Chh, chh, chh, CHERRY BOMB!

Boy does that bring back memories. “The Runaways” soon to be shown at the Sundance Film Festival… back then who would have known! It seems like yesterday I was running home from school (I was 17 then), jump in the shower and get all dolled up for a trip to the Sugar Shack to dance my ass off. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights- as many nights as we could go. It was the only place I could dance and be myself with other creatures and strange fellows like myself.

Attitude dancing, that’s what I called it. You had to have the right attitude when dancing to the song playing. Bowie, Suzie Quatro, Rocky Horror– the Runaways you name it these songs had a style that you danced with. That’s what made it fun. If you EVER wanted to be a singer/actor, these were the groups that made you strut your stuff too and make sure EVERYONE knew you were someone special! As you paid your $3 dollars to get in you then proceeded to the left to see what Sid was up to as he checked your coat (if you were warning one) then to the right to see what mood Danny the bartender was in (he could be such a queen!). If Danny had too much bitch in him you would pay no attention, as Vicki was always smiling and ready to tell you what was going on that night.

I think many times when I tell these stories of the people we hung with (or knew) that people think I lie or I'm crazy. We did so much as teenagers. We were fortunate to grow up just 15 minutes from Hollywood. Hollywood… I think it lost its shinny star after the 80’s and the MTV generation. Kids back then didn’t have video games or cell phones to get our kicks. We had FRIENDS and adventures. Friends and adventures that would take us on a roller coaster ride for many years. New music, new art and new experiences.

I certainly hope the Runaways movies are more to truth than the Germs movie (What we do is secret) was. I often see high school kids wearing a germs shirt. Every now and then I pull up my sleeve and turn over my wrist and show them my Germ Burn, they know what it is which always surprises me. I guess that burn is in someway a mark that will forever have a story to tell of friends we once knew and hung with.

Currie Currie, Sandy West, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, Vicki Blue (she counts too as she played bass I believe the longest and was in the band longer than Cherie) and Joan Jett… I hope the story is strong and truth, no sugar coating. For God’s sake at least wear Chemin der Fers!

Finally, I now have nieces that are of the age when we ruled the streets of Hollywood. It always puts a smile on my face when they want to hear the Runaways, X, Germs, Weirdo’s, Iggy… there is no generation gap here. Music is an important part of our lives. From my mother dancing to the Stones in the early 60’s, my chola cousin strutting to Motown in the mid 60’s, to me dancing to disco and punk… to my nieces dancing and playing guitars in the 2000’s, music is part of us. It good when my friend’s children are playing an instrument. My friends Oralia and Jamie Jimenez have a very talented son Kyle. Kyle played his sax for us the other night, very nice but all I could picture him doing was taking that sax and blowing away with some crazy Avanade Garde group… “like crazy man!”.

P.S. If you want to see some GREAT photos of Punk and the Runaways then visit JennyLens.com!

And P.S.S. Visit RonnSavala.com and order your product.. don't you want to look your best?

Mandog!

Pictured from top to bottom:'
JOAN JETT and ME (picture by Jenny Lens)

STEPHINE SERRANO (my niece) ROSA RAMIREZ (my sister) & BETO (my brother-in-law)

NINA GONZALEZ (my niece)

ALICE MARTINEZ (my sister)