GO-GO’S STOP THE BEAT

The clock has finally struck midnight in one of pop’s most engaging Cinderella stories. The Go-Go’s have broken up. Despite the band’s vow to continue last October when co-founder Jane Wiedlin left the L.A.-based quintet for a solo career, lead singer Belinda Carlisle said Saturday that musical differences surfaced in recent weeks.

“When you stop growing artistically, it’s time to try something else,” she said. “We did believe there was still a future after Jane left, but (guitarist) Charlotte (Caffey) and I began feeling stifled. There didn’t seem room for growth the way the band was going.”

Signed in 1981 by I.R.S. Records after other companies had argued that female bands had no commercial future, the Go-Go’s became a national favorite with a debut LP that sold more than 2 million copies. Sales dipped on the next two albums, but both were well-received critically.

Carlisle, 26, said she will begin work on a solo album this summer, aided by Caffey, who co-wrote several of the Go-Go’s hits, including “We Got the Beat” and “Head Over Heels.” The women announced their decision Friday to band members Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine and Paula Jean Brown, Wiedlin’s replacement.

Valentine said Saturday she was “sad and shocked” by the move. While acknowledging a “disenchantment” in the group recently, she said, “It was no bigger a problem than we had overcome in the past.” The guitarist, who may begin a new group with drummer Schock, added, “I think what hurt the most was the way the breakup occurred. They just announced, ‘It’s over.’ ”

Schock was also disappointed. “It wasn’t really done in a way that’s proper after working with someone for all these years . . . but it’s fine with me. I’m sorry it’s over, but I also feel relieved. There were tensions--dating back to before the last album. This gives all of us a chance to start fresh again. I’m looking forward to working with Kathy.”

Caffey said she was sorry for any bad feelings, but felt increasingly trapped in a musical format that had become “passe.” She added, “I’ll always be proud of what we did--the music and the fact we opened the door for a lot of other women in rock. But it just wasn’t coming from the heart anymore.”