Joan Jett and Gaye Advert, London 1977. Photo by Roberta Bayley.
These photographs were shot in 1977 by Tom Gold. This set is uniquely distinguished by their depicted lineup, in which both Cherie and Vicky are present. Cherie’s absence in its latter exposures was the result of her departure from the band, following a narrowly aborted annihilation at the clenched hands of Lita in the course of yet another vindictive argument and consequent confrontation.
Are You Young and Rebellious Enough to Love The Runaways?
Featured article of the Spring, 1976 issue of Who Put the Bomp!
In 1976, our manager had the great idea to have Chopper Magazine do an interview and photo spread with us and put us on the cover. The photo shoot took place on a new freeway under construction in Los Angeles, on a blistering hot day. The photographer wanted the two blondes in the band on the bikes, so Sandy and Cherie sat on the choppers and also ended up alone on the cover. The picture below appeared with a number of others on the inside of the magazine along with our interview.
Cut to several months later in Connecticut, where my uncle (my father’s brother) is working as a civil litigator. He has been referred a case representing couple of Hell’s Angels, who have come to my uncle’s posh offices in Bridgeport to meet their new lawyer. Needless to say, the sight of a couple of large, tough-looking, leather-clad bikers waiting in the lobby of a respectable East coast law firm must have been something. The bikers must have looked really tough because my uncle, no shrinking violet himself, was REALLY nervous about how they were going to react to all the lawyers in suits. To break the ice, my uncle mentioned that his niece had just appeared in Chopper Magazine. It turned out that bikers had read the issue and were impressed that their new lawyer was related to one of the teenagers that had just appeared in the cover story of their favorite magazine.
My uncle got the case, the bikers got their day in court, and The Runaways reached a whole new set of fans we might not otherwise have had.
