Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story

by Cherie Currie, Neal Shusterman

The author recounts her teenaged years as the lead singer of the all-girl rock band, the Runaways, her career as a movie actress, and her battle with drugs and alcohol.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Rock N Roll

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 1989

About the author

Cherie Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician and actress. Currie was the lead vocalist of The Runaways, an all-female hard rock (of which Joan Jett and Lita Ford were also members) proto-punk band from Los Angeles in the mid-to-late 1970s.

Currie was the teenage lead vocalist for the all-female rock band The Runaways with bandmates Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox. Bomp! magazine described her as "the lost daughter of Iggy Pop and Brigitte Bardot."

Currie, not yet 16, joined The Runaways in 1975. The teen rock anthem "Cherry Bomb" was written for her at the audition. Attitudes to her impact at that time differ; one reviewer has written that "the received wisdom that carved out new territory for female musicians is hard to justify - it's doubtful that the predominantly male audience who flocked to see the 16 year old in her undies picked up any feminist subtext".

After three albums with The Runaways, (The Runaways, Queens of Noise, and Live in Japan ), Currie went on to record a solo album in 1978, Beauty's Only Skin Deep, for Polygram Records, and an album with her twin sister Marie, in 1980, as Cherie & Marie Currie , entitled Messin' With The Boys for Capitol Records. She then worked as an actress, starring in movies such as Foxes, Parasite, Wavelength, Twilight Zone: The Movie, The Rosebud Beach Hotel, Rich Girl, and others, as well as numerous guest spots on TV series (Matlock and Murder She Wrote, among others).

Currie wrote a memoir of her teen years called Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway. The book revolves around her dysfunctional family, her struggles with drugs and alcohol, sexual abuse and her days with The Runaways. The Runaways movie, a 2010 musical biographical drama film executive produced by Joan Jett, explores the relationship between Currie and Jett. In the film Currie is portrayed by Dakota Fanning.

In 2008, Currie contributed to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book, Cherry Bomb. Currently, Currie is a wood carving artist who uses a chain saw to create her works. Currie finally independently released her second solo album, Reverie, in 2015.

Reviews

[Rachel Kramer Bussel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wild ride of a memoir takes us from Currie's suburban upbringing as a young rebel, dyeing her hair red, white and blue and dressing up as her idol, David Bowie, to, in a turn that is dramatically sudden, being asked to audition for The Runaways by Kim Fowley and Joan Jett while at her local hangout. All of a sudden, she's thrust into the big-time world of rock music, and the pace is hectic, with fame, and drugs, chasing the band.

The heart of the story is Currie's quest to find a family who'll appreciate her for herself; her dad does, and, to a large degree, her twin sister, Marie, and older sister, Sandie, but she contrasts them with the sisterhood, of sorts, she finds with her bandmates. The growing infighting amongst the band, in large part of what was perceived as Currie's starring role in the press, along with her own increasing reliance on drugs and exhaustion from touring, help drive them apart. Her life post-Runaways finds her acting (in the film Foxes, alongside Jodie Foster), recording solo albums and, mainly, figuring out who she is...all while still in her twenties. So much happens to Currie while still a teenager that it's sometimes hard to remember that she is so young.

This is often a dark story, including rape and attacks that read like something out of a true crime book. Her evocation of shows overseas, in Europe especially, are some of the most vivid, including garbage and knives being thrown onstage as punk hit; you can practically feel the anger hurtling toward the stage, and Currie documents these times as vividly as she does the wildness of setting out on the road for the first time.

Kim Fowley emerges as the villain who turned a group of young, talented teens into a world-famous band, and while his actions speak for themselves, Currie also details the mixed feelings she had about him, at once abhorring him and appreciating the opportunities he gave her. Sadly, her teen devolution into a range of drugs continued for a while as she tried to break free of their grip, even after watching her alcoholic father die. This Currie, the one struggling for her place and her pride, is as much a player here as the one brandishing glitter and attitude onstage.

She is circumspect about some moments, such as her relationship with Joan Jett, writing, "She was my anchor. How do I explain about a person that was my best friend, someone I would confide in like a sister, someone who to me became a strong, sexual attraction? Well, it's easy. Just like how easy it was to be that way with her. I can leave it by saying that I had moments with a friend that quake me to this day. And they were some of the most satisfying moments of my young life."

