The Runaways were formed in late 1975 by drummer Sandy West and rhythm guitarist Joan Jett after they had both introduced themselves to producer Kim Fowley, who gave Jett’s phone number to West. The two met on their own at West’s home and later called Fowley to let him hear the outcome. Fowley then helped the girls find other members. Two decades later he said, “I didn’t put The Runaways together, 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.”
Starting as a power trio with singer/bassist Micki Steele, The Runaways began the party and club circuit around Los Angeles. They soon added lead guitarist Lita Ford who had originally auditioned for the bass spot. Steele got fired from the group, later resurfacing in The Bangles. Local bassist Peggy Foster took over on bass but left after a month. Lead singer Cherie Currie was found and recruited in a local teen nightclub called the Sugar Shack, followed by Jackie Fox (who had originally auditioned for the lead guitar spot) on bass.
The band's lineup was:
* Cherie Currie, lead vocals and keyboards
* Joan Jett, rhythm guitar and vocals
* Lita Ford, lead guitar
* Jackie Fox, bass guitar and vocals
* Sandy West, drums and vocals
Despite the apparent "jailbait on the run" gimmick, the girls in the band were proficient at playing their instruments and wrote or co-wrote most of the band's material and, as later became obvious, were serious about their music. Their best known song is 1976's "Cherry Bomb" which has been covered by many other bands, including the punk band Bratmobile.
The Runaways made five albums and went through several personnel changes. Michael Steele was briefly part of the band before their first album, and later joined The Bangles. In 1977 Vicki Blue replaced Jackie Fox on bass guitar and Joan Jett took over as lead singer after the departure of Cherie Currie. In 1978 Laurie McAllister replaced Vicki Blue. The band broke up in 1979.
Jett and Ford both went on to achieve substantial success as solo artists in the 1980s. Currie went on to a briefly successful career as an actress, appearing in "Foxes" with Jodie Foster, before falling into heavy drug use. She later recovered and wrote an autobiography, "Neon Angel". West continued with music, sometimes playing with her former bandmates. Fox went to UCLA and Harvard Law School and became an entertainment attorney.
There was some progress made towards a Runaways reunion at the end of the 1990s, but this was killed off by Lita Ford who backed out at the planning stage, to the disgust of Jett. Currie did join Jett onstage in 2001 to sing "Cherry Bomb", the first time they had performed together in close to 25 years.
In 2004 Vicki Blue directed a feature-length documentary named "Edgeplay - A Film About The Runaways". The film includes interviews with most of the band members as well as producer Kim Fowley.
Drummer and vocalist Sandy West died on October 21, 2006 of lung cancer, at age 47.
The Runaways paved the way for female oriented punk bands like X-Ray Spex, Bikini Kill and most recently, The Donnas.
Most recently a movie called "The Runaways" was released starring Dakota Fanning as Currie and Kristen Stewart as Jett.
Joan Jett and Cherie Currie re-recorded "Cherry Bomb" for the video game "Guitar Hero Warriors Of Rock.
Fantasies
The Runaways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night visions of fantasies
Are laying in bed with me
In the dark I can see you smiling
You touch my body and set my soul on fire
Oh yeh
The sun is rising, shining in your eyes
Suddenly you're gone
And I'm left here all alone
Oh yeh
Am I dreaming?
Were you really here?
Is it just a fantasy?
Or am I dreaming
Oh yeh
Am I dreaming?
Were you really here?
Is it just a fantasy?
Or am I dreaming
Oh yeh
I know you're here
I can feel your presence
And that sound you're making
It's getting me so hot
Oh yeh
Am I dreaming?
Were you really here?
Is it just a fantasy?
Or am I dreaming
Oh yeh
The Runaways' "Fantasies" takes us on a journey of a steamy dream that provokes feelings of desire and longing. Lita Ford's opening line, "night visions of fantasies, are laying in bed with me," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is immersed in a dream that feels way too real, and it's taking over every fiber of her being. The sensation of being with someone and feeling their touch consumes her, and she describes the experience in detail. From seeing the person smile in the dark to the feeling of being set on fire by their touch, every moment seems vivid and intimate.
But as the night progresses, the dream begins to slip away, and the singer wakes up to the morning light. She feels a sudden pang of emptiness as the person she was with disappears without a trace. At this point, she questions the reality of it all, asking herself, "am I dreaming? Were you really here? Is it just a fantasy?" The song ends with the singer coming to terms with the fact that the dream may have just been a figment of her imagination.
Overall, "Fantasies" is a song that explores the intense desire we have for someone and the desperation that comes with trying to hold onto that feeling. The lyrics are raw and unapologetic, and the melody creates an addictive, dreamy atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Night visions of fantasies
I'm having vivid visions of my deepest desires while lying in bed
Are laying in bed with me
These fantasies are so real it's like they're lying in bed with me
In the dark I can see you smiling
Even though it's dark I can picture you smiling and it's bringing me pleasure
You touch my body and set my soul on fire
Your touch sets my body and soul ablaze with passion
Oh yeh
Expressing satisfaction and pleasure
I can see morning light
The experience is so deep it continues into the morning
The sun is rising, shining in your eyes
I envision the sun shining in your eyes as the morning begins
Suddenly you're gone
The experience suddenly ends and I am alone again
And I'm left here all alone
I'm left feeling empty and alone after the experience ends
Am I dreaming?
Questioning the reality of the experience
Were you really here?
Wondering if the experience was real or just a fantasy
Is it just a fantasy?
Questioning whether the experience was just a figment of my imagination
Or am I dreaming
Still questioning the reality of the experience
I know you're here
Despite the questioning, I feel the presence of the other person
I can feel your presence
Sensing the other person's presence despite their physical absence
And that sound you're making
Feeling arousal from the other person's imagined sounds
It's getting me so hot
Feeling increasingly aroused as the experience continues
Oh yeh
Expressing satisfaction and pleasure
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LITA ROSSANA FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind