Queens of Noise
March 6, 2009 11:37 AM Subscribe
Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Sandy West, and Jackie Fox are The Runaways.
Joan Jett and Lita Ford had successful solo careers and are still rocking hard. An achievement in Guitar Hero II is named after them.
Cherie Currie went on to an acting career and is an award-winning chainsaw artist. (previously) Her memoir is the basis of the upcoming movie starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
Jackie Fox earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard and works as an entertainment attorney.
Sandy West never stopped mourning the breakup of the band. She died of lung cancer in 2006, aged 47.
Joan Jett and Lita Ford had successful solo careers and are still rocking hard. An achievement in Guitar Hero II is named after them.
Cherie Currie went on to an acting career and is an award-winning chainsaw artist. (previously) Her memoir is the basis of the upcoming movie starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
Jackie Fox earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard and works as an entertainment attorney.
Sandy West never stopped mourning the breakup of the band. She died of lung cancer in 2006, aged 47.
really?
posted by Jeff_Larson at 11:44 AM on March 6, 2009
posted by Jeff_Larson at 11:44 AM on March 6, 2009
Why is adolescence so hard for people to move on from?
What do you do after being a rock star? You were a frickin rock star! (I will say that being a chainsaw artist is pretty bad-ass.)
That, and a fear of death.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:45 AM on March 6, 2009
What do you do after being a rock star? You were a frickin rock star! (I will say that being a chainsaw artist is pretty bad-ass.)
That, and a fear of death.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:45 AM on March 6, 2009
Why is adolescence the beginning of a successful career in your dream job followed by twenty-five years of obscurity so hard for people to move on from?
FTFY.
posted by 0x029a at 11:58 AM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
FTFY.
posted by 0x029a at 11:58 AM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
Why is adolescence so hard for people to move on from?
Imagine everything you were really good at doing was your career and it just so happens you got real good at it when you were just a kid. And it just so happens that thing you are good at is associated with a youth culture. Skate boarding. Rock and roll.
Nobody calls Mozart or Yoyo Ma adolescent. But they started when they were just a kids.
Certainly seeing acts the Rolling Stones drag their wrinkled asses around on tour buses and acting like their STILL part of a rebel youth culture is pathetic. But not becuase their simply old but becuase made a ton of money, are now part of the establishment, and are charging $100 a ticket. That's just fucking greedy. But people dong what they are good at for as long as possible is fine with me.
And Joan Jett still looks and sounds amazing.
posted by tkchrist at 12:07 PM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
Imagine everything you were really good at doing was your career and it just so happens you got real good at it when you were just a kid. And it just so happens that thing you are good at is associated with a youth culture. Skate boarding. Rock and roll.
Nobody calls Mozart or Yoyo Ma adolescent. But they started when they were just a kids.
Certainly seeing acts the Rolling Stones drag their wrinkled asses around on tour buses and acting like their STILL part of a rebel youth culture is pathetic. But not becuase their simply old but becuase made a ton of money, are now part of the establishment, and are charging $100 a ticket. That's just fucking greedy. But people dong what they are good at for as long as possible is fine with me.
And Joan Jett still looks and sounds amazing.
posted by tkchrist at 12:07 PM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
That Runaway movie is a really great script, Floria Sigismundi has already done most of the heavy lifting crafting a story that works well as a biopic of a band as opposed to a biopic of a person. It should be something like one of their songs -- short, sharp, and frenetic. It ends as the band breaks up, with a brief coda in '81 that's a bit of a heartbreaker. The relationship between Cherie and Joan forms the core of the story, and while a lot of people are bemoaning the Dakota Fanning casting choice, it's something of a brilliant move in my mind. 15 year-olds to play 15 year-olds? Shocking! Now if only we could do something about wiping Kristen Stewart from the face of the planet?
posted by incessant at 12:24 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by incessant at 12:24 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is the ch-ch-cherry bomb
posted by pianomover at 12:28 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by pianomover at 12:28 PM on March 6, 2009
Why is adolescence so hard for people to move on from?
What I take from Burhanistan's comment is he wondering why people obsess about the music of their youth?
posted by dydecker at 12:29 PM on March 6, 2009
What I take from Burhanistan's comment is he wondering why people obsess about the music of their youth?
posted by dydecker at 12:29 PM on March 6, 2009
tkchrist: " Joan Jett still looks and sounds amazing."
