Cherie Currie

Ever since I first heard those iconic opening notes of “Cherry Bomb” during my initial viewing of the 2010 biopic, The Runaways, I have been hooked on the eponymous band. Burning bright and fast in the mid-to-late ’70s, the story of the Runaways was one filled with glitz and glamour and equal tragedy. No less for the original lead vocalist, Cherie Currie, who after joining the band as a part of the original lineup in 1975 left only two years later – breaking through a whirlwind spiral of the drug and sex crazed environment of the 1970’s rock and punk movements, sexual assault, and addiction.

By the tender age of 15, it seemed Cherie had experienced it all. From this experience, however, rose a woman who went on to star in films and television, counselled others with drug addiction after overcoming it herself, became a successful chainsaw carving artist, and to this day, still performs and is releasing music (only last year releasing independently in March her third full-length studio album, ‘Reverie’). While the Runaways never found large international fame in the US during their time – instead earning their reputation in Japan – they left an impression on music back then, and equally on what rock ‘n’ roll could mean for young women, that still echoes well into today.

It was my recent honour and pleasure to speak with Cherie on behalf of Metal Obsession in the lead up to her first ever tour of Australia and New Zealand this May, of which she is very excited for! “I am probably more excited about coming to Australia than I’ve been on any other tour in my entire life.” Adding, “I have wanted to go to Australia for 40 years. And, in fact, I’m just a junkie when it comes to the television that comes out of Australia. For years and years, I have watched every TV show I could get my hands on! [laughs] I just always wanted to come to Australia, and to meet the great people there! I mean, it’s the nicest… just, most wonderful people. So this is truly a gift to me. I cannot wait.”

Listening through ‘Reverie’, I noted to Cherie how the album comes across as a much more mature and experienced record. “Well, you know, this was an album full of surprises. Because originally [producer] Kim Fowley reached out to me and asked if I wanted to make a record. Of course, he was dying at the time. I jumped on the opportunity because Kim and I had become friends over the last few years. And also, I knew that my son Jake [Hays] would work with me, so I wanted him to be able to see, really, what a brilliant songwriter Kim was. But unfortunately, after the fourth song, Kim just took a turn for the worst and could not continue with the record. So he turned it over to my son, Jake. We had the record [finished] two weeks after he died. It was a great experience to work with Kim again, and actually, he came and moved into my house for a couple of weeks, and then he, again, took a turn for the worst and he passed away. So, for me, it was wonderful, because I now think of Kim, I look back, and I only have great memories. I was able to get past all the hurt and all that had happened in the Runaways, so for me it was a good thing.”

Asking further about working with her son Jake, who became a producer on the record, Cherie’s answer was enlightening: “Well, Jake and I have done four tours together, and he got a record deal, so he went on to making his own record at the time that he was making this record with me. Of course, we’re very close, so I feel sorry for him because he was being torn in two different directions, trying to finish my record and also do his record – which he was obligated to do. But, you know, I raised him right. He sticks to his guns, I’ll tell ya. So, there were a couple of times where I had to put my foot down and insist on a couple of things, but I don’t listen to the music or say that much. I still am kind of a classic rock girl. I think with the song “Believe”, which I wrote a little over 20 years ago, I wanted Glen Campbell type French horns, and he just didn’t want me to have it. So I put my foot down and I said, “Look, I’m gonna have my French horns.” [laughs] Jake and I just did a song for my live album, and we have a couple of bonus tracks so it was great to go in the studio again and do a song called “Moonshine Lullaby” that I wrote, as well, about 25 years ago. And we did that, actually, live in the studio; one pass-through. Him playing guitar, me singing. Working with Jake has always just been an ah-moment for me, because he’s so talented. He plays every instrument, he’s an amazing singer, great songwriter. Like “Shades of Me” that’s on ‘Reverie’: Jake wrote that song, and I talked him into doing a duet with me. I think it turned out great. It’s one of my favourite songs on the record.

“Jake and I have been working together since he was 13 and picked up a guitar. So, I’ve always involved him in every show I’ve done, but to have him on the road with me was great because little did I know he was going to land a record deal and have to go out on the road with his band, [Maudlin Strangers], on his own. So after four tours, he was so used to the road that it was terrific. So I felt really comfortable in knowing that he was going to be fine out there, and he was.”