These tender moments are few and far between in Neon Angel; much more drawn out are some of the horror stories that illustrate the dark side of fame, or rather, fame under the iron fist of Fowley. Currie's transformation from Bowie-wannabe to Cherry Bomb through recovery to mom, actress and chain saw cutter is fascinating and riveting.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been a huge Joan Jett fan so this book was a magnet for me. Loved the whole book, her life and her story. Unlike many celebrity memoirs I have read, she is so likable you just can't help but feel all that she has survived. I love this girl and love this book!!

[nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fame, manipulation, bad hair, and lots and lots (and lots) of quaaludes.

What a train wreck. Both the text (did she have an editor?) and the story (though on the story side of things, that's what keeps you reading, of course). It's hard to look away but in this case, sometimes I really wanted to. I'm afraid I'm forever damaged by Cherie Currie's horrifying history of sexual abuse and stupidity. If you were repulsed by the film version of Kim Fowley, don't even pick this up. Dude is despicable. One of the worst parts of this book is that it's actually frequently hard to feel sorry for Cherie, despite all the ways she was taken advantage of because she comes across as such a complete dip shit. You were hardcore? Nobody could tell you what to do? Then why is this memoir a lesson in manipulation and how to fall for it? Cherie Currie's life sounds like the exact opposite of the "freedom" she thought she was living out. That said, this is not uninteresting. It's a big ol' mess, quick and reads like a juicy diary, though ultimately too depressing for me.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it goes without saying that the writing isn't inventive literary genius, or like, follows normal rules of tenses. But that's not why you read this book. you read it to see what life is like going from a 15 year old valley freak, to a 17 year old banshee in a globe trotting touring band, to a 21 year old coke burnout living in the Hollywood Hills with a fat dealer and passing out at the grocery store.

At first I was miffed that the beginning of the text opens with a "This book is based in part on..." referencing the '89 version published with a different co-author. I felt almost cheated - what was being scrubbed from the record? The afterword explains that Cherie wrote the original book as sort of a "young-adult" cautionary tale and that many of the stories she recounts were of a more teen-friendly nature, not a Hollywood Babylon style tell-all. So there's that. As a true completest I'd love to get my hands on the first edition, but it sells for $100+ everywhere. Perhaps it will be my greatest find someday at a junk shop. What's a good metaphor for the hunt for an elusive object?

The book itself is quite funny in parts, terrifying in others. Cherie makes Lita Ford out to be a real bitch, but maybe Lita was already wearing this thong unitard under all her clothes and it was too tight. Kim Fowley doesn't quite get the treatment I thought he would, seeing how he blatantly stole money from a bunch of naive teenage girls and continually verbally abused them, but there's a little Stockholm Syndrome in Cherie's descriptions of him, so perhaps that's how she got over. I don't think he's mentioned in the afterword, which is just a long scroll of what everyone in the book is up to now. I can tell you, though; Kim still lives the perv life. He has a radio show on the Underground Garage station on Sirius XM on Saturdays, during one of which he kept proposing to this twenty year old girl in studio. Also his website is amazing.

The afterword is also where I found out that Cherie's older sister Sondra played Zach Galifianakis' mom in The Hangover.

Anyway, read it if you can get your hands on it. I got it ILL cause it was checked out of the Henrico Library in March and has yet to be returned. If you get the original edition let me borrow it. And don't use your mind's eye to see Cherie as played by Dakota Fanning. It's just wrong.


First read: Read from May 16 to 22, 2012, ISBN 9780061961359

[Michelle Curie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fascination for the 70s and the glamour that came with being a rockstar during that particular period of time. The Runaways are a group of young girls who got a taste for what it was like to be famous. Turns out drugs, sex and rock and roll come with quite a lot of ups and downs and all that allure is often linked with pain and trouble.

Neon Angel is Cherie Currie's story, singer of the rock band The Runaways, which consisted of five female teenagers. Born in the late 50s, Cherie talks about growing up in California, where she got scouted in a nightclub. What followed was not only stardom, but also fights, drugs and the inevitable downfall.

