The Runaways

Seen as I've been very busy this week, and I only got around to writing this today (oops), I thought I'd write a somewhat small post about one of my favourite bands of all time. Although this band have a film released in 2010 about them, they don't get enough recognition for what they actually did.

The Runaways.

The Runaways were an all-girl rock band that consisted of five teenage girls (Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Sandy West, Jackie Fox and Lita Ford being the most well known line up), lead vocalist Cherie Currie being only 15 when they were formed. They were all about female empowerment, being a female band who played their own instruments and showed everyone what they wanted to do - to do it how they saw male bands playing. The angsty lyrics in the songs and the provocative stage-wear they wore didn't win them success in their home country, the USA, but they managed to gain popularity in Japan. 
After releasing three studio albums and a live album, The Runaways officially split in 1979, after only four years. By the time they split, the band had pretty much dissolved anyway. Cherie Currie had already left, there had been five different bassists and there had been claims of abuse from their management  However, in the short time they were together, the band managed to influence many musicians, and prove that teenage girls could play their instruments.
What's sad is that most people don't know who The Runaways were and what they achieved. 
The 2010 film about them only seems to focus on the relationship between Jett and Currie, and less on the history of The Runaways. I would suggest watching Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways (it's great and hey, you can watch it for free on youtube). Also, if you have never listened to The Runaways, listen to them. 

And if you're a teenage girl and you want to start an all-girl rock band, do it because why not? The Runways did.

Queens Of Noise - The Runaways

- Charlotte x