Runaways Drummer Sandy West Dies at 47


SAN DIMAS, Calif. (AP) -- Sandy West, whose ferocious drumming fueled the influential all-female `70s rock band the Runaways, which she co-founded with Joan Jett, has died of lung cancer. She was 47.

West died Saturday night at a hospice in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles, her manager Mara Fox said. She was diagnosed a year ago.

West was only 16 when she started the Runaways in 1975 with Jett, a singer and guitarist.

Along with band members Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, they had such hits as "Cherry Bomb" and "Born to Be Bad."

"We shared the dream of girls playing rock and roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," Jett said in a statement. "I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world."

Born in 1959 and raised in Huntington Beach, West was a bona fide California girl, splitting her time between surfing and skiing, Currie said.

After West's grandfather bought her a drum kit, she channeled her athleticism into music.

The Runaways headlined shows with such performers as Cheap Trick and Tom Petty as opening acts.

Following the band's breakup in 1979, West continued to perform as a singer, guitarist and drummer with the Sandy West Band. She also released a solo CD.

"Sandy West loved her fans, her friends and family almost to a fault," Currie said in a statement. "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."

West completed her memoirs before she died, and Fox said she hoped to get the book published.

West is survived by her mother, Jeri Williams, stepfather Dick Williams, and six sisters.

A public memorial in Southern California for friends and family is pending, Fox said.

this is so sad. have you guys ever seen Edgeplay? the documentary on the runaways. it's pretty intense. she kept saying "why can't we get back together"? sorry to hear this news.

dancerella said:

that movie was interesting...especially that manager of theirs, real scumbag

origmnd said:

they didn't paint him in a positive light that's for sure....

dancerella said:

its unfortunate joan didnt have any input on this film. she doesnt appear to want to talk about the past.

dancerella said:

that movie was interesting...especially that manager of theirs, real scumbag

origmnd said:

Kim Fowley. I've met him a few times over the past 7 or 8 years and I've talked to him on the phone a few times as well. He knows the business. Been in it for years. First white employee to ever work at Motown. Had his hand in some good songs in the 70's, but his crowning glory was definately producing The Runaways and co-writing some songd for KISS's Destroyer album. But uh, yeah, he is waaaay over the top. When I went to Notre Dame High school in Sherman Oaks, I went to school with a girl who's sister was best friends with Curie's twin sister. The shit she said that went on with Joan, Curie and Lita, was off the hook. And I'm not even talking about Fowley's involvement, which borderlined sexual abuse with the key members of the band.

blackguitaristz said:

..do tell something...

origmnd said:

Kim Fowley. I've met him a few times over the past 7 or 8 years and I've talked to him on the phone a few times as well. He knows the business. Been in it for years. First white employee to ever work at Motown. Had his hand in some good songs in the 70's, but his crowning glory was definately producing The Runaways and co-writing some songd for KISS's Destroyer album. But uh, yeah, he is waaaay over the top. When I went to Notre Dame High school in Sherman Oaks, I went to school with a girl who's sister was best friends with Curie's twin sister. The shit she said that went on with Joan, Curie and Lita, was off the hook. And I'm not even talking about Fowley's involvement, which borderlined sexual abuse with the key members of the band.

blackguitaristz said:

yeah...from the accounts i read about in please kill me, it seemed like he was an absolute fucking creep.