This was as gripping as some of the most creative fiction novels are. Honestly, I don't care how much Currie has written herself and how much credit goes to her co-writer – this was utterly engaging. The story is told in an episodic nature, as we are chronologically following certain events in Currie's life. She might not be a literary genius, but this felt fast-paced and what's most important – alive. She comes across as honest, too, not sugarcoating her own irrationality or mistakes. There's also a lot of tenderness in her voice as well, when she speaks about her bandmates for example (or at least those she got along with).

This story was dark, sometimes verging on burdensome. Her interpersonal relations were intense, I'm telling you. There are accounts of two or three encounters that left me genuinely shocked and affected... honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. There's literally a story in here about how a man kidnapped, raped and almost killed her. And don't get me started on Kim Fowley, the band's manager, who's exploited, maltreated and mentally abused the girls for years. And then her experiences with drugs weren't much better than those with men.

If you care about the band, if you care about what it was like to be in a band in the 1970s or if you just care about drama – this will provide it all.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not been able to get "Cherry Bomb" out of my head since I picked this up. "Hello Daddy, Hello Mom. I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Cherry Bomb!" (Haha! Now it's stuck in your head too.)

There's not much I can say to sway anyone on this one. If you aren't familiar with The Runaways (the seminal 70's all-girl band that launched the careers of Lita Ford, Joan Jett and the author, Cherie Currie) and/or are interested in a certain breed of rock memoir, then you aren't likely to seek this book out anyways.

If you are on the fence, I can tell you that Currie writes clearly and modestly-if not always artfully-and she's been through a lot: fame as a teen-aged rock queen, a promising film career she ruined with a raging coke habit, assorted familial dysfunction that was really kind of heartbreaking, rape, and a near fist fight with Lita Ford (who, not surprisingly, is kind of a bitch.) Some parts drag a bit but other parts-especially about life during the Runaways era-are riveting. I also liked the stories she tells about her first movie role, Foxes, and her friendship with co-star Jodie Foster. And it is quite touching and amazing she survived it all, got clean, married Robert Hays of Airplane fame, had a kid and became-wait for it-a prize-winning chainsaw artist.

Foxes, by the way? Still a great movie.

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

at the beginning of this book i felt slightly disappointed in myself that I didn't join a band when i was 15 and go on tour and get a bit crazy while wearing a corset and suspenders(i was busy getting videos out of pier video in aberystwyth and reading books about aleister crowley), but by the end of reading this i realised that i had made the right choice. (and ye-es, there wasn't really a choice - no one came and asked me to join a band while i was hanging out in the sugar shack).

so, there are actually lots of horrible things in this book and the way the runaways were treated when they were so young is just horrifying. argh. men are awful

but aside from this - or because of this - the book is really fascinating. i loved cherrie's natural writing style, and I liked how she wrote about all the stuff without ever really portraying herself as a victim. the 'deleted scenes' while a cute idea, i could have done without.

really enjoyed it, love the music and am gonna go and watch the movie.

[SarahJayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this book, I was a little confused. I had to go back and read it again.
Basically, I was confused because I have no idea how a memoir this good - raw and honest and confused and funny and sad - could have been boiled down to the piece of garbage that was the movie, The Runaways. Seriously, how did that happen?
Currie is not the most fantastic writer that ever existed. Her voice is plain and had a little of I'm-trying-too-hard-to-sound-like-a-real-author syndrome going on at times. But the story . . . the story is fantastic. Instead of the shock-and-awe style that most rock n' roll biographies depend upon, Currie leans heavily on the internal conflict. Sure, a lot of crazy stuff goes down, but whatever hell Currie is going through pales in comparison to her internal demons.
A great read.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I opened this book I have been unable to stop playing the Runaways. That is how much I have been immersed, obsessed with this book. Cherie Currie has written a memoir that reads real, raw and full of life. Her life is sprawled out within this book and charts her time before and after the Runaways. God, I just love this damn book and now I have the runaways in my life.

