Every few years an all-female band rises
high in the male-dominated rock music industry. Goldie and the Gingerbreads in the early 1960s, Fanny in the late 1960s, Girlschool in the late 1970s and both the
Bangles and the Go-Go’s in the 1980s were among the pioneers. No all-female band
was more famous than the Runaways,
however.The Los Angeles-based band lasted only three albums, yet produced three
solo artists in Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie. Currie joined the Los Angeles-based Runaways in 1975
when she was 15 years old. The band’s best-known song, "Cherry Bomb,"
was written for her at the audition. After the Runaways, Currie became an
actress in numerous movies and television dramas, published her memoirs,
recorded solo albums and became a chainsaw carving artist.
At the Gramercy Theatre tonight, Currie relived her early history. Much of the
set was comprised of Runaways songs, she spoke about the Runaways frequently
between songs and she even wore a Lita Ford t-shirt. An unspoken truth was
evident, however. Aside from her youthful punk-rock image in the Runaways, she
was a bland singer then and tonight showed that she is still an unremarkable
singer. Also, although her band did a fair job in adding a little juice to her
songs, the set was weak. The newer songs were pleasant but forgettable time
fillers, the covers of Tommy James’ “Dragging the Line” and David Bowie’s “Rebel
Rebel” were uneventful and the Runaways songs – well, there was a reason why
the Runaways sold more t-shirts than albums. The show deserved a chainsaw.
Visit Cherrie Currie at www.cheriecurrie.com.
