August 6, 2025 • 15 mins
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.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcas
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.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcas
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I'm sure re Curry from the nineteen seventies all girl
teenage rock band The Runaways, and I am coming to
Australia for my final tour in September and I hope
to see you there. My cherry bombs.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Fantastic, Jerry, thanks for joining us tonight. That was sensational.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Oh thanks Chris, thanks for having.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Me Ahi, absolutely pleasure.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
So as you say, you were headed to Australia for
the second and final time in around one month for
Runner Show starting in Perth on September fifth, and you
get Adelaide Moment and Sydney.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Finish at Bristolo on September thirty. So he's not too
long now you've packed it ready to go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh you know what, definitely, I've been looking forward to
this for months now and I was in Australia in
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It was a completely different band.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The reason why I'm so excited about this one is
my son's band is going to be backing me, Jay Hayes.
His band is modeled Strangers, but Jake is taking the
drums this time. He's a front guy, amazing singer, guitar player.
But Sandy West god rest her soul gave him some
lessons when he was just a kid, and he is
(01:08):
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. Such a fantastic and
this band is off the charts. And I've got Nick Mayberry,
who is from Australia and he's one of the greatest
(01:29):
league guitar players and one of my son's guitar players
is only twenty one years old, and he's really cute.
So I think there's going to be a little bit
for everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You probably can't see it for me, but up until
you said the cute bit, I've actually got goosebumps.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
That was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Five in this family, it is and you know what,
considering I mean, I'm on my way out. I just
want to be able to do the rest of this
with my kid because he really deserves it. I know,
you know, that's just really hard these days for kids,
I mean really talented and my kids, well he's thirty five,
(02:08):
so he's not a kid anymore. But it's just very
it's very different from the way it was in the seventies.
As far as getting noticed, there's just so much talent
out there and social media and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Now, as you mentioned this, is he going to be
a farewell Tom plantstro You've already done farewell shows in
the UK and Islands, so it's a fitting celebration of
an extraordinary career. But it must be hard for you
night off to night saying goodbye to different people in
different countries and different cities.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
It is, but you know, I mean, and again, something
could happen where I come. I know I'm going to
go to Germany for just one show and that's next year.
But it does hurt. I mean, it is painful because
I still see people that I've seen at other shows
and other tour I've done in the UK and Europe,
(03:01):
and I see 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.
Almost fifty years now, Chris, fifty years, Yeah, long time.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
You still remember? Facing is? That's beautiful?
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Oh I do, thank god. At sixty five, I just
don't want that to go away.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah, I can't quite see.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
You exactly exactly now.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
The press release says that you can be playing a
set list packed runaways, HiT's, solo favorites and surprises, celebrating
your remarkable journey. But I'm not sure if anyone's told
you at all, but Australians don't like surprises.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
You gotta tell us what you do.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh well, We're gonna do a lot of runaways because
nobody else does it, you know, Joan and Leda, they don't.
And the thing is is that there are Runaways fans
that are they deserve it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I so wish that Joan and Leda could have.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Come together and been able to work through their differences
so we could have had a reunion after the movie.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
But you know, I've kind of given up on that.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
But I have worked with all the girls in the band,
Joan and Lita as solo artists, and Jackie and Sandy
which she was still with us.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So but the fans.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I do it for the fans because they love our music.
So I'm going to be doing Runaway songs their favorites
because I've asked all all the fans, you know, what
do you want to hear? And then I'm going to
do some songs off of my new record Boulevard's a
Splendor that Matt Sore produced, and and.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I might do one off of the Mess with the
Boys album, and I am going to do a couple
of covers like so that's yeah, surprise.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
But yeah, some of the songs you're playing written got now,
Like you said, love it is it difficult to deliver
them with as much passion and consider it there was
a much different period of your life when they were written.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, you know what, It's kind of funny, Chris, because
I'm sixty five and I don't know how much longer
I can sing have you and grab you to You're sore, you.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You know what I mean, Hello Daddy, Hello Mama.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Ye know.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But but I think I'll be able to do it
until I just can't sing anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Because the thing is is nobody does it as good
as I do, because I bet. I mean, it's just
it's just.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
When you grow up making these songs possible, you know,
and you they're like it's like giving birth to a child.
You know, it's a there's a magic there. So that's
why I still have to do it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I see you're taking Melbourne Rock out bit Hot Machine
with you as national supports. Now, you honestly could not
have picked a.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Better and more deserving band. Those guys, those ladies, they're unreal.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Oh I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I mean I've been really looking at their their stage
show and their song and I think it's just I'm
so glad that you feel that way, because I'm very
excited to meet them.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I think they're so talented.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I a good friend of mine's daughter is I think
he's a guitar bay And then he's been telling me
about them phrases and I saw the ninth Pop publicial
support and I'm right, Well does that girls? Well?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Does that? Oh?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Well am I going to see you at one of
these shows?
