Sandy West, 47, Runaways Drummer
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Sandy West, whose ferocious drumming fueled the influential all-female 1970s rock band the Runaways, died Saturday of lung cancer in San Dimas, Calif. She was 47.
West was just 16 when she co-founded the Runaways in 1975 with singer and guitarist Joan Jett. Along with band members Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, they had such hits as “Cherry Bomb” and “Born to Be Bad.”
The Runaways headlined shows with such performers as Cheap Trick and Tom Petty as opening acts.
Following the band’s breakup in 1979, West continued to perform as a singer, guitarist and drummer with the Sandy West Band. She also released a solo CD.
