"The Runaways" Micki Steele (bass and vocals) Sandy West (drums) Joan Jett (guitar) Goldstar Studios Hollywood CA, 1975 Songs: Yesterday's Kids Secrets Thunder Rock 'n' Roll You Drive Me Wild
I guess these were Michael’s Glitter Years. Cool Glam Rock feel and MS shows why she eventually made it big despite Fowley’s BS. Love the Rickenbacker bass!!!
So glad I gave Rodney this demo back in '87. I religiously taped the show every Sunday but not on the day he played "Thunder," to his worldwide audience, thus outting Micki as an ex-Runaway. I heard later that she complained immediately to him, and nothing from the ''75 demo was ever played again.
First time I heard about Micki's involvement in the band was when Sandra Bernhardt mentioned it on the Letterman show, at some pont in the 80s. Must have been after Rodney's revelation. Wonder why she wouldn't be more proud of the demo. Perhaps didn't want to be associated with Fowley in any way(?)
These 5 tracks are the actual demos by the 3. The cd released in 1991 called BORN TO BE BAD has 12 tracks from this 1975 period, and some tracks had an audience.
1) Each girls' age at that time, Micki(20), Sandy(16), Joan(17). 2) I've never seen Joan' picture before, she's unbelievably so beautiful. 3) As a Micki fan for a long time, just now subscribed.
I knew it was 75 This confirms it will get these marketed and re distributed and played. anyone there with me, Wherever you are , a trip to your radio station, I have mine on board! Just takes the fans 8 to 80 to make it known/ 80 year olds were in their 40s when this came out Think about it! We have an army and don't even realize it nor how to start it! and since we will all be 80 at some time, your mature friends are the original fan base that made this all happen! Peace
Hey Joanie, so glad to see you check up on these message boards. I’m just seeing your comment in 2022, and I forwarded these songs to our local radio station WXPK Peak 107 FM in NY. I hope to see you touring soon in the New York area, love you Joanie ✌️🎸🎼💃🏼
8:30 - My 1st bass was an EB-3 of the identical vintage to Mikey's. And the Bangles didn't exist, nor had I heard yet of the Runaways. -Break- She does sound like a different person to the one whgo sang September Gurls with the Bangles.
Your comment is 6 years old but I thought I'd add my theory. A few of the original songs Micki actually helped write, and they changed them around in the first album to avoid crediting her. This might be the case with yesterday's kids, but she wrote too much of it so they couldn't record it without crediting her. I couldn't actually find who wrote the song though, so we'll never really know.
I thought that Micki was only with the runaways when they were a three piece. The picture with the second guitarist is the first time I have seen that. Obviously Lita Ford (?) I love the Velvet underground song but get distracted thinking that sandy had just got a new cow bell. I can not think of anyone except Micki who has been In 2 successful genuine girl rock groups.I like the raw rock sound.
Jeff Smith I questioned that as well because when Lita auditioned, it was originally to be the bass player, so I always figured it was to replace Micki Steele.
Micki’s Great bass line is clear through all the songs. I especially love songs number 3 and 4 on this tape. Vocals were all rough and immature though. Missing the great harmonies of the Bangles
They weren't going for the harmonies that would become the Bangles, if you listen to any of the Runaways material, you will hear that it's way different than the bangles.
It's so weird hearing Micki singing "Yesterday's Kids." It's kind of a mean natured song. Definitely not something she would sing in her later years. She's a great rock singer though for sure!!
Michael's voice is so versatile! She can do pretty much anything she wants with it. Have you heard her Sandy Deny Tribute? Her voice is UNREAL!! Just so beautiful, and full of soul!!!
Michael only sang lead on a handful of Bangles songs but they’re some of my favourites ... “September Gurls” and “Something to Believe In” for example. Her voice here is younger (obvs) but still distinctly hers.
This has a heavy influence of Joan Jett - I first thought it was her when I heard this. Sure Micki Steele contributes on the bass, but didn't Joan Jett write the first song? with Kim Fowley? Apparently, Kim Fowley was not very happy with Steele as she was fired from this band soon after its formation and she did not like the song Cherry Bomb at all which was their first hit: The Runaways were formed in late 1975 by drummer Sandy West and rhythm guitarist Joan Jett after they had both introduced themselves to producer Kim Fowley, who gave Jett's phone number to West. The two met on their own at West's home and later called Fowley to let him hear the outcome. Fowley then helped the girls find other members. Two decades later he said, "I didn't put the Runaways together, I had an idea, they had ideas, we all met, there was combustion and out of five different versions of that group came the five girls who were the ones that people liked."[3] Starting as a power trio with singer/bassist Micki Steele, the Runaways began the party and club circuit around Los Angeles. They soon added lead guitarist Lita Ford, who had originally auditioned for the bass spot. Steele was fired from the group, replaced by local bassist Peggy Foster, who left after just one month. Lead singer Cherie Currie was found and recruited in a local teen nightclub called the Sugar Shack, followed by Jackie Fox (who had originally auditioned for the lead guitar spot) on bass.[3]
Thing is, so many other sources suggest "Cherry Bomb" was written for Cherie Currie to sing. Then again, Cherie was auditioned behind Michael's back. Maybe Kim played the song to "test" Michael and when she called it "stupid", it was all he needed to hear to feel justified in firing her and bringing in Cherie? I guess in the end, it's not important.
