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.
Lovers
The Runaways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My dead lover, who's been gone since May
I shed some tears and then walked away
Looked to the skies and yelled out your name
I saw the clouds get dark as hell
Then lightning crashed, and struck a church bell
The rain came down and the wind blew in
Then I swear I heard something from your coffin
My one and only baby
For three years we had dated
And our love never faded
Now I hear a' knocking
Coming from your coffin
You're somehow back in action
What kind of voodoo happened
Undead lover
Won't you be my lover again
And feel me over with your pale blue skin
Undead lover
No, I don't want any other
We'll be together past the end, yeah
I helped you pull yourself right out your grave
And then we headed for the cemetery gates
You were decked out in your leather and lace
A little worse for wear but that's OK
I'll pick the maggots right off your skin
I'll put the eye back that hangs past your chin
I'll clean the dirt caked in your head
Girl now you're alive, you're my undead girlfriend
Pretty little lady
Just a little faded
We'll buy the best sunblock
So you can stay shaded
My cover girl mama
My sexy dead-o-rama
Dressin' like Madonna
Yeah, she's my dead lover
Undead lover
Won't you be my lover again
And feel me over with your pale blue skin
Undead lover
No, I don't want any other
We'll be together past the end, yeah
Pretty little lady
My one and only baby
For three years we had dated
And our love never faded
Now I hear a' knocking
Coming from your coffin
You're somehow back in action
What kind of voodoo happened
Undead lover
Won't you be my lover again
And feel me over with your pale blue skin
Undead lover
No, I don't want any other
We'll be together past the end, yeah
Undead lover
Come rise again
Undead lover
Yeah, come rise
Undead lover
Come rise again
Undead lover
Yeah, come rise
The lyrics to The Runaways' song "Lovers" are about intense, passionate love. The singer is asking for "something bad and nice, hot love" and wants to experience "paradise" through the love they share with their partner. The lyrics suggest that the lovers have a physical connection, as the singer wants to "make me scream" with pleasure. Despite the intensity of their connection, the lovers never say goodbye and never truly die, though they may sometimes fade away quietly.
The chorus reflects the idea that true love will never end, as the two lovers are forever bound together. The singer claims that they know their partner loves them and that they are the perfect match, as they "won't cry to tell you why." The bridge describes the physical passion the two share, and the singer wants a "wet and real, strong love" that they can experience right now. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the lovers will never truly leave each other.
Overall, the lyrics to "Lovers" explore the intensity and passion of true love, as well as the idea that such love is eternal and unbreakable.
Line by Line Meaning
I want something bad and nice, hot love
I desire an intense, passionate relationship that's also gratifying and satisfying
I want it nice from paradise, your love
I specifically yearn for your affection; it should be euphoric and surreal
All night long I'm chasing fast, true love
I'm seeking a romantic connection relentlessly, with sincerest intensity
Make me scream, make it fast
I want our lovemaking to be so exceptional that it sends me into fits of passion, quickly
We lovers never say goodbye
People in love find ways to stay connected; parting doesn't mean it's over between them
We lovers never die
No matter the circumstances, true love perseveres and endures
We stop and go so quietly
Our love affair may falter and fade away, but it'll happen gradually and noiselessly
Cold lovers fade away
Relationships that lack affection and intimacy ultimately disintegrate
I'm the one for you
I believe I'm the perfect companion for you
You know what I say is true
You fully comprehend and agree with what I'm saying
I won't cry to tell you why
I won't be emotional to justify why I'm the ideal person for you
I know that you love me too
I'm confident that you share my feelings of affection
You do a one, two, three, four
You follow the rhythm and the count of the music, indicating your attraction and interest
I want a kiss wet and real, strong love
I'm craving a vivid, authentic kiss that embodies our profound connection
I want to tell you how I feel, right now
I need to express my emotions unequivocally with you, immediately
All night long it rained and rained, my love
It stormed and poured ceaselessly, symbolizing my intense love and devotion to you
Make me scream hey what's your name?
Our intimacy should be so mind-blowing that I lose self-awareness and inquire your name mid-activity
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Return Stasis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind