The Rise of The Runaways
Ah, The Runaways, the legendary all-girl punk rock band from the 1970s who, against all odds, rose from obscurity to become one of the most influential rock bands of their time. Think of them as the Spice Girls of the punk scene, but with a little more edge, and a lot more talent.
Formed in 1975, The Runaways were the brainchild of music producer Kim Fowley and manager, Joanne, who wanted to create an all-girl rock band to capitalize on the growing popularity of punk music. The group was composed of three teenage girls, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and Sandy West, and two younger girls, Cherie Currie and Jackie Fox.
The Runaways were an instant smash hit. They quickly gained a passionate fan base and their songs soon became the anthems of the punk rock movement. The Runaways toured extensively in the US and Europe, and their albums, featuring songs like “Cherry Bomb” and “Queens of Noise”, received critical acclaim.
The Runaways were revolutionary in many ways. Not only did they break new ground as an all-girl punk band, but they also helped pave the way for other female musicians. Their music and style was a huge influence on the Riot Grrrl movement and many of the female musicians that followed in their footsteps.
The Runaways’ success was short-lived, however. After their second album, internal tensions between the members of the band caused them to break up. Currie and Fox soon left the group, and Jett and Ford went on to pursue successful solo careers.
Despite their brief tenure, The Runaways left an indelible mark on the music scene. They broke down barriers and showed that girls could rock just as hard as the boys. They also provided a model for female musicians to follow and inspired a whole new generation of female rockers.
Today, The Runaways are remembered as one of the most influential bands of their era. Their music still resonates with listeners and their legend continues to live on. For anyone looking for a dose of punk rock energy, The Runaways are the perfect place to start.
Runaways: Divisive or Dangerous?
The Runaways were an all-female, teenage rock band from the late 1970s that started a revolution in the music industry. While they were hugely influential in terms of inspiring future generations of female musicians, their legacy is also wrapped up in a number of controversies that continue to be debated to this day.
The most notorious of these controversies surrounds the band’s former manager, Kim Fowley. There have been numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse made against Fowley by former members of the band, including lead singer Cherie Currie and guitarist Joan Jett. Fowley has denied these allegations, but they have tarnished his reputation, and many people associate him with The Runaways in a negative light.
Another controversy surrounding The Runaways relates to the lack of financial compensation they received for their work. Despite becoming one of the most successful all-female bands of the era, the members of the band did not receive royalties for their music, resulting in a situation where the band members were not being fairly compensated for their hard work and talent.
Finally, there are still debates about who should be credited as the true pioneers of the all-female rock genre. While The Runaways may have been one of the first groups to break through into the mainstream, there have been numerous other bands who have come before or after them that have also made contributions to the genre. In particular, some argue that the band Vixen should be credited as the true pioneers of the all-female rock genre, as they had been playing together and releasing music before The Runaways.
The Runaways’ Surprising Secrets
• The Runaways were an all-female teenage rock band in the late 1970s.
• The band’s members included Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, Jackie Fox, and Cherie Currie.
• They released their first album in 1976.
• The Runaways were the first all-female rock band to become successful.
• The band’s style was characterized by hard-edged rock and punk influences.
• The band was managed by Kim Fowley, who also wrote songs for them.
• They were featured in the film adaptation of their story, The Runaways, in 2010.
• They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
• Joan Jett went on to become a successful solo artist.
• Lita Ford also had a successful solo career.
• Jackie Fox left the band in 1977 and went on to become a lawyer.
• The band reunited for a brief tour in 2013.
• The Runaways were featured in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour in 2008.
• The band’s original name was the “Cherry Bomb”.
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