Sad news today. Sandy West, drummer of the seminal all-girl punk group The Runaways, died Saturday after a long fight with cancer.
If you're a woman in rock 'n' roll, or if you're in a punk band -- or if you're a punk fan -- you owe this lady. Big time. You owe all The Runaways -- Sandy West, Lita Ford, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie.
They were, indeed, the Queens of Noise. Rest in peace, Sandy.
From the website:
Sandy West, drummer for the influential 70s band The Runaways, has died after a long battle with lung cancer. She left an indelible mark on rock music as a founding member of The Runaways, which featured fellow rockers Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, and as a leading inspiration for a number of notable musicians, both male and female. Many young musicians can trace their inspiration directly to the first time they heard "Cherry Bomb." She will be remembered by more than one generation of fans as a strong part of their musical landscape. But Sandy's impact was felt far outside of the music industry as a loyal friend, loving confidante and strong defender of those she loved most. Her strength as a player, passion as a person, and dedication as a friend will be remembered always by friends, fans and fellow musicians alike.
Runaways vocalist and life-long friend, Cherie Currie had this to say, "Sandy
West was by far, the greatest female drummer in the history of rock and roll. No
one could compete or even come close to her, but the most important was her
heart. Sandy West loved her fans, her friends and family almost to a fault. She
would do absolutely anything for the people she loved. It will never be the same
for me again to step on a stage, because Sandy West was the best and I will miss
her forever."
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