The Runaways

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This article is about the 1970s band. For the Marvel comics series, see Runaways (comics). For other uses, see Runaway

The Runaways were a teenage, American all-girl band who performed proto-punk and rock and roll in the 1970s, best known for their single "Cherry Bomb".

Contents

[edit] Original Lineup

1975:

1976

1978

  • Joan Jett, rhythm guitar and vocals
  • Sandy West, drums and vocals
  • Vickie Blue, bass
  • Lita Ford, lead guitar and vocals

1979

  • Joan Jett, rhythm guitar and vocals
  • Sandy West, drums and vocals
  • Laurie McAllister, bass
  • Lita Ford, lead guitar and vocals

[edit] History

Widely believed at the time to have been a novelty act formed by producer Kim Fowley, who thought the notion of five teenage girls dressed in leather and lingerie performing rock and roll music was highly marketable, the truth of the band's origin is actually is that the individual parts that made up the whole, began with the most pure of rock n' roll intentions.

Despite the apparent "jailbait on the run" gimmick pushed by their manager, the girls in the band were proficient at playing their instruments and wrote or co-wrote most of the band's material and, as later became obvious, were serious about their music. Their best known song is 1976's "Cherry Bomb" — Hello daddy, hello mom, I'm your ch-ch-cherry bomb! — which has been covered by many other bands, including the Riot grrrl band Bratmobile, Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife, and Joan Jett re-recorded it with her new band The Blackhearts.

It's a common misconception that The Runaways were a manufactured band, controlled Svengali-fashion by manager Kim Fowley -- in fact, The Runaways were formed in late 1975 by drummer Sandy West and rhythm guitarist Joan Jett. Both had introduced themselves (on separate occasions) to producer Kim Fowley stating their ideas to form an all-girl band. Fowley, who was always looking for the next big thing, gave West Jett's phone number. The two met on their own to discuss the possibilities. After rehearsing together, the pair contacted Fowley to let him hear the results. Fowley then helped the girls find the other members.

Starting as a power trio with bassist Micki(Michael)Steele, The Runaways began the party and club circuit around California. Eventually they added 16 year old lead guitarist Lita Ford to the fray and lead singer Cherie Currie. Bassist Micki Steele left the group, later resurfacing in the hugely successful Bangles. After some trial and error Jackie Fox (who had originally auditioned for the lead guitar spot) was added on bass and the line up was complete.

The Runaways were signed to Mercury Records in 1976 and their debut album, The Runaways, was released shortly after. The band toured the US and played numerous sold out shows. They had opening acts for Cheap Trick, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Van Halen. In the film Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways, it was said that each girl patterned themself after their idols: Currie patterning her look after David Bowie, Jett after Suzi Quatro, Ford as a cross between Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck, West after Queen drummer Roger Taylor, and Fox after KISS frontman Gene Simmons.

Their second album, Queens of Noise was released in 1977 and the band began a world tour. The Runaways quickly became lumped in with the growing punk rock movement. The band (already fixtures on the west coast punk scene) formed alliances with east coast punk bands such as Blondie, The Ramones and The Dead Boys (via New York City's CBGB's) as well as the UK punk scene by hanging out with the likes of The Damned, Generation X and The Sex Pistols. Due to the band's constant touring, they were in the unique position of being in the middle of the punk scene as it was breaking in two different countries, thus cementing their place in punk history.

In the summer of 1977 the group arrived in Japan for a string of sold out shows. The Runaways were the number 3 imported music act in Japan, trailing behind Led Zeppelin and Kiss. The girls were unprepared for the onslaught of fans that greeted them at the airport. The mass hysteria would later be described by guitarist Jett as being "like Beatlemania". While in Japan, The Runaways had their own TV special, did numerous television appearances and released a live album that went gold. While in Japan, bassist Jackie Fox left the band before the group was scheduled to appear at the Tokyo Music Festival. Jett temporarily took over bass duties and when the group returned home they replaced Fox with 17 year old Vicki Blue.

Singer Cherie Currie then left the group and Jett, whom previously shared vocals with Currie, took over lead vocals full time. The band released their 4th album, Waiting For The Night and started a world tour with their friends The Ramones. Currie released a solo LP Beauty's Only Skin Deep, which was produced by Kim Fowley and began her own tour which included her identical twin sister Marie.

