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Departed: Sandy West

by Staff Writer

Sandy West

Sandy West, drummer for The Runaways, has died age 47 following a battle with lung cancer.

The Runaways were a popular all-female band from the ’70s, whose members included Joan Jett and Lita Ford.

West started The Runaways with Joan Jett in 1975. They went on to have hits with Cherry Bomb and Born to be Bad.

“We shared the dream of girls playing rock and roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer,” said Jett.

“I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world,” she added.

Before the band broke up in 1979, The Runaways toured the world several times, often headlining with opening acts like Tom Petty and Cheap Trick.

[Source: BBC]

Watch a cool clip of The Runaways from The Old Grey Whistle Test, in case you don’t know them (and really, not many would…):

A bit rough, yes, but cool anyway :) RIP Sandy.

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