Diving Headfirst Into The Underbelly Of The Pop Counterculture!
Just days after the full trailer for Floria Sigismondi’s The Runaways slipped out across the web, here comes a music video showcasing Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as members of the titular band
Read more: Music Video Of Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart Performing Cherry Bomb as The Runaways.
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Floria Sigismondi’s movie based on The Runaways is almost upon us.
There is a teaser trailer available now at the official website as well as the movie poster.
The Runaways (Neon Angels) is based on lead-singer Cherie Currie’s book ‘Neon Angel’ – a reflection of her experiences as a rock star, but also delivering a strong anti-drug warning to teens and others. David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” serves as a metaphor for the narrative– a slow countdown, a surreal but spectacular rise to fame, then alienation and burnout – a long long way from home.
The movie chronicles THE RUNAWAYS from 1975 – 1977; formed by teenage girls living near Hollywood, CA., and heavily manipulated by their manager Kim Fowley as ‘jailbait rock’ (all the girls were 16 or younger when the band recorded their first album). The band ultimately succeeds on their own merits as musicians, becoming the first all-girl rock-band to ever break into the world of arena-filling hard rock acts.
The movie focuses on the band’s formation, and their meteoric rise to fame. Their first single, ‘Cherry Bomb’, gets some attention in the United States, where THE RUNAWAYS’ U.S. tour hits major venues (Cobo Hall, with RUSH) and sleazy rock-clubs, often pairing them up with The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, and other popular 1970’s rock acts. But ‘Cherry Bomb’ and several other songs from THE RUNAWAYS’ first 2 albums become huge hits in Japan — and their arrival for a set of shows there in 1977 is like Beatle-Mania. The band is overwhelmed by the Japanese reception. Almost prophetic, THE RUNAWAYS’ last big hit song in Japan is ‘Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin’.
Cherie is initially thrilled to be in the band, and lives the rock star life. She pushes the edge — and their records sell well, generating lots of media controversy and hype. But during the tour of Japan, her personal life disnintegrates, and she burns out — ultimately leaving The Runaways when they return to the U.S. The bass player (Jackie Fox) quits too, leaving only Lita Ford, Joan Jett and Sandy West. Joan Jett has decided that rock & roll is her life, and that The Runaways is her ‘family’; she is upset by Cherie’s decision to leave, but knows that decision is best — for Cherie.
THE RUNAWAYS’ success was earth-shaking in rock music — changing the rules forever. But with the successful 5-girl lineup no longer intact after the Japan tour, their future was dubious, at best. Lita Ford (guitar) and Sandy West (drums) still think the band can make it big again, so they persevere with Joan Jett.
Just in time for the upcoming Runaways biopic—directed by Floria Sigismondi and starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning—the Mattel toy company is unveiling its “Ladies of the ‘80s” collection’s Joan Jett Barbie. The collection also features Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper dolls, available in December.
Although I wholeheartedly approve of this, the first thing that came to mind was: What, no Annie Lennox or Siouxsie Sioux dolls? No Pat Benatar? No Lydia Lunch? Give ‘em time; the nostalgia machine will eventually crank ‘em all out.
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Twilight star Kirsten Stewart as Joan Jett
Showing my age here, but I remember back in the late 70’s when the Runaways first hit it big with the anthemic (and still classic to this day) – ‘Cherry Bomb’. Granted, I have that first album (on vinyl nonetheless) I really can’t remember too much of the rest of the tracks.
When all was said and done, The Runaways had a brief career lasting only from 1975 till 1979 but they paved the way for all-girl bands particularly ones in the Hard Rock genre. Initially treated as nothing more than a gimmick act under the wing of their svengali Kim Fowley, but when the band hit the live circuit, they were a bombastic, kick ass, hard rocking – and dare I say it – balls to the wall band.
Bassist Vicki Blue has said, “We were marketed as teenage jailbait. At the time I thought I was fully cognizant. I thought, ‘I’m aware that they’re marketing me as a piece of meat and it doesn’t really matter because I’m going to be a rock star and I have a good head on my shoulders.’ Maybe I fared better than some of the other girls, who for some reason didn’t have the same mental make-up I did and are still out there trying to be rock stars”.