Speaker 4 (06:26):
You see me at the Brisbane show for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
A couple long in silly, Oh, terrific. I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I can't wait to see you in person, give you
a big hug and just say.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Thank you, because that's really what this is all about.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
To thank people, because without you, you know, we ain't nothing.
And it's just the truth. And I think I think
a lot of performers and musicians forget that, but I don't.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
They do all they take it for granted a little bit,
and it's just a type con gesture, but you can
tell when someone actually really believes what they say in
and you sound like you did.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Oh, thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Very very good.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Now, your career started when you joined the Runaways at
fifteen years old in nineteen seventy five.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
So what was it a musical climate like at the
time that.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Gave birth to your ambitions and where did you fit
in back when you started?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Oh my gosh, well, you know what, I had seen
my very first concert and it was David Bowie Diamond Dogs,
and I was fourteen years old, and it was one
of those moments where you know that voice in your.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Head, I mean just that says you have to do this.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
And I mean I was a very I was a
surfer chick with long hair and very shy. My twin
sister was really the popular one. So when that realization came,
it was amazing that, like in a year, just a
little over a year after that show, that I met
Kim and Joan and I was ready, and boyd did
(07:54):
it take off like a rocket. I mean, there was
no time for anything but this band. And you know,
we worked really, really hard, Chris, We really did, but
it was it's kind of a whirlwind, you know, we
just never stopped. I kind of wish we would have
had just one vacation. I think we might have gotten
along a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, Yeah, I don't think it's about this a hard
to pinpoint out of the fact that was there a
feeling amongst the band back in those early days that
you were onto something special? Did you have an inkling
that you were gonna explain like you did?
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You know what, we didn't even have time for that.
We just knew that we had something to prove, and
there weren't any besides Susie Quatro, one of my dearest friends.
I mean, she's just the godmother of rock and roll.
If it wouldn't have been for Susie, there would have
been no Runaways, no jone jet And that is a fact.
(08:50):
We need to get her to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame, don't Yeah. But it wasn't until we
did our Japan tour that we really realized that we
had really broken that that glass ceiling, and that was
we'd finally made it. Not as much in the US
like Susie didn't, but we were pretty well known throughout
(09:13):
Europe and we got our first gold record from Australia.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Oh wow, that's interesting today.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure back then there would have been
a heap of industry people trying to change your image
or mold you in their own way. But you stuck
firm to yourself as like you believed in your music,
you believed in what you were doing, and history has
proved those people to be incorrect and what you did
to be correct. But was it ever attempting to listen
to what the so caught experts were telling you back
then and go along that line?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yep? You mean the negative reviews we would get, So.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
The ones that try to hold they knew you had
something they wanted to make you what in their image?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I guess well there really wasn't anything for them to.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Compare us to.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
But it was tough being that young fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
uh to for it not to hurt you, you know,
for it not to injure you, because when you're that young,
you don't you don't know who you are, and that's
just a fact, you don't. And having to try to
figure that out in front of thousands of people was
a bit of a challenge, but you know what, it
(10:21):
was great to be Trailblazers and to do something that
really pissed the boys off because we did. They did
not like playing with us or having us open for them,
and then when they had to open for us, it
really pissed them off. But ha, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
This is probably going to be hoty to answer with
the lesson and now answer that you were seventeen when.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
You left the Right of Ways.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
But so, how did the two years that you're in
them shape your life and your music and who you
are today?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Well, hmm, that's that's a really tough question. Oh my gosh,
how did it shape me? Well, it made me tough.
It really made me tough. And I also knew that
I was born to do this by the time I'd
left the Runaways. It was really something that I had
worked very hard at and I knew I was good
(11:15):
at being on stage as a singer. No, I was
not a good singer because my voice was changing, you know,
and when you're sixteen, I mean, you know, my voice
was very low and now it's now I'm in I
can actually sing. But it was just dealing with the
insecurities I think and then really really realizing that what
(11:39):
we did we should be proud of.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And that took some time. That took some time.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Yeah, I want to throw a bit more value. Mysed
popular song Cherry Boment and specifically the part why you
started it before I like you need the chorus? Was
that written into the song initially or did that come later?
