The Runaways were a teenage, American all-girl rock band that performed in the 1970s. The band is best known for the songs "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels (On the Road to Ruin)" and "Born to Be Bad". "Cherry Bomb" appeared on the movie soundtracks for "Dawn, Portrait of a Teenage Runaway", "Detroit Rock City", "RV" and "Dazed and Confused". The band toured through America and Japan, also visiting the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. The career of the band was short (1975–1979), successful, and tempestuous.
What made the Runaways unique was the musical strength and depth of influences each member brought to the group. Anchored by Sandy West's muscular drumming, and fronted Cherie Currie (Bowie-esque in appearance and in terms of on-stage presence), the Runaways were the first 'girl band' that showcased two great guitarists: Joan Jett's ear-splitting rhythms and Lita Ford's virtuoso leads gave them a sound that blended influences from Glam, Heavy-Metal, and Punk-Rock. Jackie Fox (heavily influenced by " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_(band) Kiss] ") augmented Sandy West's drumming to give the band sufficient on-stage power to pull it all off. Initially dismissed by American music critics and radio programmers as another one of Kim Fowley's gimmicky acts, The Runaways proved in reality, to be excellent musicians.
"The Runaways" have some historical significance for being the first all-girl rock band to have hit-songs, record platinum albums (at least 1,000,000 units sold), tour internationally, and acquire fame. Despite those accomplishments, the girls themselves never made a big deal about any of it.
History
The beginning
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 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", which has been covered by many other bands, including the Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife, and Joan Jett's later band, "The Blackhearts".
It is a common misconception that The Runaways were a manufactured band, controlled by manager Kim Fowley - in fact, the Runaways were formed in late 1975 by drummer Sandy West and rhythm guitarist Joan Jett together with songwriter Kari Krome, who was searching for girls to perform her songs. They 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 Jett's phone number to West. 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 Los Angeles. In 1976, they added 16-year-old lead guitarist Lita Ford and lead singer Cherie Currie to the fray. Bassist Micki Steele left the group, later resurfacing in the hugely successful Bangles. Ann Boleyn was recruited to play bass and keyboards but soon left after a disagreement with Fowley. Then Peggy Foster took over on bass but also left after a while. Finally, Jackie Fox (who had originally auditioned for the lead guitar spot) was added on bass and the line up was complete.
Fame
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 been the opening act for Cheap Trick, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, the Ramones, and Van Halen. In the documentary "Edgeplay", it was said that each girl patterned herself after her idols: Currie patterning her look after David Bowie, Jett after Suzi Quatro and Keith Richards, Ford as a cross between Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck, West after Queen drummer Roger Taylor, and Fox after Kiss bassist/vocalist 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 4 imported music act in Japan at the time, only trailing behind Led Zeppelin, ABBA, and Kiss in terms of album sales and popularity. 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 shortly before the group was scheduled to appear at the 1977 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, who 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.
Dissolution
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, to which their deal was tied. In the "Edgeplay" documentary, 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.
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".
The band played their last concert on New Year's Eve 1978 and broke up in April 1979 with the departure of Joan Jett.
Line-ups
Post-breakup
Joan Jett
Joan Jett went on to become a partner and work 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, and also 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". Blackheart Records was formed in response to Jett getting rejected by major record labels. Jett also co-starred in the 1987 film "Light of Day" with Michael J. Fox, and appeared in the 2000 Broadway revival of "The Rocky Horror Show" as Columbia.
Sandy West
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 with John Entwistle of The Who and became a drum teacher. West was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and, after many treatments, succumbed to the disease in October 2006. A memorial tribute concert featuring , Cherie Currie, The Bangles and The Donnas was held in Los Angeles.
Micki Steele
Micki Steele joined the all girl band the Bangles in the early 1980s and went on to huge success with songs like "Walk Like An Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame". She was briefly replaced by Ann Boleyn, who eventually became the lead singer of Hellion and Detente.
