The Runaways And The Record Exec Who Walked Out—Until He Saw Them Live

April 3, 2025

It was a chilly evening in 1975 when the Runaways, a groundbreaking all-girl rock band, took the stage at a small venue in Los Angeles. The auditorium buzzed with anticipation, filled with a crowd eager to see the girls strut their stuff. Among the audience, however, sat a record executive named Kim Fowley. With his slicked-back hair and a sharp suit, he glanced at his watch, unimpressed. He’d heard the band was young and had potential, but he was already doubting whether they were worth his time.

As the lights dimmed, the Runaways burst onto the stage with a fierce energy that filled the room. Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, and the rest of the band poured their hearts into every note, their passion glowing like a fire in the night. They played their hits like “Cherry Bomb” with a wild, rebellious spirit that captured the crowd from the very first chord. But Fowley barely paid attention, scribbling notes as if he was ready to walk out. To him, they were just another band trying to make it big in a world he thought he knew better than they ever could.

Just as he was about to leave, something changed. The lead singer, Cherie, hit a note that pierced through the walls of the venue. The raw emotion in her voice and the electric guitar riffs from Joan and Lita made him stop in his tracks. The vibe in the room shifted; the crowd sang along, lost in the music. Fowley felt a jolt of realization. These girls weren’t just trying to be rock stars. They were living it, pouring their souls into every song, and that was something he couldn’t ignore. He began to see the Runaways not just as a band, but as a revolution in the music industry.

After the show, Kim approached the girls, his initial skepticism replaced by admiration. He introduced himself and expressed how impressed he was with their performance. The girls, still buzzing from their set, looked at him with excitement. They had faced endless challenges as young women in a male-dominated industry, and now they finally sensed that their hard work might be paying off. Fowley signed them on to his label, and what followed was a whirlwind of fame, success, and relentless touring. The Runaways became icons, paving the way for future female musicians and proving that passion could break barriers.

Years later, Fowley would reflect on that night. It was a turning point not just for the Runaways, but for him too. He had walked in thinking he was the one in charge, but by the end of that electrifying performance, he realized he had been the one lucky enough to witness something special. The resilience of the Runaways inspired him to see talent from a fresh perspective—a lesson he carried with him throughout his career.

For the Runaways, that moment was just the beginning. They faced ups and downs, but their love for music never wavered. They showed the world that girls could rock just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. Their story became one of courage and determination, embodying the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. In the end, they didn’t just change the industry; they changed lives, including their own and even a skeptical record exec who learned that sometimes, brilliance thrives where it’s least expected.