Hardcore "Jailbait" The Runaways "Queens of Noise"

Joan Jett said:

“Only because The Runaways were my baby and there’s no reason to get back together except to totally have fun.  If that’s not the goal then I don’t want to do it”.

By Tom Wright

HOLLYWOOD,CA(Hollywood Today)3/11/2010–The Runaways (Neon Angels) is based on lead-singer Cherie Currie’s book ‘Neon Angel’ – a reflection of her experiences as a rock star, but also delivering a strong anti-drug warning to teens and others. David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” serves as a metaphor for the narrative– a slow countdown, a surreal but spectacular rise to fame, then alienation and burnout – a long long way from home.

Cherie Currie's Kiss and Tell Book 'Neon Angel'

Rodney & Kim Fowley Mayors on the Sunset Blvd.

The movie chronicles THE RUNAWAYS from 1975 – 1977; formed by teenage girls living near Hollywood, CA., and heavily manipulated by their manager Kim Fowley as ‘jailbait rock’ (all the girls were 16 or younger when the band recorded their first album). The band ultimately succeeds on their own merits as musicians, becoming the first all-girl rock-band to ever break into the world of arena-filling hard rock acts. On Joan’s official site the  story goes like this, Cherie Currie showed up to audition for The Runaways with the song “Fever,” which none of the girls knew how to play. Joan and Kim Fowley wrote “Cherry Bomb” on the spot for Cherie to sing. It remains their most well known song. Joan decided to re-record the song for her 1984 album Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth. While recording at the Record Plant in New York with Kenny and Thom Panunzio, they decided to put real cherry bombs on the track. They ran a mike and cable to the stairwell and started blowing up cherry bombs and firecrackers. The fireworks didn’t sound deep enough so they got the idea to slow down the track, which allowed for the big explosion at the end of the song.

Kristan Stewart & Dakota Fanning The Runaways "Just Give Me A Kiss"

The movie focuses on the band’s formation, and their meteoric rise to fame. Their first single, ‘Cherry Bomb’, gets some attention in the United States, where THE RUNAWAYS’ U.S. tour hits major venues (Cobo Hall, with RUSH) and sleazy rock-clubs, often pairing them up with The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, and other popular 1970′s rock acts. But ‘Cherry Bomb’ and several other songs from THE RUNAWAYS’ first 2 albums become huge hits in Japan — and their arrival for a set of shows there in 1977 is like Beatle-Mania.

Cherry Bombs The Runaways Explode in Hollywood

The band is overwhelmed by the Japanese reception. Almost prophetic, THE RUNAWAYS’ last big hit song in Japan is ‘Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin’.

Cherie is initially thrilled to be in the band, and lives the rock star life. She pushes the edge — and their records sell well, generating lots of media controversy and hype. But during the tour of Japan, her personal life disnintegrates, and she burns out — ultimately leaving The Runaways when they return to the states.

The Runaways

Joan Jett is a founding member of The Runaways along with drummer Sandy West. Micki Steele (who was later replaced), Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie completed the line-up. While Currie initially fronted the band, Jett shared some lead vocals, played rhythm guitar and wrote or co-wrote a lot of the band’s material along with Ford, West and Currie. The band recorded five LPs, with Live In Japan becoming one of the biggest-selling imports in U.S. and U.K. history. The band toured around the world and some of their opening acts included Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They found success abroad, especially in Japan.^[1][5]

While The Runaways were popular in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and South America, they could not garner the same level of success in the U.S.^[1][6] After Currie and Fox left the band (to be replaced by bassist Vicki Blue and later, Laurie McAllister), the band released two more albums: Waitin’ for the Night and And Now… The Runaways. Altogether they produced five albums from 1975 until they disbanded in spring of 1979.