least in your own eyes !My moment of sanity happened after a 1989 rolling stones concert.I had 200 dollar 20th row tickets , a beautiful women on my arm ,and so much blow in my nose that It was hard to stop from gaging.After the concert, I realized that the hundred dollars worth of blow, wrecked every single memory of a 1000 dollar date.

Thursday 03 June

By Debby Hanoka

Well done, Belinda You are truly aging gracefully.

The Boca Deb

By slickster

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

That was one helluva party at the Hilton in Rochester back in 82'
I always remember, thanks, ladies!!

By Nico Toscani

Like many guys in their late 30's/early 40's, Belinda was an early celebrity crush of mine. I'm glad she's doing well and being honest about her past.

By LARRY

Way to go Belinda you beat the devil !

By Sue

I am happy to hear Belinda beat her addiction.
I don't understand what the reference to Fergie is all about...

By ac77inc

The reference is to Sarah Ferguson and her recent bribery scandal.

By Kelso Horror

That's Sarah Ferguson former Dutchess Of York, The Original Fergie.
Not to be confused with Fergie (Stacey Ferguson, No Relation) of The Balck Eyed Peas.

By Jackie

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

I always thought she was great....and I am glad she is healthy. But Belinda, honey, your quote about how "you can't be my age and doing the amount of coke I was doing" is ridiculous. You can't be any age doing any amount of coke. Seriously...what a dumb remark.

By sandra

"Honey" what she meant is that you couldn't SURVIVE doing the amount of coke she was doing. Sure, no one should be doing coke, but at a young age you can get away with a lot more than you can when you're 50

By Ddog

Recovering cocaine addict-- son is gay.You go girl!!!

By kevin

shut up

By RYAN

I had no idea she used drugs....wonder why rich and famous people always or seem to always do stuff like that?You have it all,you can go anyplace at anytime,live anywhere you want.You can sleep in late or stay out all night,you can change poor peoples lives without missing what you give away so you go to the dope man.

By Jim

... because, when you're at the top of the charts, the Hollywood upper echelon of fame and power, you feel entitled, impervious and there is so much of so much S*** going around, you'd have to be superhuman to be able to decline all the temptations.
what surprises me is the ones who manage to avoid all the drugs and sex that's so readily available at that level of the Fame Monster (!)

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