On this day (August 5) in 1975, Joan Jett and Sandy West came together to form The Runaways at the behest of producer Kim Fowley. At the time, he believed that a group of young women dressed in leather and lace while playing heavy music would be highly lucrative. However, The Runaways quickly proved themselves to be much more than a novelty act, introducing the world to multiple legendary performers.
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Fowley had previously met Jett (rhythm guitar) and West (drums) and introduced them. They met at West’s home, recorded a jam session, and sent the tape to their future producer. Later, they added Micki Steele (bass/vocals) to the band to form a trio. After playing clubs and parties in and around Los Angeles for a short time, they added Lita Ford (lead guitar) to the lineup.
Steele was booted from the band, and Peggy Foster briefly stepped in. Then, they added Cherie Currie (vocals) and Jackie Fox (bass) to solidify the lineup for a time. However, they would undergo several more personnel changes over the next four years.
“I didn’t put The Runaways together,” Fowley later said. “I had an idea, they had ideas, we all met, there was combustion, and out of five different versions of that group came the five girls who were the ones that people liked.”
The Runaways Were Much More Than a Novelty Act
Kim Fowley wanted to put together an all-girl rock band with “jailbait” appeal. True to that morally questionable concept, all members of the band were between 15 and 16 years old when the band formed in 1975. However, they proved themselves to be much more than a novelty act.
All members of the band were proficient musicians and songwriters. While they were only together for four years and only released four studio albums, they left a lasting mark on the music world. They served as a major inspiration for bands like the Donnas, Bikini Kill, the Go-Go’s, Vixen, the Gems, and many more.
Additionally, the band’s members went on to achieve varying levels of success after The Runaways disbanded in 1979.
Life After the Band
Joan Jett formed Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and had major success with tracks like “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Bad Reputation.” She also became the first female musician to start her own label when she formed Blackheart Records in 1980.
Micki Steel started going by Michael Steele and joined The Bangles in 1983, just before they recorded their debut album. She stayed with the band until they broke up in 1989 and returned for the 2003 album, Doll Revolution.
Cherie Currie released a solo album and a duet album with her twin sister, Marie. She also appeared in several films. Today, she continues to record and release music via Blackheart Records. Outside of music, Currie worked as a substance abuse counselor and is an incredibly talented chainsaw carving artist.
Jackie Fox attended UCLA and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in linguistics. Then, she earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and now practices entertainment law. In 2015, she revealed publicly that Fowley sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old.
Lita Ford had a successful solo career after The Runaways. Songs like “Kiss Me Deadly” and her duet with Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever,” remain favorites among heavy metal fans.
Sandy West formed the Sandy West Band and toured regionally throughout the 1980s and ’90s. She also did studio work with John Entwistle of The Who. Later, she became a drum teacher. She died from lung cancer in 2006.
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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