[Mickey Tompkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the Runaways stuff, but after she left it became the Nikki Sixx show with how much coke she did. The best part of the book was her encounter with James Lloyd White, that was absolutely terrifying!

I'm not sure if Cherie actually wrote this or had a ghost writer, but according to Joan Jett who did the forward she was even surprised by how well Cherie could write.....I agree

Her life is/was pretty amazing, and it's incredible she is still alive, she got her shit together it seemed though.

If you like biographies, and tell-all with the dirt and sleaze then this is the book for you......too bad the movie wasn't as in-depth as this book, now I have to read Joan & Lita's books.

[Alexandra Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. I love Cherie Currie so much, she is definitely, my idol, after reading this book and seeing the movie. To hearing the music. The book was the cherry on top. She is a wonderful human being, who has grown so much. I loved it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not particularly well-written, but nonetheless a supremely engaging read, NEON ANGEL tells the story of Cherie Currie, a girl who, within the space of several months, went from being a high school outcast to one of the hottest names in the rock 'n' roll music industry. As lead singer of the Runaways, Cherie Currie launched her career playing alongside the likes of Joan Jett and Lita Ford. Like all good rock 'n' roll stories, though, the dream quickly deteriorated into a nightmare of various addictions and abuses. In this case, the abuses were mostly suffered at the hands of the band's manager, a piece of human scum whose concept for the band's image could be summed up in the words "jailbait sex." And, even though he rode roughshod over their lives, called them horrible names, refused to pay them, threatened them with lawsuits, and even pimped Cherie out on one occasion, the girls still continued on in their ironic belief that they were living the lives of wild, carefree spirits who wouldn't take any crap from anyone.
I mostly became interested in the Runaways after first seeing the movie trailer for the 2010 film of the same name starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. I thought it looked like a cross between Mark Wahlburg's ROCK STAR and Oliver Stone's THE DOORS, but the end result was ultimately disappointing. NEON ANGEL, however, tells the story in a way that puts the movie version to shame (though, to be fair, the movie would've had to have been NC-17 to do the book justice--and this was a Dakota Fanning movie, after all.)
NEON ANGEL also elaborates on Currie's post-Runaways life, starting with how she immediately pissed away a promising solo career (not necessarily her fault). Then we learn how she pissed away a promising acting career (totally her fault). There's also a really harrowing chapter about the time she was kidnapped and brutalized at the hands of a lunatic, as well as enough depictions of cocaine abuse to make even Hunter S. Thompson wince.
And, like all good rock 'n' roll stories, Currie manages to redeem herself at the end. The scene where Rosanna Arquette finds her folding linen for $2.50 an hour at a women's department store is especially memorable. As with most memoirs, however, NEON ANGEL suffers somewhat from subjective bias. I imagine that people like Lita Ford weren't QUITE as horrible to her as she portrays them. I'm also not at all convinced that Currie was quite the caliber of artist that she thinks she was. But, heck, this is a rock 'n' roll memoir, so where would we be without a little excess ego? And, as far as rock memoirs go, they don't come much better than NEON ANGEL.

[Kyli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neon Angel read like a diary - it was honest and raw and kept me turning the pages. Some people might say that Currie was self-centered and that she caused her own problems, but I actually admire her strength and her ability to change the course her life was taking. It's a story that most definitely could have ended differently and does for many people.

The writing wasn't entirely impressive, but there were some scenes that I felt were very well described and there was a lot of emotion weaved through every chapter.

It's so shocking that at such a young age, someone could experience so many extraordinary things, both good and tragically bad. I had to skip over most of the chapter that detailed Currie's abduction and rape. I'm not sure exactly what happened there, but I knew where it was going, and decided after reading that it gave other people nightmares not to expose myself to it! I don't often do that and I can usually read through scenes like that, so that's saying something about how awful I knew it was going to be without even reading it! I can't imagine the strength and perseverance it must have taken to overcome not just one rape, but two, along with an abortion, and a downpour of other bad experiences.

It's easy to forget that when she joined the Runaways, she was just a child; an essentially parentless child who was trying to fill that void with whatever she could find. Ultimately she found Kim Fowley who would make her dreams come true and tear her apart all at the same time.

