In 1975, five teenage girls burst onto the rock scene, surprising everyone with their loud, energetic, and serious approach to music. With one powerful song, they challenged the industry’s views on women in rock. This is the story of The Runaways and their iconic track “Cherry Bomb.”
It all started on August 5, 1975, when producer Kim Fowley aimed to create an all-female punk rock band. Fowley, known for his marketing skills, envisioned the group as a girl-powered answer to Grand Funk. He discovered his band members in unexpected places. Joan Jett caught his eye when she swapped her ukulele for a guitar while jamming to a Sweet album. Sandy West and Jackie Fox were found in parking lots, while Cherie Currie was spotted at a teen club. Each girl brought raw talent and a fierce desire to perform.
Most of the girls were just 17 or younger, with Currie only 15 when she joined. At that time, the music industry was dominated by men, making a teenage girl band stand out even more.
The creation of “Cherry Bomb” is almost legendary. Currie showed up for her audition ready to sing Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” but when it became clear no one could play it right, Jett and Fowley quickly wrote a new song for her to try out. That song became “Cherry Bomb,” designed to match Currie’s fiery persona. Fowley explained that the title played on Currie’s name and evoked the image of a “teenage firecracker.”
Musically, “Cherry Bomb” combined chunky riffs and steady drums with an edgy attitude. The band drew inspiration from the Ramones and Black Sabbath while recording the track in February 1976. From the very first lines, “Cherry Bomb” made it clear that The Runaways were anything but polite.
