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.
Wasted
The Runaways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man you're lookin' wasted
Greasy wheels, streets of steel
No tellin' what ya tasted
Good guys bad guys
Doesn't really matter
Punch drunk, high on junk
Wasted lives of wasted drives
Wasted days an' wasted nights
Wasted this an' wasted that
Wasted is where you're at
Torpedoes in tuxedos
Got iron in their hands
Cotton sound, lost an' found
Is in every crazy man
Lonely rain, bad cocaine
Doesn't really matter
China white, don't treat ya right
Sad you are so shattered
Wasted lives of wasted drives
Wasted days an' wasted nights
Wasted this an' wasted that
Wasted is where you're at
Madhouse melodies
Got beach rats on the run
Golden tractors, low plus factors
Silver bullets, rubber gun
Redneck rocker, or devil daughter
Doesn't really matter
Cheap dope, ya can't cope
Sad you are so shattered
Wasted lives of wasted drives
Wasted days an' wasted nights
Wasted this an' wasted that
Wasted is where you're at
The Runaways' song "Wasted" is a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of drug addiction and the consequences of living a life consumed by it. The lyrics paint a picture of wasted lives and wasted days, where the people have lost themselves in the haze of drugs and alcohol. The blue-skinned sleeping boys are a metaphor for the people who have given up on life and are just going through the motions. The greasy wheels and streets of steel represent the harsh reality of the world and the dangers that exist for those who are lost.
The song talks about how drug addiction does not discriminate between good guys and bad guys, and how it leaves everyone feeling punch-drunk and high on junk. The torpedoes in tuxedos represent those who are in positions of power but are also struggling with addiction. The lonely rain and bad cocaine are a metaphor for the emptiness and pain that accompany addiction.
The last stanza talks about the chaos and confusion that accompanies addiction. The madhouse melodies represent the chaos and confusion of addiction, while the beach rats and golden tractors symbolize the people who have lost their way. The redneck rocker and devil daughter represent those who are struggling to find their identity, and the cheap dope represents the temporary escape that drugs offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue skinned sleeping boys
People who are severely intoxicated and passed out, with their skin appearing blue from lack of oxygen.
Man you're lookin' wasted
Addressing someone who is intoxicated and appearing physically worn out or exhausted.
Greasy wheels, streets of steel
Referring to the rough and rugged environment in which the people in the song live, which involves using cars to navigate through tough and gritty city streets.
No tellin' what ya tasted
Expressing uncertainty about what substances the intoxicated individuals may have ingested, highlighting the dangers of drug use.
Good guys bad guys
The distinction between morality and immorality is irrelevant when it comes to the issue of drug addiction and the negative consequences that come with it.
Doesn't really matter
Emphasizing the lack of importance of distinguishing between different types of characters who are all affected by addiction.
Punch drunk, high on junk
Experiencing both physical and mental damage as a result of being under the influence of drugs.
Sad you are so shattered
A sense of despair surrounding the detrimental effects of addiction on those who suffer from substance abuse.
Wasted lives of wasted drives
A commentary on how drug use can result in wasted opportunities, potential, and lives, as well as an allusion to the physical act of driving while intoxicated.
Wasted days an' wasted nights
Describing the repetitive, harmful cycle of drug use and addiction that drains one's time and energy.
Wasted this an' wasted that
A broad reference to various aspects of one's life that can be negatively impacted by addiction, such as relationships, talent, and finances.
Wasted is where you're at
A somber acknowledgement of the sobering reality of living with addiction, which can lead to a sense of hopelessness and trapped feelings.
Torpedoes in tuxedos
A powerful yet dangerous group of people who can't escape or remove themselves from the world of drugs, even when they're dressed in formal clothing.
Got iron in their hands
Carrying weapons that can be used to cause harm or intimidation whilst living in a dangerous and volatile environment.
Cotton sound, lost an' found
Referring to the music that symbolizes the mood and energy of the place where the song is set, which is a lost and undefined city.
Is in every crazy man
Suggesting that even in those who have lost their minds, music is still present and meaningful to them.
Lonely rain, bad cocaine
Being lonely and struggling with tragic circumstances that lead to drug use, like being involved with bad or contaminated drugs.
China white, don't treat ya right
China white, a potent type of heroin, is colloquially known to be more deadly and damaging than other kinds of heroin, and is not a sufficient substitute for the comfort or support many people seek from addiction.
Madhouse melodies
The chaotic yet captivating nature of music, which can evoke different types of emotions in people.
Got beach rats on the run
In a place where there is so much pain, people naturally find ways to escape and seek freedom, running away from the beach to find other ways to feel alive.
Golden tractors, low plus factors
An oxymoron that symbolizes how life is both prosperous and desperate in the slums of the city.
Silver bullets, rubber gun
A nod to the harsh reality of living in an area where there is a significant amount of gun violence, but where the guns themselves often aren't even real.
Redneck rocker, or devil daughter
Another example of how the identities of those who suffer from addiction can vary widely, with no distinction in their shared experiences of trying to conquer addiction.
Cheap dope, ya can't cope
The realization that drug use and addiction are never actually coping mechanisms, but rather temporary fixes that ultimately contribute to the development of further problems.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOAN JETT, KIM FOWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind