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.
Rock and Roll
The Runaways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was nothin' happening at all
Every time she puts on the radio
There was nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
Then, one fine mornin', she puts on a New York station
You know, she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started shakin' to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Despite all the imputations
You know, you could just go out
And dance to a rock'n'roll station
And it was all right, hey baby,
You know, it was all right
Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
`You know, my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well, you know, ain't gonna help me at all
Then, one fine morning, she turns on a New York station
She doesn't believe what she hears at all
Ooh, she started dancin' to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Yeah, rock'n'roll
Despite all the computations
You could just dance to that rock'n'roll station
And baby, it was all right, yeah
Hey, it was all right
Hey, here she comes now
Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
'Hey, you know, there's nothin' happening at all, not at all
Every time I put on the radio
You know, there's nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
But, one fine morning, she hears a New York station
She couldn't believe what she heard at all, hey, not at all
She started dancing to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Yes, rock'n'roll
Despite all the computations
You know, you could just dance to the rock'n'roll station
All right
All right, all right, and it was all right
Oh, listen to me now, it was all right
Come on now, believe me, it was all right
it was all right
hey, it's all right now
The Runaways' song "Rock and Roll" is about the transformative power of music. The lyrics tell the story of Jenny, who becomes disillusioned with music because nothing exciting is happening on the radio. But then she discovers a New York station playing rock and roll, and it changes her life. She feels the music and starts dancing, and suddenly everything is "alright". The song celebrates the freedom and joy that rock and roll can bring.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "it's all right", emphasizing that rock and roll is a universal language that can bring people together and make everything okay. The verses describe Jenny's story and the contrast between her boring, materialistic life and the vitality she finds in music. The lyrics suggest that rock and roll is a way to escape from the mundane and find meaning and excitement in life.
Overall, "Rock and Roll" is a powerful celebration of the transformative power of music, and the joy and freedom it can bring to those who listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny said, when she was just five years old
Jenny recalled her childhood, when she was only five years old
There was nothin' happening at all
She felt that nothing was going on in her life and in the world around her
Every time she puts on the radio
Jenny listened to the radio frequently
There was nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
She heard nothing that interested her when she listened to the radio
Then, one fine mornin', she puts on a New York station
Jenny discovered a New York station one morning
You know, she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She was astonished by what she heard on the New York station
She started shakin' to that fine, fine music
Jenny began to dance to the music on the New York station
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Rock and roll music gave Jenny a new sense of purpose and meaning in her life
Despite all the imputations
Despite being criticized or condemned by others
You know, you could just go out
Jenny realized that she could go out and enjoy herself despite criticism
And dance to a rock'n'roll station
She could dance to the music she loved on the radio
And it was all right, hey baby,
Despite what others might say, it was all right for her to enjoy herself
Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
Jenny was still reminiscing about her childhood
`You know, my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Jenny felt that her parents' extravagant lifestyle was detrimental to their well-being
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Her parents had two TVs and two expensive cars
Well, you know, ain't gonna help me at all
Jenny did not believe that her parents' possessions would improve her own life
Then, one fine morning, she turns on a New York station
One day, Jenny discovered a New York radio station
She doesn't believe what she hears at all
Jenny was surprised by the music she heard on the New York station
Ooh, she started dancin' to that fine, fine music
The rock and roll music inspired her to dance
Despite all the computations
Despite what others might say or calculate
You could just dance to that rock'n'roll station
Jenny could still enjoy rock and roll music, regardless of what others thought
And baby, it was all right, yeah
In the end, it was all right for Jenny to enjoy the music she loved
Hey, here she comes now
Jenny is still dancing to the music
Come on now, believe me, it was all right
Jenny wants others to know that it was all right to enjoy rock and roll music
hey, it's all right now
Jenny still believes that it's all right to enjoy the music she loves
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
(It's all right)
(It's all right)
(It's all right)
(It's all right)
All right!
Whoo!
Ginni said when she was five years old
You know there's nothing going down at all
She turned on that radio
And there was nothing happenin' at all
She turned on that LA station
Couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started dancing to that fine fine music
Her life was saved by rock and roll
Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
It was all right (it's all right)
It was all right (it's all right)
Yeah, it was all right (it's all right)
You betcha
Whoo!
Ginni said when she was five years old
You know our parents will be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well they don't mean nothin' at all
She turned on that LA station
Couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started dancin' to that fine fine music
Her life was saved by rock and roll
Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
Said it was all right (it's all right)
Said it was all right (it's all right)
It was all right, (it's all right)
All right!
Whoo!
Ow!
Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
And it was all right (it's all right)
And it was all right (it's all right)
Yeah, it was all right, (it's all right)
Said it was all right!
João Gurgel
Sou fascinado pelas The Runaways 🤘❤️🇧🇷
Littletreasure✨
I started to listen to the runaways when I was 13, my life was saved by rock n roll
João Gurgel
I love The Runaways ❤️ Joan Jett always beautiful ❤️ Queens of Rock'n'Roll 🤘🇧🇷❤️
Basil McDaisy
I didn’t realize this was written by Lou Reed! This is a great cover
Phishphantom
Check out the "Jane's Addiction" version. Both are excellent covers.
Kohntarkosz
Yeah, it took a bunch of teenage GIRLS to make one of Lou's songs sound good! lol
Bruce Hams
It wasn't it was written by Chuck Berry...
Tilted4Fun
@Kohntarkosz excuse me? Have you heard the original? 😂 Sorry, this cover is good but the original is fucking bomb.
Kohntarkosz
@Tilted4Fun Yes, I've heard the original. I still prefer the Runaways version.
Tangerinedream
2018!!! At my house drinking beers fuck yeah this is still a tune. I don’t wanna grow old