“This is for those of us who like to straddle the lines a little bit,” explained Jett before her laid-back, almost countryish cover of the Replacements’ “Androgynous,” one of rock’s sharper songs about sexual orientation. (Selected tracks were augmented by longtime Jett collaborator Kenny Laguna on keyboards and backing vocals.) The punk-pop tune “Change the World” - the first of five songs from Jett’s impressive 2006 disc Sinner - was pure energy, as spiky-haired lead guitarist Dougie Needles pogoed around and added fine harmonies. Jett’s 75-minute, 18-song set got off to a somewhat sluggish start, however, with slower-than-usual versions of “Bad Reputation,” “Fake Friends” and “Light of Day,” but it heated up quickly via Gary Glitter’s “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” thanks to some fun call-and-response action. Actress Scout Taylor-Compton, who portrayed Ford in The Runaways, was among those in attendance. bill together since their Runaways days (although Currie has been known to cameo at Jett shows, including a decade or so ago at the Grove of Anaheim).įans decked out in punk and glam rock attire (studded belts, wigs, platform shoes, plenty of black leather) dotted the sold-out amphitheater, which allowed a small overflow crowd in the lawn section. Judging from various young girls’ ear-piercing shrieks and overall excitement level, the crowd was definitely amped to see Jett and Currie perform on their first promoted O.C. Next month, gamers can find Jett and Currie’s newly re-recorded take on their best-known Runaways tune “Cherry Bomb” as part of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Currie’s fascinating book, finally republished in March, was a best-seller.Ī revamped Greatest Hits collection from Jett and the Blackhearts contains new versions of the Runaways’ “School Days” and “You Drive Me Wild,” plus a Jett coffee table photo book by fashion designer Todd Oldham also emerged this year. The engaging film received generally positive reviews, yet a lack of proper marketing led to a modest box office gross it’s now available on DVD and Blu-ray with ample bonus material. The publication eventually served as the basis for The Runaways, a biopic starring Dakota Fanning as Currie and Kristen Stewart as Jett (who also executive produced), which arrived in theaters this past spring. Initially geared toward young adults, she expanded it with more mature content about her longtime struggles with drug, alcohol and sexual abuse in the 2000s. Meanwhile, Currie recently put out the autobiography Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway. Runaways lead guitarist Lita Ford also notched a few pop/metal hits and a platinum album toward the end of that decade. With the Blackhearts, she racked up several Top 40 singles - most notably “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” which spent nearly two months at No. Jett stepped into the spotlight until the band broke up and later stormed the pop charts throughout the ’80s. Still, the Runaways set an early standard for gals - especially teenage ones - playing guitar-driven, hard rock music in a male-dominated field.īoth Jett and Currie were on hand at Pacific Amphitheatre on Wednesday for a rare local performance.Įxiting the Runaways for a solo music and acting career, Currie soon appeared in both film and TV: Foxes, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Matlock, Walker: Texas Ranger. quintet released a handful of studio albums during the mid-to-late 1970s that never became commercially successful, but were big in Japan. Led by lead vocalist Cherie Currie and singer/guitarist/co-songwriter Joan Jett (above), the influential L.A. If anyone needed a refresher course about women in rock history, there have been numerous opportunities lately to catch up with one band in particular: the Runaways.
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