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70s rock legend played by Dakota Fanning is still platinum blonde at 65… can you guess who she is?

BBG News

In a recent appearance in Los Angeles, the iconic ’70s rock singer, known for her rebellious punk aesthetic, continued to embody that carefree spirit.

As a teen sensation, I catapulted into stardom gracing the forefront of a popular girl band that originated from the vibrant cityscape of Los Angeles. However, it was our international performances that truly cemented our success.

Her dark-haired fellow band member gained fame as the ‘Mother of Punk,’ known for her acclaimed rendition of the popular cover song, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Additionally, the sun-kissed singer, spotted in California this past month, later teamed up musically with her identical sister to create a duo act.

In the end, it was Dakota Fanning who took on the role of the band member when they finally produced a film chronicling her rise to fame.

In her most recent appearance at age 65, she continues to flaunt the silver hair that made her famous. Can you identify who this might be?

It’s worth noting that the vocalist in question is no one else but Cherie Currie, who was the frontwoman for the iconic all-female rock group from the 1970s known as The Runaways.

Raised on the outskirts of the glamorous world of Hollywood, which was later associated with the “Valley girl” phenomenon, Cherie was born to the relatively unknown actress Marie Harmon in the San Fernando Valley during the 1940s.

From their early years, they – along with their twin sister Marie Curie – were immersed in the entertainment industry, often seen as backup dancers on American Bandstand.

In her youth, Cherie endured a challenging and distressing upbringing marked by an alleged sexual assault and her mother’s departure to Indonesia due to a romantic entanglement.

At age fifteen, Cherie branched off from her family to take on the role of frontwoman for the freshly formed rock group, The Runaways, in the year 1975.

The Runaways made their debut with the hit song “Cherry Bomb,” blending the rebellious spirit of the times among teenagers with a hint of playful flirtation. Cherie sang, “Hello Dad, hello Mom, I’m your cherry bomb!” in a sassy tone.

Despite not achieving significant domestic fame in America, The Runaways gained a passionate following in Japan, and to some degree, in Europe too.

In my professional opinion, I find myself reminiscing about the trailblazing group I was once part of, known for its pioneering spirit in the punk scene. That’s right; I’m referring to none other than the iconic band I joined post-Runaways. During this time, I had the honor of lending my voice to a cover of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which propelled the song into global stardom and left an indelible mark on the music world.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d describe myself as a captivating performer who radiates passion and intensity. On stage, I make an entrance like a storm, my corset and microphone becoming my armor and voice, respectively. My performance is charged with a tempestuous energy that suggests the inner struggles and turmoil lurking beneath the surface.

It is asserted that the band’s manager, Kim Fowley, intentionally created conflicts among the band members. One of the bandmates, Jackie Fox, alleged that she was raped by Kim while unconscious, with Jackie claiming this incident occurred in front of Cherie and Joan. However, Cherie denies having witnessed such an occurrence.

In response to Pitchfork, Cherie expressed that under similar circumstances, Joan, Sandy, and she would likely intervene by striking the perpetrator forcefully with a nearby chair.

Throughout her tenure with the Runaways, Cherie struggled with a relentless battle against drug dependency, frequently misusing cocaine and Quaaludes excessively.

In the peak of her addiction to substances, Cherie decided to depart from the band in 1977 when she was only 17. This happened two years prior to the final and permanent breakup of the Runaways due to conflicts regarding their creative visions.

In the year when our band disbanded, I’m referring to Cherie, once a significant part of The Runaways, who tragically disappeared from our circle. As reported by The Guardian, she was horrifically kidnapped and violently assaulted by an individual with a chilling history. This man had taken six lives previously before he preyed upon Cherie, eventually being captured due to his stalking of her.

After the Runaways, she continued to work, producing a solo album in 1978 titled “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep” and a duets album in 1980 called “Messin’ with the Boys”, which she recorded alongside her twin sister.

Cherie also ventured into film acting, sharing the screen with Jodie Foster and Scott Baio in the movie “Foxes,” which was Adrian Lyne’s directorial debut in 1980. Later on, Lyne produced notable films like “Flashdance,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Unfaithful,” “9 1/2 Weeks,” and “Indecent Proposal.

In the 1980s, she managed to break free from her addiction to drugs, later finding herself working as a counselor in the substance abuse department of a hospital located in Los Angeles.

At just 25 years old, many of these youngsters were around the same age as I was when I joined the Runaways and got exposed to drugs. So, it felt like a suitable environment for me, as I looked back.

As a seasoned lifestyle advisor, I can confidently say that I overcame personal struggles to such an extent that in the face of Kim Fowley’s battle with bladder cancer, I was able to provide him with care, despite our past differences.

In reference to Kim specifically, I managed to change my perspective significantly. Rather than harboring my anger, resentment, and even hate towards him, I recognized that it was only causing harm to myself. She mentioned that while he may not have run the band optimally, he had come from an orphanage and had contracted polio without any parental guidance whatsoever.

For Cherie, caring for him as he went through his final decline was like the ‘end of a long and harrowing ordeal’. However, she is deeply appreciative of that period in her life. She believes that people have the capacity to transform, so… they can change.

She remarked: ‘If not for him, Joan wouldn’t exist – Lita [Ford] and I included – so I owe him a significant debt. I felt privileged to care for him during his final days, and I would have gladly done it repeatedly. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t prevent his passing.’

Over the past few years, she’s transformed into a skillful chainsaw woodcarver, now running a gallery nestled in Chatsworth, which is part of the San Fernando Valley within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, where she originates from.

The lasting impact of her band was portrayed through the 2010 movie “The Runaways,” where Kristen Stewart took on the role of Joan Jett, while Dakota Fanning embodied Cherie.

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2025-06-22 17:21

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