INTERVIEW: IN CONVERSATION WITH CHERIE CURRIE
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
No Barriers caught up with the Rock Goddess and Legend: Cherie Currie of The Runaways to talk about her final Australian tour and smashing the barriers for women who rock
Cherie Currie paved a way for young women who wanted to be in rock band. She was the front women and iconic voice of the American rock band The Runaways and then followed it up with a stellar solo career in music. Cherie Currie’s importance to future generations of young women in music is an amazing 50-year legacy of music created in all genres. And, it is that vital and fierce spirit that Cherie Currie will bring to Australia and the Crowbar in Brisbane for one last blow-out tour.
Cherie Currie and the other members of The Runaways such as Sandy West, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, Michael Steele and Joan Jett and that other solo girl rocker Suzi Quatro trailblazed a way forward for young women across the globe showing how being in a rock band could be done. “I love playing with Suzi Quatro and her influence on music should never be under played,” said Cherie Currie. “I won’t take the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame seriously until they induct her properly. I think about how big she was and how big The Runaways were in Japan – a society where women, at the time, were women still walked five paces behind their husbands or men”. It wasn’t just Japan… the service these women have done for us modern women, was, and is, enormous.
Cherie Currie’s new musical work is dynamic and exciting and if you haven’t heard it catch up with the dark pop of ‘Type O Negatif’, the dance remix of ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ and her wonderful voice take on punk rocker ‘I Can See You’ that is part of a new journey of her work. “I have been in the music business for 50 years – it’s been an endeavour,” says Cherie Currie. “I am really looking forward to being back in Australia. My son, Jake, will be bringing his band to support the tour. He is going to play drums and we wanted to do a performance that honours and pays tribute to Sandy West. The energy of his young band, Maudlin Strangers, and their excellent guitarist like Nick Maybury, they will blow the roof off the place we are playing”.
It’s been nearly a decade since Cherie Currie came to Australia in 2016. “Yeah. It’s been a while. But we are going to take some time and see the country, reconnect and thank fans for their support over the last 50 years,” stated Cherie Currie. “We are going to do limited run of shows that I promise are going to be equal parts celebration, fun and farewell. It’s time to scale it back. I want to bring a bit of all my songs across those years especially the new songs like ‘Piece Of Me’ and older songs to fans”.
Scaling it back, more a realignment. Cherie Currie has more to her life than music as she follows her son’s career and other young musicians. She is a gifted woodcarver who has been recognised in international competitions. And, she does it the toughest way with a chainsaw. It is the most skilful art you will ever see: precision, perfection and true skill or you can end up dead.
“It’s my other life,” explained Cherie Currie. “I saw it being done on the side of the road. And, that voice in my head said go back. So, I went back. I saw these amazing carvings in a gallery – carvings of dolphins, mermaids and that voice in my head said – I can do that – So, I picked up a chainsaw and started. I have done it for 26 years – just one serious accident in 2016. I just leaned too far forward, fell back and knocked myself out, broke my tailbone, hurt the side of my face as I landed on the cement – did a bit of damage but held onto that chainsaw. I made it my day job as well. I just love it”.
But, back to the music. Brisbane will be her last gig in Australia. Fans young and old will get our last chance to scream along to those iconic rock anthems with her live one last time. “I can promise those younger fans energy and to my older fans who have been there through the years a special show. My young band will bring it – that energy – and I bring the songs especially that Runaways and solo charm”. The tour will be a high-voltage rock ‘n’ roll send-off for a woman who helped blow the doors of the music industry open for generations of female rockers, as she carved her name into rock ‘n’ roll history with blood, sweat, and cherry bombs, but no chainsaws. Her battles and breakthroughs, the grit and fame, and the emotions behind closing this chapter of her life will be a wonder to watch as she revels in female rock energy. And, I know my generation is eternal grateful.
Cherie Currie will be joined on tour with Maudlin Strangers, and rising band Hot Machine, a five-piece all-girl rock outfit from Melbourne who will bring their own rock ‘n’ roll fire to the stage.
Cherie Currie is taking her final tour of Australia in September 2025. Don’t miss it!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
September 5: Perth, Rosemount
September 6: Adelaide, Crown and Anchor
September 11: Melbourne, The Corner Hotel
September 12: Sydney, Crowbar
September 13: Brisbane, Crowbar
