Cherie Currie's definitely an independent for her survival of the erratic career of the The Runaways, chronicled now in its eponymous movie, and for her post-fame and success penchant for combining her talents with charity work. I've photographed at least three such benefits that she masterminded. Cherie joined Paula Pierce and The Pandoras (see LINK) onstage at Club Lingerie, Hollywood, in the late '80s (above) and...
...joined Burton Averre formerly of The Knack for a charity benefit to aid Redwings Horse Sanctuary of Northern California in the early '90s, staged by all otherwise Goth/hardcore/riotgrrl acts. "Let's do it for the horsies!" encouraged Girl Jesus, a band who arrived onstage amidst "pony play" participants (those who dress up as horses in harnesses, bridles and bits etc. as their preferred fetish,) "Our raffle is for lotsa free tattoos and piercings." I always liked this pic of mine of Cherie, with her lovely face, perfect manicure and copious bling, wailing away at this definitely outsider event.
Heart, above, first line-up of the band. I have no idea when but I probably took the photo at the Inglewood Forum or some such enormo-dome, as they were huge as soon as they broke. This was one of two influential bands to feature two female performers in major roles before the revamped Fleetwood Mac (my rehearsal shot of them below.) The other was the Velvet Underground!
What I did on a certain Saturday night (12/9/06): take pix at memorial concert for Sandy West (The Runaways' drummer.) Lotsa female bands: a Bangles reunion, The Donnas, (both groups pictured above) (that's a helluva cute drummer in The Donnas, oui? All Mary Pickford curls and bows,) Kanary (a band that featured Leslie Knauer of Precious Metal plus Mary Kay and Tony Matteucci of The Dogs,) Michael Des Barres and his Big Band doing Big Band covers of, say, Sex Pistols' songs, and a lotta punkers' reunions, including The Adolescents, White Flag (last pic) and Rhino Bucket.
It was nice seeing the triumph of so many L.A. icons in person last night at the Hollywood premiere of "The Runaways" movie: director Sigismondi with rocker husband Berlin, actors Stewart and Fanning, rockstars Jett and Currie, DJ Bingenheimer, even fellow photographers Elterman and Santisi (I was on holiday so no pix, just enjoying the event as the plus one of friend/colleague Kubernik whom Jett thanked last night for helping her to remain on the planet.) I came away mightily impressed with the young leads' performances particularly Stewart disappearing into the Jett persona, the authentic set design and costuming, being able to hear my own '70's on the soundtrack- that of the Stooges, Britrock, glam and punk rather than the era's mellowmush or disco chart hits- while I guffawed along with the audience at actor Shannon's hilarious (if disgusting-ish) turn as Fowley. Yes, it showed the bad, the controversial and the questionable along with the good.
P.S. Kubernik worked with the actual Runaways back in the day, and I photographed the very first incarnation of them playing live at the Whisky A Gogo in 1975, photo above, that featured bassist Steele of the future Bangles as lead singer instead of Currie or Jett. P.P.S. Trivia not covered in the film: unportrayed Runaways' bassist Fox graduated in the same Harvard Law School class as President Obama.
Bad, double-vision grab shot of the producers, cast, crew and real life characters taken from my reserved seat with snapshot camera in purse. Director Sigismondi in white jacket is between Jett, center, and Currie.
Cherie Currie's definitely an independent for her survival of the erratic career of the The Runaways, chronicled now in its eponymous movie, and for her post-fame and success penchant for combining her talents with charity work. I've photographed at least three such benefits that she masterminded. Cherie joined Paula Pierce and The Pandoras (see LINK) onstage at Club Lingerie, Hollywood, in the late '80s (above) and...
...joined Burton Averre formerly of The Knack for a charity benefit to aid Redwings Horse Sanctuary of Northern California in the early '90s, staged by all otherwise Goth/hardcore/riotgrrl acts. "Let's do it for the horsies!" encouraged Girl Jesus, a band who arrived onstage amidst "pony play" participants (those who dress up as horses in harnesses, bridles and bits etc. as their preferred fetish,) "Our raffle is for lotsa free tattoos and piercings." I always liked this pic of mine of Cherie, with her lovely face, perfect manicure and copious bling, wailing away at this definitely outsider event.
Heart, above, first line-up of the band. I have no idea when but I probably took the photo at the Inglewood Forum or some such enormo-dome, as they were huge as soon as they broke. This was one of two influential bands to feature two female performers in major roles before the revamped Fleetwood Mac (my rehearsal shot of them below.) The other was the Velvet Underground!
