Sandy West
Sad news; the greatest female drummer of all time, Sandy West, succumbed to lung cancer on October 21.
In 1975, at age 16, West was a co-founder of The Runaways with her SoCal friends Joan Jett and Kari Krome. Krome later dropped out, and the band added vocalist Cherie Curie, guitarist Lita Ford, and a rotating carousel of bassists that included Vicki Blue, Jackie Fox (who later graduated from Harvard Law School) and eventual Bangles bassist Michael Steele.
Runaways 1977: Joan Jett, Sandy West,
Lita Ford (Barry Levine photo)
Under producer/svengali Kim Fowley the all-girl, all-teen Runaways were carefully marketed as "jailbait rock" -- gimmicky yes, but an extremely effective gimmick. For guys of a certain age they will remain indelibly etched in the memory as that hot, dangerous fantasy pumping through your jacked up Chevelle's 8-track. But it wasn't just about that image of tough party girls in cameltoe pants; over their four year existence the Runaways created some of the best rock and roll of the era, and continue to have a lasting impact on music. The backbone of that sound -- in songs like "Cherry Bomb" and "I Love Playing With Fire" -- was supplied by the thunderous drums of Sandy West.
After the demise of the Runaways Sandy West formed her own eponymous band, which further showcased her incredible drumming skills. Here's a rare live shot from a gig at the Blue Moon in 1983.
Those drums are silent now, and will be missed.
Resquiat In Pace