I concur.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:29 PM on March 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
I concur.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:29 PM on March 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
I really liked Edgeplay, even though 1) I'm a big Joan Jett fan, and Jett does not come off that well because of her refusal to have anything to do with the documentary; 2) because of #1, there are almost no performances by the Runaways in the film, and none of their hits; and 3) because I'm a little baffled by the title, associating "edgeplay" with something else entirely. Anyway, they all deserve credit for the riot grrrl movement, and not just Jett.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:32 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:32 PM on March 6, 2009
getting 15 year olds to play 15 year olds, great choice. getting me on board with dakota fanning as cherie...well, hopefully she's been squirreling away amazing depth and presence that will dazzle us all. i'm not holding my breath.
posted by nadawi at 12:38 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by nadawi at 12:38 PM on March 6, 2009
They still rock and Cherie Currie and Joan Jett look even better when they did as teenagers. Who looks better than they did when they were a teenager? These ladies must eat babies.
posted by queensissy at 12:40 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by queensissy at 12:40 PM on March 6, 2009
Uh...better than when they did as teenagers.
posted by queensissy at 12:41 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by queensissy at 12:41 PM on March 6, 2009
Why is adolescence so hard for people to move on from?
Why is ending sentences with prepositions such an annoying thing to engage in?
teasing...
posted by joe lisboa at 12:43 PM on March 6, 2009
Why is ending sentences with prepositions such an annoying thing to engage in?
teasing...
posted by joe lisboa at 12:43 PM on March 6, 2009
Hello Daddy! Hello Mom! I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!
posted by jonp72 at 12:57 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by jonp72 at 12:57 PM on March 6, 2009
Was that the right number of ch-ch-ch's?
You need two more: ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Cherry Bomb!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 1:03 PM on March 6, 2009
You need two more: ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Cherry Bomb!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 1:03 PM on March 6, 2009
I thought it was 8 "ch"s, but I've looked on some lyrics sites and it always seems to be 4 or 5.
posted by Evangeline at 1:04 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by Evangeline at 1:04 PM on March 6, 2009
God Cherie Currie is so hammy! Why didn't they just let Joan Jett be the lead singer? Too snotty?
posted by dydecker at 1:06 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by dydecker at 1:06 PM on March 6, 2009
Of course, maybe counting out "ch"s is a little like trying to write down the lyrics at the end of "Hey Jude".
posted by Evangeline at 1:06 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by Evangeline at 1:06 PM on March 6, 2009
... a little like trying to write down the lyrics at the end of "Hey Jude."
I swear on Lennon's grave that I attempted this once, freehand in realtime, on a drunken dare. I think I made it to the: "Juday-Juday-Juday-Juday-JudayAHOW-AWOOHOHOW..." part before giving up. So that particular pathetic gauntlet's still there, if anyone cares to pick it up. If so, God help you.
posted by joe lisboa at 1:20 PM on March 6, 2009
I swear on Lennon's grave that I attempted this once, freehand in realtime, on a drunken dare. I think I made it to the: "Juday-Juday-Juday-Juday-JudayAHOW-AWOOHOHOW..." part before giving up. So that particular pathetic gauntlet's still there, if anyone cares to pick it up. If so, God help you.
posted by joe lisboa at 1:20 PM on March 6, 2009
"Juday-Juday-Juday-Juday-JudayAHOW-AWOOHOHOW..."
My 75 year old mother still labors under the mistaken perception that that song is Antisemitic.
posted by tkchrist at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
My 75 year old mother still labors under the mistaken perception that that song is Antisemitic.
posted by tkchrist at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2009 [3 favorites]
God Cherie Currie is so hammy! Why didn't they just let Joan Jett be the lead singer? Too snotty?
I think Cherie had sex appeal which Kim Fowley, their creepy manager, exploited for marketing purposes.
But I agree, they were a much better band with Joan as their front woman.
posted by cazoo at 1:55 PM on March 6, 2009
I think Cherie had sex appeal which Kim Fowley, their creepy manager, exploited for marketing purposes.
But I agree, they were a much better band with Joan as their front woman.
posted by cazoo at 1:55 PM on March 6, 2009
hahaha Ready for sex appeal?
