The Runaways

Drummer Sandy West from the 70s all girl rock band The Runaways has died aged of lung cancer aged 47.

The influential musician was diagnosed a year ago and she died in a hospice in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles.

Lead singer Cherie Curry said: "It will never be the same for me again to step up on stage because Sandy West was the best and I will miss her forever."

West started The Runaways with Joan Jett in 1975. They went on to have hits with Cherry Bomb and Born to be Bad.

"We shared the dream of girls playing rock and roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," said Jett.

"I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world," she added.

Before the band broke up in 1979, The Runaways toured the world several times, often headlining with opening acts like Tom Petty and Cheap Trick.

West went on to perform as a drummer, guitarist and vocalist with The Sandy West Band.

West's manager, Mara Fox, is hoping to publish the musician's memoirs which she wrote before she died.

-- Source : BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6079542.stm

The first two Runaways albums have been reissued by Cherry Red Records and are now available at www.therunaways.com/ ENTER THE RUNAWAYS .COM then click on Interact Merchandise Buy Runaways cd reissues here!

Cherry Red Records is reissuing The Runaways first four albums in the coming months. Visit Cherry Red's website.
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/crzone/newletters/aug03/1.htm http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/therunaways.htm http://www.cherryred.co.uk/

And Now...The Runaways reissued by Cherry Red Records Cherry Red Records - Newsletter page 1 New Releases 14th October The Runaways And Now…The Runaways CDMGRAM 63 http://www.cherryred.co.uk/crzone/newletters/october/1.htm

Cherry Red Records - Newsletter page 4 Unavailable for some time, The Runaways have their "And Now…" (CDMGRAM 63) album re-issued. http://www.cherryred.co.uk/crzone/newletters/october/4.htm

Runaways http://www.cherryred.co.uk/anagram/runaways.htm

The Cherry Red Story I'd seen the then controversial all girl group, The Runaways play the previous year at The Roundhouse. They were great! When I heard that Phonogram in England didn't want to release their new album, I tracked down their manager in New York and offered him a small advance for the record. One Friday evening a month later I arrived at Chappels recording studio to meet singer Joan Jett and her manager Toby Mamis. Joan was there recording some new tracks with Paul Cook and Steve Jones from The Sex Pistols. I was a little nervous at first. Were a band who were used to the financial benefits of a major record company going to be happy with the minimal resources of Cherry Red? I needn't have worried. Toby Mamis already knew the game I was playing and was just pleased to get the album out. When The Runaways album was released we were viewed in a different way. It was little like being promoted from the Vauxhall Conference to the Third Division. We were now in the league! http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/cred-story.htm

Fans of The Runaways now have a new official resource for news, photos, interviews and information of all sorts about the ground-breaking all girl rock band at TheRunaways.com! Along with current news from the Runaway alumnae, the site will offer audio interviews from the band's short but fabulous run (in RealPlayer format), rare and unique photos, video clips and interviews, plus officially licensed Runaways merchandise including re-releases of the original albums, clothing, and gift/collectible items. To celebrate the launch of the Official Runaways website, David Snowden Promotions is offering all Runaways Merchandise on sale during the entire month of August! http://www.therunaways.com/