THE TRIP
Undeniably Fowley had a talent for novelty songs and uncomplicated teenage anthems. An example of the former was The Trip, which was very popular around LA in 1966 and was covered by Godfrey and Thee Midniters, amongst others. In the eighties this would be a favourite track amongst the "garage" freaks.
(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller / Joe Foster / Stephane Rebeschini)
This song, released at the height of teenage freakout mania, was a big hit on the LA scene around 1966, and was covered by several others including Godfrey and Thee Midniters. Areal period classic, I'd say.
A song Fowley wrote with two guys he met on the street in front of S&L Records in El Monte was covered by the legendary Godfrey on Cee Jam distributed by Atlantic in 1966 as well. A rumour has it that John Lennon and George Harrison went into Anabelle's Disco in London and asked to hear it.
CANYON PEOPLE
What can we say about Fowley that isn't already legend? Hollywood in the '60s, '70s and still in the '80s would be unimaginable without his presence. Probing the absurd underbelly of rock, he has created some of the most sublimely ridiculous records/groups/hypes in rock'n'roll's tacky history. If there wasn't a trend to ride, he'd create one, as he di in the summer of '67 when CBS news cameras found him a willing spokesmen for the latest wacky teen craze, standing among some flower-bedecked hippies in a Topanga Canyon field, explainig it all with the ease of a master.
THE RUNAWAYS
If that end justifies the means, one cannot fault the Runaways for the way they were formed, produced and "directed" - largely by Hollywood Argyle-turned-rockmeister Kim Fowley. Most of the Runaways were very talented, and when they came to Fowley they were rockers looking to happen, not seals looking to be trained.
The story about the Runaways goes back to one of Alice Cooper's Hollywood parties in early 1975. A teen poetess named Kari Krome discussed lyrics with an impressed Fowley. He thought if a girl could write lyrics like this, then there must be some girls that could play it. Kari got in touch with her guitar-playing friend Joan Jett (real last name is Larkin). Meanwhile, Fowley met drummer Sandy West (real last name is Pesavento) in the Rainbow Bar parking lot. He put her in touch with Kari and Joan, and a jam session was arranged.
August 5th 1975. First Fowley determined that Krome was okay as a lyricist but not as a singer, and proceeded to bring in one Sue Thomas (later known as Micki Steele with the Bangles). Fowley found the vocalist when he saw Marie and Cherie Currie (twins) sitting on bar stools at a San Fernando Valley teen club called the Sugar Shack. He asked the first one (Marie) if she was interested in being in a band. She said "No!", so he turned to the other one (Cherie) asked her and she said "Yes!". Thomas was soon replaced by Jackie Fox, and Lita Ford arrived via "Back Door Man" magazine.
In February 1976, after rehearsing them and before a proposed one-off EP deal with Bomp Records could be sealed, Fowley signed them to Mercury, andproduced The Runaways.
August 21th 1976, like most first albums it was raw like the ch-ch-cherry bomb of the opening track, "Cherry Bomb" (which by the way was the sort of number that tagged them as Jailbait Rock. Consider such lines as "Hey street boy...I'll give you something/to live for/Have ya, grab ya/'til you're sore"). Whenever the song was performed live, it was usually accopained by the spectacle of Cherie clad in stockings, suspenders and basque. Definitely not the stuff of Queen/Yes/Genesis-styled opuses, the music prevailing on album rock radio in the mid-70's.
Queens of Noise, the second LP, wasn't exactly subdued, but its songs and production were far more refined, with Earle Mankey (Sparks, the Beach Boys) brought in to co-produce. By this LP Joan's sphere had grown more dominant. Previously she'd written or co-written much of the Runaways' best material, now she sang much of it too. Yet the Runaways persisted as a group effort, and this is evidenced on their Live in Japan LP, an LP never released in America.
At the end of the Japan tour, Jackie decided to leave the band. Rumours of a suicide attempt in Japan were denied by both her and the band. Shortly thereafter the next shock came for the fans, Cherie was leaving too...
Back in the U.S. in 1977 the girls cut their third Fowley-produced studio LP, Waitin' for the Night.
QUOTES :
"By being born wild into this universe you are hereby endowed by nature with all you need for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The world owes you a living -- flaming creatures. Go wild until you get it." -- Kim Fowley.
SUNSET BOULEVARD
Kim Fowley:Keyboards, Vocals, Producer ; Ralph Peer II:Producer
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