Sandy West, former Runaways drummer passes away
By Art Shimko
arts767@verizon.net
SchlockNHyperbole.BlogSpot.com
photo: Rocket City Records, Barry Levine/Associated Press
-- SNH is sad to report the passing of Sandy West, drummer of the influential all-female 70's rock group The Runaways which also featured both Joan Jett and Lita Ford. West, 47, died Saturday night from lung cancer after being diagnosed a year ago according to her manager Mara Fox.
West was born in Long Beach, California in 1959 and grew up in Huntington Beach spending her time surfing and skiiing which eventually became low priorities when she receieved her first drum kit from her grandfather. In 1975 West was 16 and co-founded The Runaways with guitarist Joan Jett, guitarist Lita Ford and vocalist Cherie Currie along with a revolving doors of bassists (Jackie Fox, '76-'77; Vicki Blue '77-'78; Laurie McAllister '78-'79) completed the line-up. The band went on to headline shows with groups like Cheap Trick and Tom Petty opening for them and scored hits with the tracks "Cherry Bomb" and "Born to be Bad."
Following The Runaways' 1979 breakup West continued her music career as a multi-intrumentalist and released a solo album. West had just finished her memoirs before her death and wanted to get the book published. Left behind are West's mother, stepfather, six sisters and also her former bandmates who released statements to the press: "We shared the dream of girls playing rock 'n' roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," [Joan] Jett said in a statement. "I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world."
Cherie Currie: "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." A private service for family on Saturday while funeral arrangements are still pending, our condolences go to West's family and friends.
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Check out SNH's daily updates for the latest pro wrestling, mixed martial arts and music news and commentary, we've got live PPV and TV coverage on WWE, TNA, UFC, Pride, IFL, etc., concert reviews, CD and DVD reviews, "Funk's Corner" by Dory Funk Jr., "The Half Guarded Truth" by Michael Coughlin, "As I See It" by Bob Magee, radio recaps of The Dr. Keith~! Show, Ultimate Fighter episode recaps by Erin Bucknell of MMACalifornia.net, press releases plus so much more! Thank you as always for your support.
arts767@verizon.net
SchlockNHyperbole.BlogSpot.com
photo: Rocket City Records, Barry Levine/Associated Press-- SNH is sad to report the passing of Sandy West, drummer of the influential all-female 70's rock group The Runaways which also featured both Joan Jett and Lita Ford. West, 47, died Saturday night from lung cancer after being diagnosed a year ago according to her manager Mara Fox.
West was born in Long Beach, California in 1959 and grew up in Huntington Beach spending her time surfing and skiiing which eventually became low priorities when she receieved her first drum kit from her grandfather. In 1975 West was 16 and co-founded The Runaways with guitarist Joan Jett, guitarist Lita Ford and vocalist Cherie Currie along with a revolving doors of bassists (Jackie Fox, '76-'77; Vicki Blue '77-'78; Laurie McAllister '78-'79) completed the line-up. The band went on to headline shows with groups like Cheap Trick and Tom Petty opening for them and scored hits with the tracks "Cherry Bomb" and "Born to be Bad."
Following The Runaways' 1979 breakup West continued her music career as a multi-intrumentalist and released a solo album. West had just finished her memoirs before her death and wanted to get the book published. Left behind are West's mother, stepfather, six sisters and also her former bandmates who released statements to the press: "We shared the dream of girls playing rock 'n' roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," [Joan] Jett said in a statement. "I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world."
Cherie Currie: "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." A private service for family on Saturday while funeral arrangements are still pending, our condolences go to West's family and friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out SNH's daily updates for the latest pro wrestling, mixed martial arts and music news and commentary, we've got live PPV and TV coverage on WWE, TNA, UFC, Pride, IFL, etc., concert reviews, CD and DVD reviews, "Funk's Corner" by Dory Funk Jr., "The Half Guarded Truth" by Michael Coughlin, "As I See It" by Bob Magee, radio recaps of The Dr. Keith~! Show, Ultimate Fighter episode recaps by Erin Bucknell of MMACalifornia.net, press releases plus so much more! Thank you as always for your support.
Labels: Art Shimko, Music, Sandy West, The Runaways
posted by Art Shimko at 10/25/2006 07:54:00 PM
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