The Go-Go’s Light Up Coachella 2025 with a Nostalgic Blast and Surprise Guest Appearance

For festivalgoers of a certain age—let’s say, those who came of age in the 1980s—The Go-Go’s performance at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was an emotional trip down memory lane. With their signature pop-punk sound and infectious energy, the all-female rock band transported the crowd straight back to the height of MTV’s golden era.

And just when things couldn’t feel more reminiscent, the band surprised the audience with a guest appearance that added a cross-generational twist. As they launched into one of their biggest hits, “Head Over Heels,” none other than Billie Joe Armstrong, the iconic frontman of Green Day, joined Belinda Carlisle on stage. Armstrong’s unannounced arrival took the crowd a moment to register, particularly under the sweltering desert heat, but once recognized, cheers erupted. He sang and played guitar alongside Carlisle in a spirited performance, offered a quick thank-you to the fans, and gracefully exited—brief, but unforgettable.

The Go-Go’s set opened with their classic anthem “Vacation,” an early MTV-era staple that immediately had the crowd dancing. They continued with a hit-laden setlist, closing with back-to-back fan favorites “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got The Beat.” For the final song, they added a clever twist by blending it with Chappell Roan’s viral hit “Hot To Go,” much to the delight of younger fans in the audience—many of whom weren’t born when Beauty and the Beat was released in 1981.

What made the night even more special was the rare reunion of all five original band members: Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock. Apart from a smaller show at The Roxy earlier in the week, this was the first time the full original lineup had performed together in years. Now in their mid-60s to early 70s, the bandmates still exuded the same chemistry and charisma that first catapulted them to fame.

Despite a few minor technical issues that visibly frustrated Carlisle, the show was filled with warmth and joy. Behind the band, massive screens cycled through a treasure trove of vintage polaroids, magazine covers, and Billboard chart highlights, a visual tribute to their groundbreaking success in the early 1980s.

As the lights dimmed and the crowd roared, one thing was clear—after all these years, The Go-Go’s still got the beat.