As a rock and roll kid growing up in the seventies, I was never a big fan of the Runaways. But I was still keenly enough aware of them — thanks to the constant hype they got through rock magazines like Creem, Circus and Rock Scene. I religiously devoured all of these rags from cover-to-cover each month as a sixteen year old rock fan.
Why exactly the Runaways slipped past my radar growing up as a teenage glam-rocker I couldn't really tell you. I was certainly into all the other seventies glam bands from Alice and Bowie to T.Rex and Mott The Hoople. But despite my own wildly raging hormones, the whole teenage jail-bait schtick of the all-girl Runaways just never did it for me.
Even so, I recognize and respect their influence enough today — paving the way for all-girl bands like the Go-Gos, the Bangles and The Donnas as they did — that I was probably as excited as anyone else to see their story get the Hollywood treatment with this year's rock-biopic The Runaways.
For those who missed The Runaways in theaters, I can't recommend at least renting the DVD highly enough. But I am also going to make an additional recommendation.
If you can find it, and if you have an entire night to devote to it, watch The Runaways back-to-back with the DVD Mayor Of The Sunset Strip as I did this week. For a complete picture of the seventies glam-rock scene that spawned the Runaways (among others), as well as how it was seen through the first-hand eyes of one of its primary scene-makers, Rodney Bingenheimer, you simply won't find a better twofer.
Bingenheimer's character appears only briefly in The Runaways film, in a pivotal scene that takes place outside Bingenheimer's English Disco club in L.A., as Joan Jett has her fateful encounter with future Runaways promoter Kim Fowley.
Surprisingly, given the enormous influence that both Bingenheimer and his English Disco club wielded in the seventies L.A. glam-rock scene back then, his character doesn't even get any lines. Bingenheimer was absolutely a major player in the development of seventies glam-rock, but you wouldn't know it watching The Runaways.
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Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
"As a rock and roll kid growing up in the seventies, I was never a big fan of the Runaways."
That whole first chunk of your article describes me in detail too, Glen. However, I have an answer as to why neither of us (or many others like us) didn't get into the Runaways back in the day: simply put - they weren't that good.
There's a can o' worms y'all can have to start your day.
2 - Glen Boyd
True, The Runaways may not have been musical virtuosos, but hell neither were most of the other glam bands of the day (Slade, Sweet, etc).
The thing is, that for all the jailbait sex appeal they were pushing, I just didn't find any of them (outside of maybe Currie, and to a lesser extent Jett) to be all that sexy.
Now, Suzi Quatro...that was hot.
-Glen
3 - Marina
I recently saw the Rodney Bingenheimer DVD for the first time and ended up watching it again the next night. Such fascinating and compelling viewing! One of the things which really stood out for me is Rodney's loyalty to his friends and to rock and roll... he values and displays characteristics I don't think one really finds too often in L.A. Even his family, and his "friend" Camille come across as indifferent at best. As for Kim Fowler... yuck! And I'm sure Fowler would love that assessment! He lacks the sensitivity and integrity Rodney so obviously possesses, despite some of the perhaps less than noble shenanigans in his younger years. After all, Rodney played a powerful part in a scene a lot of people would have killed to be in, and he enjoyed the plunder as any man would. But he has paid a price too... His story is eye-opening, entertaining, and ultimately utterly heartbreaking.
4 - Christine Hendrix
Hi Marina.
You couldnt have worded it better.
After watching a show on Foxtel here in Perth Western Australia,my heart went out to Rodney Bingenheimer big time!!
He seemed very genuine and a true friend.
Even though he is 63 he looks and acts like a "little boy" and I just want to cuddle him.
If you ever read this Rodney, I think youre a real star !!!
Christine Hendrix
Yes THAT IS MY NAME
5 - Jill C
Have seen both movies and recently watched them again and LOVED them both- That Rodney is seriously just the sweetest, genuine lil fella and if I ever run into him Im going to give him the biggest thanks for all the music that so many of us grew up with, have known and loved for so long.
6 - Atticus Finch
Funny you should mention watching the Runaways along with Mayor of the Sunset Strip. I did just that and even watched Edgeway, the documentary about the Runaways. Agreed, Kim really blew that whole thing. They were good and he should have done less to fuck them up as he did.
7 - David N
Great movie.
I have one comment on the article. The song playing as Rodney pours his Mother's ashes and his heart into the London bay is "Yellow" by Coldplay. Just a comment...not taking anything from you.
8 - Vivian
Why can't we start a movement that gets Rodney to another radio station? If he was influential in breaking a band as recent as Coldplay, he must still possess the knack for spotting great talent..
Wonderful and heartbreaking film.. his family seemed shamefully apathetic but that's just my take.
And I also agree with your assessment that watching The Runaways and The Mayor of Sunset Strip together, does fill in a lot of blanks for tha latter. What I don't understand is how KROQ can relegate him to the midnite to 3am show after all he's done for them?? Recognizing and breaking (or having a hand in breaking) band after band at their station?? Hollywood really does eat it's own..