The forthcoming movie currently in production under the watchful directorial eye of director Floria Sigismondi, is based on lead-singer Cherie Currie’s book ‘Neon Angel’ – a reflection of her experiences as a rock star, but also delivering a strong anti-drug warning to teens and others. David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ serves as a metaphor for the narrative – a slow countdown, a surreal but spectacular rise to fame, then alienation and burnout – a long long way from home.
The movie chronicles The Runaways from 1975 – 1977; formed by teenage girls living near Hollywood, CA., and heavily manipulated by their manager Kim Fowley as ‘jailbait rock’ (all the girls were 16 or younger when the band recorded their first album). The band ultimately succeeds on their own merits as musicians, becoming the first all-girl rock-band to ever break into the world of arena-filling hard rock acts.
The movie focuses on the band’s formation, and their meteoric rise to fame. Their first single, ‘Cherry Bomb’, gets some attention in the United States, where The Runaways’ U.S. tour hits major venues (Cobo Hall) and sleazy rock-clubs, often pairing them up with The Ramones, Cheap Trick and other popular mid-1970’s rock acts. But ‘Cherry Bomb’ and several other songs from The Runaways first 2 albums become huge hits in Japan – and their arrival for a set of shows there in 1977 is like Beatle-Mania. The band is overwhelmed by the Japanese reception. Almost prophetic, The Runaways’ last big hit song in Japan is ‘Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin’.
Cherie is initially thrilled to be in the band, and lives the rock star life. She pushes the edge – and their records sell well, generating lots of media controversy and hype. But during the tour of Japan, her personal life disnintegrates, and she burns out – ultimately leaving The Runaways when they return to the U.S. Jackie Fox (bass) is depressed, feels isolated in Japan and quits too – she is consoled [in a phone call] by her friend, guitarist Randy Rhoads. Joan Jett has decided that rock & roll is her life, and that The Runaways is her ‘family’; she is upset by Cherie’s decision to leave, but knows that decision is best – for Cherie.
The movie will be focussing on the duo of guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett (portrayed by Twilight’s Kristen Stewart) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) as they navigate a rocky road of touring and record label woes under the malevolent eye of an abusive manager during their teen years. Stella Maeve will portray Sandy West. (Sandy died in 2006 after suffering from lung cancer). MTV confirms that actress Alessandra Torresani will portray rocker Lita Ford, rounding out the final group of four.
Ford also offered her thoughts on the upcoming Runaways movie, “I just want people to know that I have nothing to do with that film,” Ford clarifies. “Joan’s manager offered to buy the rights to my life story for a thousand bucks. I thought that was pretty disgusting – we never even replied”.
Sounds like it is going to be a fascinating movie!
Continue reading ‘Hello Daddy, Hello Mom: The Runaways Movie’
Dakota Fanning, has finally outgrown any chance of a not-rumored JonBenét Ramsey biopic and will now co-star in one about proto-gal-rockers The Runaways instead. Fanning will play Cherie Currie, the white blond lead singer who joined the influential ’70s group at the tender age of 15, and faced the pressures of fame and the sociopathic ways of band mastermind Kim Fowley.
Floria Sigismondi, best known for Marilyn Manson’s ‘The Beautiful People’ and ‘Tourniquet’ videos, will direct from her own script and the film begins shooting in the much-anticipated spring.
‘Twilight’ star Kristen Stewart has signed on to play famous rock ‘n’ roller Joan Jett in ‘The Runaways’. Music video director Floria Sigismondi wrote and will helm the project. Sigismondis videos have included Marilyn Mansons Tourniquet, Christina Aguileras Fighter and The White Stripes Blue Orchid.
The film is a biopic of the first successful all-girl hard rock band ‘The Runaways’ (hence the title), which fell apart after four years due to management and money disputes. According to THR, the film “will revolve around Jett and [singer-keyboardist Cherie Currie] and follow them from the band’s meteoric rise as teenagers to their dissolution and disillusionment”.
River Road Entertainment hopes to go into production in 2009, but they will have to work around the ‘Twilight’ sequel ‘New Moon’, which is supposedly gearing up for a March 2009 start.
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