Sandy West
July 10, 1959 – October 21, 2006
Sandy West was the founding drummer for the influential all-girl rock band, the Runaways. Born and raised near the beaches of Southern California, West picked up the drums at the age of nine. She met record producer, Kim Fowley in 1975 and told him of her desire to form an all-girl rock band. He put her in contact with another like-minded teen, Joan Jett. They soon found Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, and the Runaways were born. Although the band stayed together for less than four years, their influence on rock ‘n roll cannot be denied. With songs like “Cherry Bomb,” and “Rock & Roll,” the band was soon signed to Mercury Records and opening for such acts as Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, and Van Halen. The Runaways disbanded in just four short years, so West went on to front her own band and play in other local groups, none sparking the kind of fame she experienced with the Runaways. She also never benefited financially from the band’s popularity. On October 21, 2006, Sandy West, 47, died of a brain tumor that was borne from lung cancer.
What You Should Own
Sandy West was to greatest female drummer of all time. I love and miss you dear friend. You are in my heart everyday, every second… Joan and I send our deepest love to you sweetheart. We miss you so much!!! During the filming of our movie, all we kept saying was God, we wished you were there! You deserved this so much!!!
We love you,
Your ‘sister’,
Cherie
Now that’s a true friend!!!!
What a damn shame!
It’s quite an epitaph to have your bandmates profess their affection and devotion to this day. You were obviously quite a good friend and person to have left such a long lasting impression.
May the time since your passing given you what you were denied from having left at such an early age…
I still MISS not seeing you do the odd gig around Hollywood!Your in a better place.RIP