Photo: Press
Kim Fowley, the legendary manager and music producer behind the Runaways has died after a long battle with bladder cancer, at the age of 75.
After making a name for himself in the 1960's working with the likes of KISS, Alice Cooper and Kris Kristofferson, he went on to manage the Runaways in 1975 - after introducing a teenage Joan Jett to the talents of Lita Ford, Cherie Currie and Jackie Fox. He produced the band's 1976 self-titled debut and co-wrote the girls' biggest hit, the anthemic "Cherry Bomb," with Jett. However, they later severed ties with him due to his explosive management style.
Watch a video of "Cherry Bomb" below.
In his last years, he was still active as a producer and a performer, hosting a weekend show on Sirius Satellite Radio until last week.
Known for his for his pale white skin, blue eyes and slicked back hair, he was know for his ccentric and magnetic personality and part of his legacy is the action of holding up lighters for an artist during a performance. Foley brought John Lennon to the Toronto Rock And Roll Revival in 1969 and told the audience to hold up their matches and lighters to welcome him onstage.
“Kim Fowley is a big loss to me,” E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt said in a statement. “A good friend. One of a kind. He’d been everywhere, done everything, knew everybody. He was working in the Underground Garage [his satellite radio show] until last week. We should all have as full a life.”
