THE RUNAWAYS

From Los Angeles.  Formed by teenage rockers Joan Jett (Joan Larkin)(vocals/guitar) and Sandy West (Sandy Pesavento)(drums) with Lita Ford (guitar), Jackie Foxx (Jaqueline Fuchs)(bass) and Cherie Currie (vocals).  Originally looked at as a novelty act by the music press and produced by music mastermind Kim Fowley, The Runaways brand of somewhat out of tune glam rock was ahead of its time.  Currie was the focal point of the band which led to friction when Joan Jett maintained her leadership.  Currie left and released two solo albums with her twin sister Marie, drifting in an out of an acting career, marrying Steve Lukather of Toto and in the late 90's began playing out again.  Ford of course gave up glam and moved into metal while Jett successfully pursued punk.  Before the band ever recorded, one of the founding members was Sue Thomas who would later be known as Michael Steele when she became a member of The Bangles.  She can be found on the "Born To Be Bad" demos.  In the early 90's, Kim Fowley used the band name again and released a new recording of a new group of female rockers using The Runaways name.  Fortunately this didn't last long.  In the late 1990's, there were many rumors circulating that the band would regroup with all the original members but Joan Jett backed out of the plan and will not release the band name for them to tour under.  Combinations of the original players did however play a few dates every year.  In 2006, Sandy West died of cancer shortly before latter Runaways bassist Vicki Blue released a documentary about the band.  The film drew lots of attention at film festivals and was also noted for again, Joan Jett's lack of participation in the project.  Reconciling her involvement in a film project, Joan and Cherie mended bridges for the semi-fictional aqccount of their early days, the motion picture "The Runaways", released in 2010.  1976-80. 

see REDD KROSS, THE BANGLES, JOAN JETT, LITA FORD, CHERIE CURRIE.

DISCOGRAPHY:

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Blackmail
Cherry Bomb
Heartbeat
Playin' With Fire
Queens Of Noise
Scgool Days
Wait For Me

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