Lemmy Kilmister’s Pick For The Best Song For A Girl Band To Sing
Drummer Sandy West and guitarist Joan Jett met and talked to famous producer Kim Fowley about their musical career without knowing each other. Then, Fowley gave Jett’s phone number to West, which marked the beginning of The Runaways, a band that would become an essential part of the rock music scene. Micki Steele and Lita Ford joined them, but they underwent several lineup changes because of different reasons.
Despite being a short-lived band, the Runaways members created, recorded, and shared some tracks that would initially bring them fame in Japan and later worldwide. Undoubtedly, not only their songs but also their unique styles and looks drew significant attention. Their colleagues started recognizing their potential more and more, and one of the musicians was the Motörhead icon Lemmy Kilmister.
Which Was Song Lemmy Kilmister Chose As The Best For A Girl Band?
The Runaways released their self-titled debut studio album on June 1, 1976, and it consisted of the band members’ greatest hits, ‘Cherry Bomb,’ ‘You Drive Me Wild,’ and ‘Is It Day or Night.’ Jett and others proved their talent as songwriters and instrumentalists, which would later contribute to Jett’s career as a solo musician and with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.
For most of their fans, ‘Cherry Bomb’ has a special place in their hearts with its lyrics that reflect a young girl’s wildness and freedom to do whatever she wants. It took place on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs lists and reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100. Even though the all-female band couldn’t gain the popularity and commercial success they deserved in the US, a metal legend wanted to praise one of their works.
During an interview with Goldmine Magazine, Lemmy Kilmister recalled their first Britain concert and revealed that Jett was wearing his bullet belt during the performance. The musician highlighted that The Runaways was the first all-girl band that could say ‘F*ck me,’ which most American families found outrageous at that time.
It’s not surprising that people criticized their style, considering rock was and still is a male-dominated scene. As a person who always supported other musicians, Kilmister credited The Runaways members by defining their hit, ‘Cherry Bomb,’ as the best song a girl band had sung. However, differentiating bands based on the sex of the members can be a topic of dispute, but it seems clear that Lemmy did not mean to discriminate.
In Kilmister’s words, he stated:
“The first time The Runaways played in Britain, Joan Jett wore my bullet belt onstage. The Runaways were the first all-girl band to strut their stuff and say, ‘F*ck you.’ ‘Cherry Bomb’ was the best song for a girl band to sing. It was just outrageous at the time. American families were sitting on the sofa watching television, saying, ‘F*ck me.’ It was great fun.”
You can listen to the song below.