READY TO ROCK & SET THE STAGE ON FIRE....with first area appearance since 1977
Cherie Currie was making rock and roll history the last time she performed in Cleveland, Ohio. The year was 1977 and the place was the Cleveland Agora where she performed as the lead singer of the Runaways—a band that also included Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox. 16 year old girls who performed sweaty driving rock and roll like no one had ever witnessed. The story of the Runaways is legendary as they quickly had a record deal after forming and with their debut album released in 1976 went on a national tour across America. They headlined bills over legendary bands such as Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Tom Petty, and The Ramones. Worldwide fame was soon to follow after the release of the second album, Queens of Noise a year later. They rocketed to fame becoming the fourth most popular international act behind only Led Zeppelin, ABBA, and Kiss. Cherie left the Runaways after three years of nonstop touring and getting caught up in the rock and roll pitfalls of drug abuse. By 1984 she reached a point that brought her back as she turned her life around and actually became a drug counselor and fitness instructor. She released her autobiography in 1989.
Cherie created success as a musician, actress, artist and best-selling author—Neon Angel. In addition Currie has carved out a successful career and known as the chainsaw chick creating wood carvings over the past 12 years.
After returning in 2010 to perform with the release of the film The Runaways—based on her book, Currie was quickly signed to do a new album and is taking her show on the road this summer which will kick off in the Cleveland area.
I have to tell you, Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, really that was our first stop on our first US tour…and we drove for three days to get to Cleveland, and I will never forget that first night and just I can remember Cleveland and Akron it sits in my heart, and can’t wait to play the Foundry (August 7th) there, I just can’t wait.
And (just) 37 years later, the Cherry Bomb of the Runaways is ready to set the stage on fire again with her music and stage presence delivering new music with classics from the Runaways and other surprises. A return to Cleveland—the home of rock and roll was a priority. She will perform with her son Jake Hays on drums and Cleveland area guitarist Tony Artino.
Oh, you have to know, I have to tell you. This Cleveland show was not supposed to happen. Our drummer (Matt Sorum) wasn’t able to make it and had a prior commitment. I was so heartbroken and went I don’t want to give up this show, and my son is a drummer, so being a guitar player, he goes, momma, I can play drums. And I go can you play drums and we can do it as a trio? And then our dear friend Tony Artino who was playing with me and Sandy West 20 years ago and I go is there any way you can do a show with me and he said I am so there so we are actually flying in and running through the set at Tony’s house and because Cleveland is just the most rock and roll town and I get to play again with a guy who I haven’t played with in 20 years Jake on the drums—that is how much Cleveland means to me that I just could not find a way to do a show and it was just magical that within 48 hours we had it all set. The show must go on when it is Cleveland.”
Although her record has yet to be released a single is to be released on ITunes. Her new record was produced by Sorum and features guest appearances from Slash, Billy Corgan, Duff McKagen, Juliette Lewis, Courtney Love, and the Veronicas.
"What we did on the record was very fresh and the style…well, Matt Sorum did a great job trying to bring back that 70s magical feel. So we are doing the shows with my favorite Runaways songs, and from the new album."
The new LP will be Currie’s first solo album since 1980.
"It is so great to have my son playing with me. He is really great. He is a good person, talented, and to have him on stage with us is great, because he has his own band, and this is like a crash course of what it is like out there. He started playing when he was 13, and actually the first thing he ever did he played on the Steve Spiro radio show with me and he played guitar with Steve Jones playing Runaways tunes and he was just 13 years old!”
CHERIE CURRIE KICKS OFF TOUR IN CLEVELAND
Cherie was a pioneer of rock and roll with her band mates in the Runaways and was determined to show the world that they were a serious rock and roll band. “We just did our job. We kind of knew right off the bat that people were not going to take us seriously--especially at face value. But, if you came to the shows you walked out a believer. I couldn’t watch videos of the band for 20 years after I left the band because it was very force fought, but I look at those videos and was amazed at how magical we were-the five of us. Just the five of us what we had was very special together. For 16, 17 year old girls. we were determined. If you look at those videos we were determined to get across that we were not wusses, we were not pussys, we were not pansies. We didn’t apologize.”
"I just want to pass along that the Runaways are a band that long after I thought we were dead and buried that I want to thank a lot of them (fans) for having a lot more faith in this band than any of the band members actually have. Just for keeping the memory alive and I want to thank them for that."
Cherry Bomb is the song that became the staple of the band which included Cherie dressed in a corset, garter and stockings. The song was written by Joan Jett and then manager Kim Fowley for Currie to audition for the group. “Well, actually Joan and Kim wrote the song for me to audition for the Runaways. I had “Fever” and they didn’t want that they wanted a rock and roll song and Kim looked at me and said she is a Cherry Bomb. They left the room and we were doing the audition in a garage and went in the house for about 30 minutes and came out with Cherry Bomb which they wrote for me for the audition. So, it was how they felt looking at me and what I could do and I don’t know if it was an anthem but you know, it was a rebellious song I imagine. Of course, it spoke to authority a bit. It was in your face and that was not happening then. You had Heart, you had Suzi Quatro and the other rock goddess’ but the Runaways came from a different place. We brought a new form of—it is hard to explain, we were in transition from being children to women and all of that turmoil was sitting around and the Runaways is what that created.”
As Currie returns to Cleveland and the city with the Rock Hall—possibly a place for Cherie and the Runaways to rightfully take their place, she has been an inspiration to many female bands and musical artists. “I kind of think that the Runaways did that and especially when Madonna was up there and the corset and everyone was like she was the first one to be wearing a corset and I was like, NO, I was. I was the first. And for her to say that and she knew who we were but she never stepped up and said well, Cherie Currie was the first to wear the corset—you know, people always want to be the first. If Madonna ever listened to the music and for sure new who we were it would have been nice to get a shout out from her but that never happened... And other bands like the Go Go’s that openly said the Runaways were an influence and that really set me back! Wow, that is so neat! Thank you! LOL
CHERIE CURRIE & LITA FORD-RUNAWAYS
Currie brings a multitude of talent to her repertoire and is an inspiration to female artists around the world for good reason. She opened doors and overcame her downfall and continues to put out great music. For female and male musicians alike who look for someone in the music world to look to for success, Currie caries the torch and gives all the more reason for strong support as she embarks on her new adventures in rock and roll as this is one act you do not want to miss.
