One legendary rock band went a step too far during Runaways show

As a long-time fan of classic rock and roll, I can’t help but feel angry and disappointed when I hear stories like this one about The Runaways and Rush. I have grown up listening to these bands, and it saddens me that during the 1970s, the all-female band The Runaways didn’t receive the respect they deserved.


In the 1970s, The Runaways didn’t receive the recognition they deserved despite being an exceptional rock band. They were often labeled as just a female band instead of being appreciated for their raw musical talents. However, in more contemporary times, people have come to acknowledge and value their music without gender bias.

Despite being all women, the Runaways faced a prank during a 1970s concert tour that could have resulted in harm. This mischief was instigated by another band before the Runaways performed on stage. The perpetrators found amusement in the chaos without any remorse.

In an interview with The Metal Voice, Cherie Currie, original Runaways band member, shared a story about a 1977 concert at Detroit’s Cobo Hall where the Runaways were the opening act for Rush. Previously, Joan Jett and her group had opened for bands like Tom Petty and Cheap Trick without any issues. However, Rush chose to behave unexpectedly.

Rush almost caused the Runaways to have horrible injuries

During the Runaways’ early performances, at least one band member wore unstable platform boots. In contrast, Rush tossed around large sheets of paper (measuring 8 inches by 10 inches) on stage. If a Runaway stepped on one of these papers, the outcome could be unfavorable. This almost happened with Currie, who was required to leap from her drum kit and land safely on her feet as part of their act. Unfortunately, upon landing, she landed on a slippery paper piece that caused her to lose balance and veer towards a cluster of photographers.

Luckily, she managed to regain her footing right before crashing into the photographer area, and struck a confident “rock star pose” instead to give the impression of intent. The Runaways understood the truth behind this unexpected turn of events, and it seems that Rush didn’t offer an apology for their role in the incident. According to Currie’s account, Lee and his bandmates merely chuckled at what had transpired.

“That night, I was just inches away from a tragic accident. It wasn’t an exaggeration, I could have been seriously hurt if I had stepped off that stage. And to make things worse, Joan and I felt that Rush didn’t care about our safety. Instead of shielding us, they seemed to be sabotaging us by sitting behind Lita Ford’s amp and laughing.”

As a fan, I believe it’s acceptable to play harmless pranks on people as long as they aren’t physically or emotionally harmed and are in on the joke. However, initiating a prank that could potentially result in injury is not only mean-spirited but also displays bullying behavior. Geddy Lee should consider apologizing if he has ever crossed this line.

Read More

2024-07-18 16:00