@@ankihansen2489 Agreed. I never liked it either. It has nowhere near the groove, flow, and catchy beat of School Days. It was too cheesy, unrefined, and unprofessional. And just plain beneath them. I think it was just written to create and cash in on the 'jail bait' theme that creep Fowley wanted to mold for the band.
@@42lookc Kim's interest and intention with the Runaways was completely sexual and to exploit it, it was never about developing talent, only the object. Sad but unfortunately this was a common practice in the music industry and why you saw so few successful female bands during the 70's and you had so much raw talent and potential within the Runaways lineup, it was all there just waiting to be unleashed.
@@FireMinstrel hey kim wanted a sexual relationship with Michael and micki didn't like it. That was a big slap on kim's face. After that he fired micki with the defense of he heeds teenagers in the band and steele that time was in her '20s.
@@joyk2327 The movie seems to suggest that Cherie got the job due to Kim liking her look, and only after they checked her vocal abilities. This seems quite probable, given that the band was a fetish gratification for Kim, at least partly.
@@romualdandrzejczak4093 Of course. That is my point. With Cherie, it was physical (to elevate adolescent lust), and they certainly made her learn to sing like Micki had. That's why the similarity. Micki created these songs vocally, so I suppose they provided these demos to Cherie to learn them. He liked how sang Micki, the problem was that she didn't want to sleep with him and she was very correct and according to people close to the band at that time, she would never have gone out to sing in a corset.
I can't believe the runaways never released Yesterday's Kids. It's better than 99% of their material. Plus I love the bassline on the chorus. The song amuses me. But I also find it interesting and sad. These kids were so abused that they're just jaded AF and hard. So much so that they have this violent hatred of the hippies. Which is too bad. Hygiene aside, the hippy era was the best thing that ever happened to humanity. Granted, people can't be stupid love sheep with wolves like politicians around, but simply loving eachother is just such a more pleasant way to live. But it cracks me up how defensive and hard they are. Kind of hilarious to think she got with the Bangles, the ultimate goodie two shoe hippy band. But the Bangles needed her edge. Its interesting because All Over the Place is their best album, but the absence of Micki on Sweetheart of the Sun is STAGGERING. Altho I don't know if they were ready. There are a couple songs on there that as a songwriter, I know are filler. Sometimes you write songs that just arent up to par. But I hope Micki joins them for one more album because I really want a proper Happy Man Today. Next to September Gurls, it's my favorite Michael bangles song. If you listen to that whole concert, it stands out. The harmonies just work so well. I don't know why I'm so anti complicated girl. I think it's because it's so if she knew what she wants-esque. Plus it has that easy Listening tempo and vibe established by that song and manic Monday. I just think Happy Man would have been a much better track 2 on Everything.
Yes,as a matter of fact it is a ripoff, you are right"because in case you did not know" all of music comes from ripping off from each other's music you dumbass" everybody has to borrow or steal one or two ingredients from each other to come up with an original type of sound" if you know about music and it's History you would understand music and appreciate it more and have a little more respect for it's artists, "You think Benjamin Franklin came up with all those inventions when he was around" that the U.S. history books credits him to of have made? Look at what they did to poor Tesla" The true inventor" that no one credits until now"
It was all Kim Fowley, he wanted a bombshell blonde and if you are aware Fowley was a creep, chances are he made some creepy comments or attempted to come on to Michael because after The Runaways album was released, sometime around 1975 or early 1976 he raped Jackie Fox (Fuchs) who also was a bassist. That said, these girls deserve to be known, they did a lot of good for music, most rock albums more immitated them than anything.
The best singer in my opinion too. If Kim Fowley wasn't involved or was pushed out early on, I really think the line-up of the original three with Lita Ford on Lead Guitar would have gone far. The biggest issue is if the group of four could have worked together to create a sound all could be happy with. Joan was more Punk, Micki more power pop, Lita more hard rock, and Sandy seemingly between all three. It would have been interesting to see what type of songs these four could have written together along with maybe Kari Krome writing some lyrics and the others writing music and other lyrics. I was never a fan of Cherie Currie and I think Cherry Bomb was a bad song. I like the version of Secrets in this demo rather than the re-worked version on the first album. Jackie Fox was a good bass player, and she wrote some good songs for the band, but I think Micki was a better overall musician and singer.
@@gregory7476 When they recorded their ...songs they had to call a male bass player. There was no alternative to Micki who was only turned away due to emotional problems as Sandy and Cherie revealed...25 years later.
