Music up until the 1970s had been a predominantly male-dominated industry, especially the rock scene, which was considered to be full of exactly the type of people your mother warned you about.
Sure, there were some brilliant artists, including Janis Joplin, Marianne Faithfull and Suzi Quatro, but it was in the mid 70s when three young, brash and rebellious aspiring musicians called Joan Jett, Sandy West and Micki Steele were assembled by record producer Kim Fowley that the musical landscape changed forever. After the loss of Steele early in the piece, the new all-girl group called The Runaways welcomed Peggy Foster on bass and guitarist Lita Ford, before discovering a 15-year-old Cherie Currie who completed the final piece of the puzzle as vocalist.
The rest, as they say, is history, and if by chance you are drawing a blank from the name The Runaways, then think about a song called Cherry Bomb, and things will become clearer.
The release of their debut self-titled album in 1976 saw The Runaways support the likes of Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Talking Heads, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in the process giving voice and purpose, and more importantly, musical respect, to aspiring female musicians around the world. But it was teenage frontwoman Cherie Currie and her youthful defiance that captured the hearts as well as the ears of a growing global rebellion. She became the face of rock and the inspiration for hope and change. In short, she became a legend; a national treasure and someone who young girls wanted to grow up to be.
After disbanding two years later, each member of The Runaways went on to greater success but did so without ever touring Australia. Currie rectified that blight with her debut tour in 2016, but she returns in September this year as part of her worldwide farewell tour, determined to leave one final musical impression on this side of the world.
Cherie Currie’s Final Australian Tour is the ultimate celebration of a rock legend who defined an era and inspired countless fans and would-be musicians around the globe. Whilst The Runaways never made it to Australia, we have been lucky enough to witness their iconic vocalist not only once, but now twice, with a chance to say goodbye.
Currie joined HEAVY earlier this week to talk about the tour and the enduring legacy that is The Runaways.
"I've been looking forward to this for months now," she enthused. "When I was in Australia in 2016, it was a completely different band, and the reason I'm so excited about this one is my son's band is going to be backing me. His band is called Maudlin Strangers, but Jake is taking the drums this time. He's a front guy and an amazing singer and guitar player. But Sandy West, god rest her soul, gave him some lessons when he was just a kid, and he is paying such homage to Sandy West. He plays it just like her, and when I turn around, and I get to work with my son on stage, it just feels like I've got Sandy with me. It's just fantastic, and this band is off the charts."
Currie is partway through the farewell tour, aiming to say goodbye to as many fans as she can. While it is undeniably an emotional time for the fans, having to say goodbye, Currie has to go through it every time she goes on stage. So far she has completed last tours through Europe and the UK, and we point out must be a difficult thing for her to do night after night.
"It is," she sighed genuinely. "It does hurt. It is painful because I still see people that I've seen at other shows and other tours I've done in the UK and Europe. I them and I see their faces. I recognize them, and it is a little tearful. It really is, because I thank them so much for all this support."
In the full interview, Cherie spoke about the setlist, which will feature a mix of The Runaways hits, solo favourites, and new songs from her latest album, Boulevards of Splendor. She reflected on her nearly 50-year career, the emotional challenge of saying goodbye to fans, and the significance of connecting with her audience.
Cherie recounted her early days with The Runaways, the pressures of the music industry, and the influence of Suzi Quatro. We talked about performing songs that were written at a different time of her life and how she maintains a connection with them, the national support act Hot Machine, the musical climate that gave birth to The Runaways and if they realized how much influence they would have on the music scene.
Cherie went deeper into the early days of The Runaways and how various people tried to change or mould the band, the reasons they stuck to their guns, walking into the offices of EMI Records and demanding to be seen, how being in The Runaways impacted her life and career, plus more.
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