Sandy West Runaways Drummer Dies

[diamondsgirl]

Sandy West, drummer for the influential 70s band The Runaways, has died after a long battle with lung cancer. She left an indelible mark on rock music as a founding member of The Runaways, which featured fellow rockers Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, and as a leading inspiration for a number of notable musicians, both male and female. Many young musicians can trace their inspiration directly to the first time they heard "Cherry Bomb." She will be remembered by more than one generation of fans as a strong part of their musical landscape. But Sandy's impact was felt far outside of the music industry as a loyal friend, loving confidante and strong defender of those she loved most. Her strength as a player, passion as a person, and dedication as a friend will be remembered always by friends, fans and fellow musicians alike.

Runaways vocalist and life-long friend, Cherie Currie had this to say, "Sandy West was by far, the greatest female drummer in the history of rock and roll. No one could compete or even come close to her, but the most important was her heart. Sandy West loved her fans, her friends and family almost to a fault. She would do absolutely anything for the people she loved. 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."


LINK

Only 47 years old

[Matt White]

RIP Sandy!!!

[LoungeMachine]

That is a shame.....


However, in my opinion Alex Van Halen was the greatest Female Drummer of all time....

But why quibble

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

I thought Ulrich was.

[Matt White]

Originally posted by MERRYKISSMASS2U
I thought Ulrich was.

HA!!!

But Lars made Davey Mustaine cry...so what kinda pussy is he?!?:p

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Originally posted by Matt White
HA!!!

But Lars made Davey Mustaine cry...so what kinda pussy is he?!?:p

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but didn't DM beat the shit out of Lars? Or was that another member?

[Matt White]

http://members.tripod.com/~CHERRY_B/Sandy.html

You are one of the original members of the Runaways starting in 1975 with Joan Jett and Micki Steele. How can you describe those early days now?

It was very exciting and it moved really fast.



Later the band was ready for a world tour. What kind of reaction did you find in an audience that probably saw an all girl band playing rock'n'roll for the first time?

They couldn't sit still, but the best audiences were in Europe and Japan.



Was this reaction different from the US audience, the press etc?

Yes, some parts of the US did not take us seriously, including their press.



The Runaways were so successful in Japan, much more than in any other country, I think.

What were your feelings about being treated like a rock'n'roll star?

I don't really like that word ROCK n' ROLL STAR... But we were treated with great respect and excitement.





Is there a particular episode about the Runaways you would like to tell us for the first time?

Getting together with the roadies after the show at the hotel and playing jokes on the road manager. Shaving cream, felt pens and flash pods exploding and blowing up.



How did you feel about the departure of Cherie in 1977 and each time about the bassist change?

I was sad when Cherie left and trying to find a bass player was frustrating. I got along with Vicki Blue the best. She's fun! I think Vicki Blue should have stayed and grown with us!!



(I'm sure you believed so much in the Runaways and you didn't expect that the band split in 4-5 years).

What did you do after the Runaways broke-up?

Went crazy! I was very upset and sad. I kept playing and also went into construction. And yes, I totally believe in The Runaways.



Who are the official members of the Sandy West Band? Tell us something about them.



Sandy West: drums, vocals, rhythm guitar, producer & songwriter.

Jerry Vennemann : drums, song writer and best friend

Steve Jullian: lead guitar & songwriter. He also runs my web page and is an art director of a magazine in California.

Jessica Harrington: lead & backing vocals, guitar, songwriter and is a graphic artist for a magazine in California.

Lee Lawson: Bass, backing vocals & independent musician.



You play many Runaways songs and sometimes Cherie appears on vocals. It looks like the Runaways are still so important for you...

The Runaways will always be #1 to me! I think we were one of the best bands in the world.







In 1994 there was a Runaways reunion: Cherie, Jackie, Sandy.... Will 1998 be the year of the official and definitive reunion? What are the plans? Any concerts?

Everyone is hoping 1998 will be the year to release a CD and tour... It's looking good.



I have heard about a Japanese all girl band called The Queens of Noise. You and Cherie played with them in 1992, a great jam session in Hollywood... Where are they now?

I'm not sure where they are now, but they were really great to play with.



Are there any special projects for the Sandy West Band now?

I've been writing new songs and would like to record them.



I really appreciate that you have your own web site on the net. Will you add some more stuff one day like photos, info, news etc?

Yes, I will add more stuff!!!

[IMG] http://members.tripod.com/~CHERRY_B/Sandy2.JPG[/IMG]

FULL NAME: Sandy West

DATE OF BIRTH: 7.10.59

CITY: Long Beach, California

ACTUAL OCCUPATION: Musician / Producer

MOTIVATION AND STORY ABOUT YOU BECAME AN ARTIST: My family at first, then I met Kim Fowley & Joan Jett

FAVOURITE MUSIC ARTISTS: Bryan Adams, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard

FAVOURITE SONGS: There's too many

FAVOURITE RUNAWAYS ALBUM: LIVE IN JAPAN... really all of them.

FAVOURITE RUNAWAYS CONCERT AND WHY: All of them

HOBBIES: Water skiing, motorcycles, swimming

FOOD YOU LIKE: Italian, Mexican-American

TATTOOS:Eyes on my back and a moon on my left shoulder

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: When the Runaways broke up

[Matt White]

Originally posted by MERRYKISSMASS2U
Correct me if I'm mistaken, but didn't DM beat the shit out of Lars? Or was that another member?

We're talking aboot SANDY WEST here...show some respect

[Mr. Vengeance]

Yeah..jokes aside, she was a big part of the REAL history of Rn'R,....Although she'll never get credit for it.

[philouze]

Fuckin sad news, here...
Give it up for the first and best female RNR drummer !!!

I feel for the remaining Runaway-Girls... Joan had to annoucnce it on stage in Cleveland.. She was crying, and then she did a superb rendering of CHERRY BOMB...


Rest In Peace, Sandy, wherever you are..

[binnie]

Very sad, but it always is when youth fades isn't it!

My thoughts to her family....

[Hardrock69]

Man that sucks. I just recently bought a DVD-bio of the Runaways ( I posted about it some months ago).

She seemed totally cool.

This is a sad day for rock music.

RIP Sandy.

[philouze]

I gotta get this EDGEPLAY DVD..

[Terry]

Originally posted by philouze
I gotta get this EDGEPLAY DVD..

Kind of poignant at the end of Edgeplay, where West says something along the lines of "WHY can't the Runaways get back together for a reunion tour [referring to Lita Ford and Joan Jett's continual reluctance to reform for a tour and make some money]?! Would it be so HARD?! Couldn't they just do it for ME?!?"

Far as Edgeplay goes, if you're just a casual fan of the band, it probably won't be a good watch. Jett declined to participate to the point where she didn't allow any of her songs to be used and any clips where she sang lead to be used, either, so it's a bit skimpy on the performance clip side of it...

West was always the one who wanted the reunion the most, but Jett didn't want to get involved...

Lita Ford was such a hot little muffin back in the 1970s. No fuckin' doubt. In fact, she's still MILF hot, now.

[FORD]

RIP Sandy

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