Lita Ford
Lita Ford returned as a solo artist to Polygram in the 1980s, where she released several albums before pairing with manager Sharon Osbourne. She also had success with songs like "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Close My Eyes Forever" (the second a duet with Sharon's husband Ozzy Osbourne). She is currently married to former "Nitro" singer Jim Gillette. They have two young sons. After a long hiatus, Ford staged a comeback, permforming at Rock The Bayou and other hard-rock festivals during the summer of 200.
Cherie Currie
Cherie Currie went on to start an acting career. She appeared in movies with Jodie Foster ("Foxes"), Demi Moore ("Parasite"), The Twilight Zone the Movie, as well as others before releasing a 1978 solo album entitled "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" and a 1980 duet 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 Chatsworth, California where her works are currently on display.
Peggy Foster
Peggy Foster played bass on some of Steve Vai's albums. As of 2006, she lives in Palos Verdes, California, with her husband and child. She plays bass and guitar part-time, produces shows, has a fledgling music publishing company and record company, and designs and makes costumes including jewelry. She contributes to the Musicians Assistance Program and MusiCares division of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Jackie Fox
Jackie Fox went to Harvard and became a lawyer. She has lived abroad and is an amateur photographer. She is currently involved with Peter M. Margolis' film about guirtarist Randy Rhoads, who was a close friend.
Vicki Blue
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". After leaving The Runaways, she shifted her focus to film & television production eventually becoming a producer/director for several reality and magazine based television shows, including Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood & Real Stories of the Highway Patrol - receiving an Emmy nomination along the way. She went on to form Sacred Dogs Entertainment - a motion picture production company and released a documentary on The Runaways called "Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways." "Edgeplay" went on to win numerous awards and became the highest rated rock documentary film on the Showtime Networks. In 2005, Victory Tischler-Blue directed "Naked Under Leather", a documentary about fellow female rocker, Suzi Quatro. Focusing on music driven productions, she is currently executive producing a network special: The Bee Gees "Unbroken Fever" - The 30th Anniversary of Saturday Night Fever (2007). Additionally, Tischler-Blue and ex bandmate Lita Ford have teamed up together with Ford recording music for "El Guitarista", an animated series that Sacred Dogs Entertainment is producing.
Laurie McAllister
Laurie McAllister joined another Kim Fowley all-girl band, The Orchids, who released one poorly received LP in 1980. The Original Orchids members were Laurie Bell on Drums, Jan King on Vocals, Laurie McAllister on Bass, Sunbie Sinn, and Sandy Fury (a 13 year old rocker from Beverly Hills on Rhythm Guitar and background vocals).Che Zuro, who arguably wrote the only decent track on the LP, replaced Sandy Fury (also see: Risciso ) who went on to appear on New Wave Theatre as The Clique with bassist Mark Frere from Steppenwolf.
Laurie McAllister lives in Oregon and no longer performs music.
Influence
"L.A. Weekly" called The Runaways an "enormously influential band.", noting that after The Runaways success, everything had changed for female rock musicians. The Runaways success paved the way for many top female artists and female bands over the past 30 years, including The Go-Go's,Bikini Kill, L7 and more 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 several male and female artists, including Courtney Love and Rhino Bucket who acknowledged The Runaways influence on their music during their performance at the December 2006 tribute concert honoring Sandy West.
Many fans think they should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, noting The Runaways' place in music history as the first all-girl punk/hard-rock rock band. There are two fan-initiated, independently started, petition drives directed to that end.
Discography
* "The Runaways" (1976), #194 US
* "Queens of Noise" (1977), #172 US
* "Live in Japan" (1977)
* "Waitin' for the Night" (1977)
* "And Now... The Runaways" (1978), international release
* "Flaming Schoolgirls" (1980), compilation
* "Little Lost Girls" (1981), re-sequenced U.S. version of "And Now... The Runaways"
* "The Best Of The Runaways" (1982)
* "Born to be Bad" (1993), compilation of early demos
Mega thanx and a tip of the hat to Borx.