And how did what's the story of Paul and someone
sitting there and went this guy?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Because you couldn't have mentioned the.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Song without now that that was Kim Falley. I mean,
you know, Joan was really lucky that he grabbed. And
of course, had I gone to rehearsal with probably can
the Can or one of those Susiequatro songs, because they
asked me to learn a Susie Quatro song, and because
I'd grown up with you know, Dean Martin and the
Andrews sisters and you know, sang at the Koalas Club
(12:27):
with my twin sister and my father. It was very
middle of the road. So I picked Fever and they
were not happy. So Kim just turned and he could
have picked leader, but he went, Joe, come.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
With me, and.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
You know he was really when he wrote a song.
First of all, he could write the lyrics like that
and nothing ever had to be changed. He's just that brilliant.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And before he.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Passed, I don't know if you know that, I took
him into my home and took care of him when
he was dying of cancer, and we wrote a lot
of songs together for Reverie when he was just out
of the hospital. And uh, there was just something about Kim.
He he would tell us what to play. No, no, no, now, modulate, no,
(13:18):
change that chord, No, I want this. So basically, I
mean when you wrote with Kim, it was really Kim.
And I did not to put Joan down in any way,
but Kim ruled, ruled the roost, and uh, and he
just did that in one one take. I mean writing
those lyrics. I did help with the melody on Cherry
(13:41):
Bomb because no one had sung the song before. They
came in and said, okay, you know you're now cherry
Bomb sing it, and it was like so I kind
of had to make stuff up as I went along.
And little did I know at fifteen that I should
have gotten writing credit. Wouldn't have that been nice? But yeah,
that's too bad. But you know, Kim Fowley was truly
(14:03):
a genius. He really was, and he's got a roster
of hit songs to prove it.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, I'm unfortunately going to have to cut us off.
I could keep going for every talk. Sure, this is
a fantastic conversation, but other people need your time. You
need a bit of a break, So thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
For your much when you when you come to one,
when you come to the show, please Chris, when you
come to the show, we can do a little something.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Then after the show, what do you think of that?
And I make it up to you.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Fantastic to me. I shall see you there for sure.
But in the meantime, the tour I started in September.
Can't you take it through civil back touring. It's gone
well already, but this is going to be the end
of our lifetimes generation with the work. So congratulations and
we'll see you in a month.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I'll say thank you, Chris, thanks so much for having me,
(15:01):
assass
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I'm sure re Curry from the nineteen seventies all girl
teenage rock band The Runaways, and I am coming to
Australia for my final tour in September and I hope
to see you there. My cherry bombs.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Fantastic, Jerry, thanks for joining us tonight. That was sensational.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Oh thanks Chris, thanks for having.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Me Ahi, absolutely pleasure.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
So as you say, you were headed to Australia for
the second and final time in around one month for
Runner Show starting in Perth on September fifth, and you
get Adelaide Moment and Sydney.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Finish at Bristolo on September thirty. So he's not too
long now you've packed it ready to go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh you know what, definitely, I've been looking forward to
this for months now and I was in Australia in
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It was a completely different band.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The reason why I'm so excited about this one is
my son's band is going to be backing me, Jay Hayes.
His band is modeled Strangers, but Jake is taking the
drums this time. He's a front guy, amazing singer, guitar player.
But Sandy West god rest her soul gave him some
lessons when he was just a kid, and he is
(01:08):
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. Such a fantastic and
this band is off the charts. And I've got Nick Mayberry,
who is from Australia and he's one of the greatest
(01:29):
league guitar players and one of my son's guitar players
is only twenty one years old, and he's really cute.
So I think there's going to be a little bit
for everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You probably can't see it for me, but up until
you said the cute bit, I've actually got goosebumps.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
That was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Five in this family, it is and you know what,
considering I mean, I'm on my way out. I just
want to be able to do the rest of this
with my kid because he really deserves it. I know,
you know, that's just really hard these days for kids,
I mean really talented and my kids, well he's thirty five,
(02:08):
so he's not a kid anymore. But it's just very
it's very different from the way it was in the seventies.
As far as getting noticed, there's just so much talent
out there and social media and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Now, as you mentioned this, is he going to be
a farewell Tom plantstro You've already done farewell shows in
the UK and Islands, so it's a fitting celebration of
an extraordinary career. But it must be hard for you
night off to night saying goodbye to different people in
different countries and different cities.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
It is, but you know, I mean, and again, something
could happen where I come. I know I'm going to
go to Germany for just one show and that's next year.
But it does hurt. I mean, it is painful because
I still see people that I've seen at other shows
and other tour I've done in the UK and Europe,
(03:01):
and I see 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.