Dakota Fanning will play Cherie Currie and Kristen Stewart will be playing Joan Jett.
posted by spec80 at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2009
Dakota Fanning will play Cherie Currie and Kristen Stewart will be playing Joan Jett.
posted by spec80 at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2009
The Runaways were great, but both Joan and Lita were better on their own. And I don't care if you think I'm strange, I ain't gonna change.
posted by jonmc at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by jonmc at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2009
Paging ja-ja-ja-ja-ja-ja-ja-ja-jonmc ...
... oh, there he is.
posted by joe lisboa at 2:28 PM on March 6, 2009
... oh, there he is.
posted by joe lisboa at 2:28 PM on March 6, 2009
Joan Jett is a phenomenal entertainer. I saw her almost 20 years ago, when she was supposedly a has-been, at Bumbershoot and she just blew the roof off. And I saw her more like ten years ago at Bottom of the Hill with Evil Stig and she was even better.
Sigh. All hail Joan Jett!
posted by smartyboots at 3:40 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sigh. All hail Joan Jett!
posted by smartyboots at 3:40 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
This clip is fantastic. Joan Jett has a tough street kid vibe about her. I dunno much about the Runaways, but there seems to be a bunch of conflicting streams in their music. Is it generally Jett was the street punk, Lita Ford was pop/metal, and Cherie Currie was the bimbo cheese? Why did they break up?
posted by dydecker at 4:02 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by dydecker at 4:02 PM on March 6, 2009
I was channel surfing about a month or so ago and hit that Highlander T.V. series and who should be in it? I had to stop and watch the train wreck. Joan plays this dazed and confused and helpless new immortal...oh come on..Joan Jett can't even act like she is helpless. She's never been helpless. She rocks.
posted by Mojojojo at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by Mojojojo at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2009
Ah good times. Me and a friend in high school were crusing town one day, and stopped at a garage sale - and picked up a vinyl copy of the first album for a nickel. We rocked out for a week straight on that stuff.
posted by bradth27 at 8:31 PM on March 6, 2009
posted by bradth27 at 8:31 PM on March 6, 2009
Joan Jett is fucking awesome.
That is all.
posted by rokusan at 9:03 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
That is all.
posted by rokusan at 9:03 PM on March 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is good stuff.
Having not seen Twilight but being cheerfully prejudiced against it out of sheer cynicism, I blanched when I saw Kristen Stewart's name here for Joan Jett. Then, to check myself, I googled her and realized she played the lead in "Speak."
...which means I totally love her. I've shown that movie to several classes after we read the book. She did a wonderful job, and can genuinely ACT. So I hold out hope here.
Oh, and Joan's totally hot, short-haired blonde or not. Her face is just plain beautiful, and that hard edge makes her all the more awesome.
I have Joan Jett and Lita Ford stuff in my iPod even now.
Lookin' forward to this.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:37 PM on March 6, 2009
Having not seen Twilight but being cheerfully prejudiced against it out of sheer cynicism, I blanched when I saw Kristen Stewart's name here for Joan Jett. Then, to check myself, I googled her and realized she played the lead in "Speak."
...which means I totally love her. I've shown that movie to several classes after we read the book. She did a wonderful job, and can genuinely ACT. So I hold out hope here.
Oh, and Joan's totally hot, short-haired blonde or not. Her face is just plain beautiful, and that hard edge makes her all the more awesome.
I have Joan Jett and Lita Ford stuff in my iPod even now.
Lookin' forward to this.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:37 PM on March 6, 2009
... Jett was the street punk, Lita Ford was pop/metal, and Cherie Currie was the bimbo cheese ... Why did they break up?
You answered your own question in the prior sentence. They couldn't agree on a direction.
Joan Jett's music told me that it was ok that I wasn't like the other girls, and that toughness and attitude was something to be proud of, not something to hide away, like the nuns said.
My daughter wears my old red hi-top Keds now, passed down to another generation of smart-asses who don't take shit from anyone.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:31 AM on March 8, 2009
You answered your own question in the prior sentence. They couldn't agree on a direction.
Joan Jett's music told me that it was ok that I wasn't like the other girls, and that toughness and attitude was something to be proud of, not something to hide away, like the nuns said.
My daughter wears my old red hi-top Keds now, passed down to another generation of smart-asses who don't take shit from anyone.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:31 AM on March 8, 2009
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Also, there's a movie.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:43 AM on March 6, 2009 [2 favorites]