In the 1970s,
the Runaways were the bold and hardy pioneers who proved women could play loud, rude, swaggering hard rock and during their too-short lifespan, they got more grief than reward for their efforts. Playing a stripped-down and hard-hitting combination of hard rock, early heavy metal, junkshop glam, and what would soon become punk rock,
the Runaways were just teenagers when they released their self-titled debut album in 1976. They managed to put out four more LPs before their grand experiment fell apart in 1978, thanks to poor promotion, highly questionable management, an uncomprehending media, and volatility among the members. But in a mere three years, they made a lasting mark, inspiring countless young women to turn up their amps and rock the house, as well as launching solo careers for
Joan Jett and
Lita Ford, a guitar combination that was a potent yin and yang, even if it meant they were often at odds. Released by
Cherry Red Records in 2023,
Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin 1976-1978 is a box set that features remastered versions of the five albums
the Runaways made in their salad days, and if the image
Kim Fowley crafted for the band is hard to look past, a spin through this collection shows they had the goods -- even when they sound sloppy and chaotic, which happens more than a few times on their first two albums,
The Runaways (1976) and
Queens of Noise (1977), their raw energy connects and they sound as much like natural born rockers as any band that made it into a studio. By the time they played the shows documented in
Live in Japan (1977), they were tight and more than capable of kicking out the jams, and their communication with the audience was total.
Waitin' for the Night (1977) and
And Now â?¦ the Runaways (1978) were cut after the departure of lead singer
Cherie Currie and during
Kim Fowley's growing disinterest in the band (he would be out of the picture by the time of their last LP), and they suffer for their efforts to make themselves sound more approachable, but each has more than a few great moments and are worth a spin.
Russell Beacher's liner notes tell
the Runaways' story well, and the booklet includes plenty of rare photos.
The Runaways were far from the only rock band who deserved better than they got, but their legacy has deserved a box set for quite some time, and
Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin 1976-1978 collects their catalog with loving care and reminds us they were rebels with a cause, as well as a killer rock & roll band. ~ Mark Deming
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