Almost fifty years now, Chris, fifty years, Yeah, long time.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
You still remember? Facing is? That's beautiful?
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Oh I do, thank god. At sixty five, I just
don't want that to go away.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah, I can't quite see.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
You exactly exactly now.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
The press release says that you can be playing a
set list packed runaways, HiT's, solo favorites and surprises, celebrating
your remarkable journey. But I'm not sure if anyone's told
you at all, but Australians don't like surprises.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
You gotta tell us what you do.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh well, We're gonna do a lot of runaways because
nobody else does it, you know, Joan and Leda, they don't.
And the thing is is that there are Runaways fans
that are they deserve it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I so wish that Joan and Leda could have.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Come together and been able to work through their differences
so we could have had a reunion after the movie.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
But you know, I've kind of given up on that.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
But I have worked with all the girls in the band,
Joan and Lita as solo artists, and Jackie and Sandy
which she was still with us.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So but the fans.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I do it for the fans because they love our music.
So I'm going to be doing Runaway songs their favorites
because I've asked all all the fans, you know, what
do you want to hear? And then I'm going to
do some songs off of my new record Boulevard's a
Splendor that Matt Sore produced, and and.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I might do one off of the Mess with the
Boys album, and I am going to do a couple
of covers like so that's yeah, surprise.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
But yeah, some of the songs you're playing written got now,
Like you said, love it is it difficult to deliver
them with as much passion and consider it there was
a much different period of your life when they were written.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, you know what, It's kind of funny, Chris, because
I'm sixty five and I don't know how much longer
I can sing have you and grab you to You're sore, you.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You know what I mean, Hello Daddy, Hello Mama.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Ye know.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But but I think I'll be able to do it
until I just can't sing anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Because the thing is is nobody does it as good
as I do, because I bet. I mean, it's just
it's just.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
When you grow up making these songs possible, you know,
and you they're like it's like giving birth to a child.
You know, it's a there's a magic there. So that's
why I still have to do it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I see you're taking Melbourne Rock out bit Hot Machine
with you as national supports. Now, you honestly could not
have picked a.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Better and more deserving band. Those guys, those ladies, they're unreal.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Oh I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I mean I've been really looking at their their stage
show and their song and I think it's just I'm
so glad that you feel that way, because I'm very
excited to meet them.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I think they're so talented.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I a good friend of mine's daughter is I think
he's a guitar bay And then he's been telling me
about them phrases and I saw the ninth Pop publicial
support and I'm right, Well does that girls? Well?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Does that? Oh?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Well am I going to see you at one of
these shows?
Speaker 4 (06:26):
You see me at the Brisbane show for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
A couple long in silly, Oh, terrific. I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I can't wait to see you in person, give you
a big hug and just say.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Thank you, because that's really what this is all about.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
To thank people, because without you, you know, we ain't nothing.
And it's just the truth. And I think I think
a lot of performers and musicians forget that, but I don't.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
They do all they take it for granted a little bit,
and it's just a type con gesture, but you can
tell when someone actually really believes what they say in
and you sound like you did.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Oh, thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Very very good.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Now, your career started when you joined the Runaways at
fifteen years old in nineteen seventy five.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
So what was it a musical climate like at the
time that.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Gave birth to your ambitions and where did you fit
in back when you started?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Oh my gosh, well, you know what, I had seen
my very first concert and it was David Bowie Diamond Dogs,
and I was fourteen years old, and it was one
of those moments where you know that voice in your.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Head, I mean just that says you have to do this.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
And I mean I was a very I was a
surfer chick with long hair and very shy. My twin
sister was really the popular one. So when that realization came,
it was amazing that, like in a year, just a
little over a year after that show, that I met
Kim and Joan and I was ready, and boyd did
(07:54):
it take off like a rocket. I mean, there was
no time for anything but this band. And you know,
we worked really, really hard, Chris, We really did, but
it was it's kind of a whirlwind, you know, we
just never stopped. I kind of wish we would have
had just one vacation. I think we might have gotten
along a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, Yeah, I don't think it's about this a hard
to pinpoint out of the fact that was there a
feeling amongst the band back in those early days that
you were onto something special? Did you have an inkling
that you were gonna explain like you did?
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You know what, we didn't even have time for that.
We just knew that we had something to prove, and
there weren't any besides Susie Quatro, one of my dearest friends.
I mean, she's just the godmother of rock and roll.
If it wouldn't have been for Susie, there would have
been no Runaways, no jone jet And that is a fact.
