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.
Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin
The Runaways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pushing power in overdrive
Cobra kings wet and wild
Love the devil that's in your smile
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Neon angels on the road to ruin
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Everybody who's ever on fire
Now's the time for hearts desire
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Neon angels on the road to ruin
Highways hard in this modern world
Battered boys and shattered girls
Leather bombers that rule the streets
Setting fires and living heat
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Neon angels on the road to ruin
The lyrics to The Runaways' song Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin depict a rebellious and wild lifestyle that the band members, most of whom were teenage girls, enjoyed living. The first line, "no one here gets out alive," suggests that they lived life to the fullest and did not care about the consequences. The next line, "pushing power in overdrive," indicates that they were taking risks and living on the edge. The reference to "cobra kings" suggests that they were fearless and dangerous, while the reference to "love the devil that's in your smile" suggests that they were drawn to the darker aspects of life.
The chorus, "let me tell you what we've been doin', neon angels on the road to ruin," highlights the rebellious and destructive nature of their lifestyle. They were not interested in conforming to societal norms or expectations, but instead chose to live life on their own terms. The line, "everybody who's ever on fire, now's the time for hearts desire," suggests that they were inspiring others to join them in their wild and reckless ways.
The second half of the song continues to describe their rebellious lifestyle, referencing the hardships and challenges of living in a modern world, but also celebrating the sense of freedom and power that comes with breaking the rules. Overall, Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin is a hard-hitting and unapologetic anthem of rebellion and youthful recklessness.
Line by Line Meaning
No one here gets out alive
Everyone in this lifestyle will eventually self-destruct.
Pushing power in overdrive
We are recklessly living life at full speed.
Cobra kings wet and wild
Our gang is powerful and untouchable.
Love the devil that's in your smile
We are attracted to danger and bad intentions.
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Allow me to share our current activities and experiences.
Neon angels on the road to ruin
We, the members of our gang, are leading ourselves to destruction.
Everybody who's ever on fire
Everyone who is passionate and seeking a thrill.
Now's the time for hearts desire
This is the moment to fulfill our wildest dreams and desires.
Highways hard in this modern world
Navigating life is difficult and unforgiving in our contemporary society.
Battered boys and shattered girls
We, the gang members, are the products of our society's broken systems.
Leather bombers that rule the streets
Our gang is powerful and controls our environment.
Setting fires and living heat
We are instigating chaos and living life at full intensity.
Let me tell you what we've been doin'
Allow me to share our current activities and experiences.
Neon angels on the road to ruin
We, the members of our gang, are leading ourselves to destruction.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JACKIE FOX, KIM FOWLEY, LITA ROSSANA FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind