Jailbait!

When they were around, in the late 1970s, the Runaways were often perceived as Kim Fowley's puppets (because young girls couldn't possibly write their own songs) and described as jailbait (they were all in their teens and total bad girls—ie, they taunted boys and played rock & roll). But their influence has outlasted the middle-aged male critics who used to make fun of them, and their music has aged surprisingly well, as I was reminded at a fun, affectionate tribute by the Stay-at-Homes at Magnetic Field Saturday night.

The Stay-at-Homes are made up of local vets who recreate almost all of Live in Japan—which, luckily, happens to be my favorite Runaways album. Tammy Faye Starlite, who goes through three costumes as singer Cherie Currie, even included the stage banter. But things really hit a high point at the very end, when the Stay-at-Homes tackled the awesome "Dead End Justice," an epic story-song that matches "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" in overblown rock-osity ("On the planet Sorrow/There is no tomorrow"—amazingly enough, this poetry did not seep out of Jim Steinman's brain). I never thought I'd hear "Dead End Justice" live one day, but there it was, in all its tawdry glory.

MP3s The Runaways "California Paradise" and "Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin" (both from Live in Japan, of course)

Coda: While Joan Jett is looking increasingly sad as an aging fetish mama playing Bud Light rock, Cherie Currie's now a professional chainsaw carver. She sells her sculptures, so if you're wondering what to give me for my next birthday… (Hint: think raccoons).