(08:50):
We need to get her to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame, don't Yeah. But it wasn't until we
did our Japan tour that we really realized that we
had really broken that that glass ceiling, and that was
we'd finally made it. Not as much in the US
like Susie didn't, but we were pretty well known throughout
(09:13):
Europe and we got our first gold record from Australia.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Oh wow, that's interesting today.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure back then there would have been
a heap of industry people trying to change your image
or mold you in their own way. But you stuck
firm to yourself as like you believed in your music,
you believed in what you were doing, and history has
proved those people to be incorrect and what you did
to be correct. But was it ever attempting to listen
to what the so caught experts were telling you back
then and go along that line?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yep? You mean the negative reviews we would get, So.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
The ones that try to hold they knew you had
something they wanted to make you what in their image?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I guess well there really wasn't anything for them to.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Compare us to.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
But it was tough being that young fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
uh to for it not to hurt you, you know,
for it not to injure you, because when you're that young,
you don't you don't know who you are, and that's
just a fact, you don't. And having to try to
figure that out in front of thousands of people was
a bit of a challenge, but you know what, it
(10:21):
was great to be Trailblazers and to do something that
really pissed the boys off because we did. They did
not like playing with us or having us open for them,
and then when they had to open for us, it
really pissed them off. But ha, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
This is probably going to be hoty to answer with
the lesson and now answer that you were seventeen when.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
You left the Right of Ways.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
But so, how did the two years that you're in
them shape your life and your music and who you
are today?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Well, hmm, that's that's a really tough question. Oh my gosh,
how did it shape me? Well, it made me tough.
It really made me tough. And I also knew that
I was born to do this by the time I'd
left the Runaways. It was really something that I had
worked very hard at and I knew I was good
(11:15):
at being on stage as a singer. No, I was
not a good singer because my voice was changing, you know,
and when you're sixteen, I mean, you know, my voice
was very low and now it's now I'm in I
can actually sing. But it was just dealing with the
insecurities I think and then really really realizing that what
(11:39):
we did we should be proud of.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And that took some time. That took some time.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Yeah, I want to throw a bit more value. Mysed
popular song Cherry Boment and specifically the part why you
started it before I like you need the chorus? Was
that written into the song initially or did that come later?
And how did what's the story of Paul and someone
sitting there and went this guy?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Because you couldn't have mentioned the.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Song without now that that was Kim Falley. I mean,
you know, Joan was really lucky that he grabbed. And
of course, had I gone to rehearsal with probably can
the Can or one of those Susiequatro songs, because they
asked me to learn a Susie Quatro song, and because
I'd grown up with you know, Dean Martin and the
Andrews sisters and you know, sang at the Koalas Club
(12:27):
with my twin sister and my father. It was very
middle of the road. So I picked Fever and they
were not happy. So Kim just turned and he could
have picked leader, but he went, Joe, come.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
With me, and.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
You know he was really when he wrote a song.
First of all, he could write the lyrics like that
and nothing ever had to be changed. He's just that brilliant.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And before he.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Passed, I don't know if you know that, I took
him into my home and took care of him when
he was dying of cancer, and we wrote a lot
of songs together for Reverie when he was just out
of the hospital. And uh, there was just something about Kim.
He he would tell us what to play. No, no, no, now, modulate, no,
(13:18):
change that chord, No, I want this. So basically, I
mean when you wrote with Kim, it was really Kim.
And I did not to put Joan down in any way,
but Kim ruled, ruled the roost, and uh, and he
just did that in one one take. I mean writing
those lyrics. I did help with the melody on Cherry
(13:41):
Bomb because no one had sung the song before. They
came in and said, okay, you know you're now cherry
Bomb sing it, and it was like so I kind
of had to make stuff up as I went along.
And little did I know at fifteen that I should
have gotten writing credit. Wouldn't have that been nice? But yeah,
that's too bad. But you know, Kim Fowley was truly
(14:03):
a genius. He really was, and he's got a roster
of hit songs to prove it.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, I'm unfortunately going to have to cut us off.
I could keep going for every talk. Sure, this is
a fantastic conversation, but other people need your time. You
need a bit of a break, So thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
For your much when you when you come to one,
when you come to the show, please Chris, when you
come to the show, we can do a little something.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Then after the show, what do you think of that?
And I make it up to you.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Fantastic to me. I shall see you there for sure.
But in the meantime, the tour I started in September.
Can't you take it through civil back touring. It's gone
well already, but this is going to be the end
of our lifetimes generation with the work. So congratulations and
we'll see you in a month.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I'll say thank you, Chris, thanks so much for having me,
(15:01):
assass
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