‘Reverie’ – out now

In 2010 when the The Runaways biopic was released — based on Cherie’s 1989 memoir, Neon Angel, and starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart in the roles of Cherie Currie and Joan Jett, respectively — it was well documented at the time that Cherie had not been on very good terms with Lita Ford, due mainly to Lita’s distaste and disinterest with the movie. However, Lita features on the ‘Reverie’ album; with the two even performing a duet for the Runaways’ songs, “Is It Day Or Night?” and “American Nights”. I asked Cherie whether the two had finally been able to move past those old grudges? “Well, yes, definitely. I mean, it was forty years ago. I took the same approach with Lita as I did with Kim, because I realised that I was traumatised and hurt; and forty years later, I was still in pain. I realised that the only way I was going to get past that was going to be to reach out to her, which I did. Joan was having dinner with Lita in New York, and I asked Joan if she would pass Lita a message that I would love to see her again. And next thing I knew, Lita was calling me, and we went and met for dinner and then I got a call from her when I was on tour and she asked me to do a duet single for her for Christmas called “Rock This Christmas Down”. I flew in and went directly from the aeroplane to the studio and had this great record with her and this single. We became really good friends, and then she became a part of my record. So, really, it was great to put all that stuff behind me, you know? And for her as well, I’m sure.”

I then followed up with whether Lita had ever told Cherie why she hadn’t wanted to be a part of the film back then? “She did, and unfortunately, at the time she was married, and she had her husband [Jim Gillette] read the contract. But he didn’t. Or, if he did read the contract, he didn’t tell her the truth. I think he might have just read the first page because Lita was under the idea that she was going to be paid a very small sum for her life rights, which was not true whatsoever. She just didn’t read the contract. She threw it in the thrash. Had she read the contract, she would have been involved in the film because Joan and I really wanted her and Jackie [Fox] involved. But we didn’t get Jackie, so Lita throws the contract in the trash and won’t have anything to do with it, and that changes the movie right there. But then Jackie demanded five times the money Joan and I were making, and demanded to be producer. [Producers] John and Art Linson just cut her out. She just wasn’t a team player, she didn’t want to help. She wanted things that none of us wanted: huge financial gain and production credit, and all that. And nobody wanted that with her. So she buried herself, as well. And then Joan and I were put in a corner where we had to make a film without them. So that was very unfortunate for us, because we wanted them involved, so badly.”

Away from the band and music side of things, in Cherie’s own life, she works as a chainsaw carving artist, and has done so for a number of years now. I was intrigued to find out how one even first becomes a ‘chainsaw artist’? “It is a calling, I’ll tell you that! I was a relief carver at the time, so I was already working on table tops and wall hangings when I happened to be going to the beach one day and happened to pass a couple of guys chainsaw carving at the side of the road. Even though I didn’t stop, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Every night I went to bed, that voice said you’ve got to go back; every time I got up, it said you’ve got to go back. So a couple weeks later, I did, and walked into their gallery, and I was just floored at the beauty of these carvings! They weren’t this rough sort of thing – like what you’d expect a logger or something like that to do. It was very defined and detailed and refined. That little voice in my head said, ‘You can do this.’ And, trust me, I’m as shocked as you are that this voice is saying this!” [laughs] I’ve been a carver now for 15 years, that’s a long time to be wielding a chainsaw.”

Before we wrapped up, I asked Cherie one last question about her career as a whole. Given all she’s experienced in her life — both the positive and the negative — I asked whether she is able to look back on those days now with the Runaways and be proud of all she did manage to achieve and do at that time in her life? “Oh, yes. I’ve always been proud. I really kind of felt that we had been all but forgotten, to be honest with you. I couldn’t even listen to the music, nor look at videos or anything until about 20 years ago. But I was floored when I saw those videos. I couldn’t believe how the five of us were really magical together, and now with Kim gone – I’m so glad I had a friendship with him before he left – and with Lita as well, I’m so blessed and I couldn’t be happier that I was a part of this really extraordinary band of girls. We did something special and I’m really proud of each and every one of us.”

You can see Cherie Currie on tour in Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever this May. Tickets on sale now through Tombowler!

Tickets: http://tombowler.com.au/tours/cherie-currie/

Cherie Currie, Australia and New Zealand Tour 2016

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