The Runaways And The Group Journal They Kept—And Lost—During Their 1977 Tour

April 3, 2025

The Runaways were on fire in the summer of 1977. The all-girl rock band, which included the fierce talents of Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Sandy West, and Jackie Fox, was taking the music scene by storm. They traveled across the country performing for fans who loved their edgy sound and bold style. But more than just a band, they were a sisterhood; a group of teenage girls who dreamed big and supported each other through the wild ups and downs of life on the road. During their tour, they kept a journal, a colorful collection of stories that captured their adventures, dreams, and struggles.

As they moved from city to city, the journal became their lifeline. They filled its pages with silly drawings, bits of lyrics, heartfelt entries, and notes about the crazy moments they shared—like the time they discovered a secret donut shop in the middle of the night, or when they had to calm a freaked-out Cherie after a near-miss with a stage prop. Each entry was a piece of their journey, a testament to their camaraderie and resilience. If they were having a bad day, they’d flip through the pages and laugh at their past misfortunes, reminding each other that they were in it together.

One night after a particularly electrifying show in Chicago, the girls celebrated in their hotel room, feeling unstoppable. They poured over their journal, reliving their best memories and dreaming of what lay ahead. However, in the whirlwind of excitement, they’d forgotten to zip up their bags properly. The next morning, when they woke up to find the journal missing, panic set in. They searched every corner of the hotel room and even retraced their steps back to the venue, but it was nowhere to be found. This loss felt like losing a part of themselves. The journal was more than just a book; it was a collection of their heart and soul.

Despite the heartbreak of losing their cherished journal, the Runaways didn’t let it break their spirit. Instead, they decided to channel their feelings into their music. They wrote songs filled with raw emotion, capturing their experiences and the lessons learned on the road. This was how they transformed their sadness into powerful melodies that resonated with their fans. Joan often said that music was their way of expressing what they couldn’t say in words, and now their loss inspired some of their greatest work.

As the years went by, the Runaways parted ways, but the legacy of their tour and the lessons learned from their lost journal stayed with them. Each member ventured into a solo career, taking with them the spirit of sisterhood and resilience. Joan Jett became a rock icon, Lita found success as a guitarist, and Cherie forged her own path in music. They often reminisced about their tour days, the laughter, and the lessons learned from losing something so precious. Though they never recovered the journal, its spirit lived on in their songs and the bond they shared.

Looking back, the Runaways realized that even in loss, there was a silver lining. Their music became the voice they needed to express their dreams and struggles, inspiring countless others along the way. They proved that even when life takes unexpected turns, passion and resilience can guide you through, turning challenges into powerful art. Their story reminds us that it’s not about what we lose, but how we rise and create from the pieces we have left.