Queens of Noise - The Real Story of the Runaways by Evelyn McDonnell

 

I've been a fan of the Runaways since I picked up their first album at the same time as the Ramones first (and dug the Runaways more because it was more relatable to my rock'n'roll self at the time), and have followed the women's different careers throughout the years - although Joan's more than the rest, due to her more straight-ahead r'n'r proclivities. I've read a few books about the band and heard about this one through social media - in fact, I first thought it was by Kari Krome, but apparently it is not as McDonnell refers to her in the 3rd person but claims that she doesn't want her actual identity to be revealed.

In any case, McDonnell does her best to explore the origins of the band and gives an overview of LA at the time - sometimes a bit more info than is necessary, but maybe that's just my point of view from having lived there for decades. When it is the women themselves reminiscing, it's enjoyable, but basic background info seemed a bit extraneous, but again, maybe that's just me.

Of course, the story of the Runaways includes the story of Kim Fowley and McDonnell does her best to give an even-handed impression of this crazed impresario, from his broken home to his bouts (yes, two) of polio to his womanizing (and predilections for young girls). She rightfully admits that without Fowley, the Runaways would not have existed and he was the lightning rod that the girls revolved around and he was the one who managed them and got them their record deal.

Of course, nothing would have happened without the talent of the females involved, including lyricist Kari Krome, who is actually the first girl to contact Kim and who started the whole ball rolling, according to this tale. Despite some setbacks, things got moving pretty damn quickly, actually, although finding a bassist seems to have taken the most time, but then they were signed, started recording and put on high profile gigs and tours.

I dig that the LA underground press are referenced often - Phast Phreddie, Lisa Fancher, etc. - as they were the ones touting these heroines at the time, as are early punk rockers like Alice Bag and Don Bolles. McDonnell also quotes Jacky Fox regularly, who doesn't usually get her due, and she is intelligent and has a good perspective. Evelyn does her best to get the story from everyone's perspective and isn't afraid to mention when stories don't jive and kind of leaves it up to the reader to decide what the reality is.

The book's story ends with the break up of the band but there is a considerable epilogue as McDonnell talks about post-Runaways projects like Vicki Blue's movie Edgeplay and the 2010 big production flick based of Cherie's book, simply titled The Runaways as well as the members reactions to these. She also goes into Sandy's insane drug-addled life and death, Fox's successful career as a lawyer and Cherie's ups'n'downs as an actress and occasional singer, her drug issues and her latest career as a chainsaw artist!

While it's a fairly depressing story in many ways, it's a good read and gives a plenty of info that was new to me, anyway. Of course, the girls got screwed over in many ways, as did so many people back then, but considering that they were able to record on a major label, tour the world multiple times and considering the number of them that were able to make their careers in music, I certainly wouldn't have minded being screwed over like that, not to be flippant!