Back in the late 1970s, they changed everything. And then they disappeared.
One of the very first all-girl rock bands to achieve success, teenage five-piece The Runaways paved the way for decades of female musicians to come — and more importantly, they totally rocked. Their biggest hit, "Cherry Bomb," won them fans around the world, particularly in Japan.
But within two years, under the weight of endless verbal and financial abuse from their manager, and a blaze of drug and alcohol addiction, the band imploded. Jailbait vocalist Cherie Currie — 15 when she joined the band — walked out, never to return. The remaining members limped on with founding guitaristbacking singer Joan Jett taking on lead vocal duties. Then eventually they fizzled out — until now.
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