Due to disagreements over money and the management of the band, the Runaways and Kim Fowley parted ways in 1978. The group quickly hired new management, who also worked for Blondie and Suzi Quatro. When the group split with Fowley, they also parted with their record label Mercury/Polygram, who their deal was tied to. In the film Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways, members of the group (especially Fox and Currie) as well as the parents of Currie and West, have accused Fowley and others assigned to look after the band of using divide and conquer tactics to keep control of the band, as well as verbal and sexual abuse of the band members. In the film, Currie mentions an incident in which Fowley sat them on a bed in a hotel room and told them he was "going to teach them the right way to fuck". In another instance, Fox claims to have walked into a rehearsal to find all the band members sitting quietly. When she walked in, Fowley asked her if she had slept with co-manager Scott Anderson. When Fox responded "Hell no!", Fowley responded by telling her she was the only one in the band who didn't, proving that the band's management was not as responsible as they claimed to be.

Bassist Vicki Blue left the group and was replaced by Laurie McAllister. The band reportedly spent much time enjoying the excesses of the rock n' roll lifestyle during this time. They partnered with Thin Lizzy producer John Alcock, (after, ironically, Jett's future partner Kenny Laguna turned down the job) to record their last album And Now.. The Runaways.

After years of enduring criticism from the American press, which was not ready for rough teenage girls who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments, The Runaways disbanded in 1979.

Jett went on to partner with producer and former Shondell (as in Tommy James and The Shondells) Kenny Laguna. They formed The Blackhearts and their own record label, Blackheart Records in 1980. The label still continues to release albums by The Blackhearts, as well as other new up and coming bands. Jett went on to have massive success with her song "I Love Rock N' Roll" as well as other hits such as "Crimson and Clover", "Bad Reputation" and "I Hate Myself For Loving You".

Bandmate Lita Ford returned as a solo artist to Polygram in the '80s where she released several albums before pairing with manager Sharon Osbourne. She also had massive success with songs like "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Close My Eyes Forever". She is currently married to former Nitro singer Jim Gillette and they have two young sons.

Singer Cherie Currie went on to start an acting career. She appeared in movies with Jodie Foster (Foxes) and Demi Moore (Parasite) as well as others before releasing another solo album with her sister Marie and the band Toto called Messin' With The Boys. Currie married actor Robert Hays (Airplane); they had a son together, but split up in 1997. Currie still performs and records but her current passion is chainsaw carving. She has an art gallery in California where her works are currently on display.

Bassist Micki Steele joined the all girl band The Bangles in the early '80s and went on to huge success with songs like "Walk Like An Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame".

Bassist Jackie Fox went to Harvard and became a lawyer. She has lived abroad and she is an amateur photographer. She no longer performs.

Bassist Vicki Blue, now known as Victory Tischler Blue, briefly had a band with singer Cherie Currie in the early '80s (Currie-Blue Band), but never released an album, though they did appear together in the film This is Spinal Tap. She went on to form Sacred Dog Productions and with former bassist Fox have released a documentary on The Runaways called Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways. Future projects from the ex-bass players are in the works.

Bassist Laurie McAllister left The Runaways to join another Kim Fowley all-girl band, The Orchids, who released one poorly received LP in 1980. She no longer performs.

Founding member Sandy West continued her association with John Alcock once the group disbanded. She and Lita Ford attempted to record some music, but nothing materialized. She formed the Sandy West Band and toured California throughout the '80s and '90s. She also did session work (John Entwistle) and became a drum teacher. West was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, and after many treatments succumbed to the disease in October of 2006.

The Runaways paved the way for female artists and female bands like X-Ray Spex, Bikini Kill and most recently, The Donnas to enter the male dominated arena of rock 'n' roll and allow them to stand toe to toe with their counterparts. They are named as influences by countless male and female artists from Courtney Love to Megadeth. Though they may never be inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, their place in music history as the first all-girl punk rock band is secured.

[edit] Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

  • Live in Japan, (1977)

[edit] References

    [edit] External links

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