I really enjoyed reading about the Runaways and their life on tour. It was fun learning about a lifestyle I could only wonder about. Despite how difficult it was to read about Currie's mistakes and all of the moments she naively put herself in danger, I found myself turning pages quickly, not because I wanted the book to end, but because I wanted to read about how she got her life back on track. It was really rewarding to find out that she did, indeed, do just that. For me, its the end result (her strength, determination, and resilience) that made this book a memorable and empowering read.

Also, just to add - I think the movie would have been much better if it stayed truer to the book.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

You couldn't make this up if you tried to!

Before watching the movie The Runaways, I didn't know who Cherie Currie was. The Runaways, for me, was Joan Jett's first band, but the movie made me want to know more, and since Joan Jett is extremely private, I picked up NEON ANGEL: A Memoir of a Runaway. What a revelation it was! I can hardly find the words, but NEON ANGEL is a must read. It's enlightening, disgusting, exhilarating, nauseating, mesmerising, heartbreaking, and enthralling. The Runaways really were tough chicks, it wasn't an act, but being in that band was close to hell. Cherie Currie's audition must be read to be believed! And Kim Fowley, the band's manager? Whoa!

There are the unfortunate and all too common stories of the band not seeing the money (but wait until you see how that turned out!); the strained relations between the girls - we're talking 15 and 16 year-olds when they started - and the substance abuse. There are also very unusual family dynamics at work; Cherie has an identical twin sister, and the responsible adults not whom you would expect. NEON ANGEL is unlike any other rock star memoir I have ever read. Ms. Currie is brutally honest, open when she can but careful when she has to, because there are explosive revelations. Even though she had serious substance abuse issues, she went through horrific, unimaginable experiences, such as rape and torture, that no one should ever go through. Her writing style is unpolished and straightforward, and I think it was the right decision not to overedit her words; I guess we have Tony O'Neill, the co-author to thank for that. Her voice comes out strong and clear, and I think it serves her story well; it's very dynamic and it puts the reader in the moment. There are also several fabulous pictures that accompany the text.

Cherie Currie would be the first to acknowledge that she made mistakes, but my goodness, what a life filled with incredible highs and horrendous lows. I read way past my bedtime, sometimes nearly in a trance and in tears. I wish this review to be a hug for her. I'm glad she made it, that she's alive and thriving, and that she chose to tell her story, one that I will never forget.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think once every young woman opens their musical doors to women like Suzi Quatro and Janis Joplin, The Runaways is the common pipeline to follow. This book was gifted to me by my best friends and wow what a read.

It's equal parts not surprising and devastating to read about how much these literal kids were put through. It's also interesting to read just how much the industry has changed but has also stayed the same in some very sad respects. As much as this music makes *me* feel like I could do anything, be anything, it's always heartbreaking to find out how much hurt there is behind how it was made. I enjoyed how this was written. Often times editors can edit the words of the author SO much that it doesn't sound like them. This one sounded like I was just having a conversation with Cherie.

The comment about Kelly McGillis was the only incredibly disappointing portion of the book. The book is twelve years old, and I'd like to hope Cherie has gained some insight as to why this paragraph was an incredibly damaging thing to say while addressing another SA survivor.

Otherwise, this was a difficult read to put down. I especially felt warmed by all mentions of her friendship with Joan Jett, who is obviously someone who remains important to her. The way she talks about her in this is so very special. My heart ached for both women while their relationship with Sandy was touched on.

MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING for anyone who decides to pick this up, but it's a small slice of rock n' roll history.

[Tanya (Girl Plus Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - After seeing the movie The Runaways I felt led to pick up Cherie Currie's book at the library. Overall, Neon Angel was what I expected - a behind the scenes look at the drug-fueled downfall of a former teenaged rock musician/actress. Currie experienced more in her first 20 years or so than usually seen in several lifetimes. Unfortunately most of the negative experiences seem to be caused by her own (drug-addled) choices or naivete. Many times I was struck by how incredibly naive she seemed to be (or at least how she chose to portray herself). At first I excused it by thinking "she was only a teenager" but, despite her age at the time, she was no ordinary teenager. By the age of 15 she was in a rock band and touring the world. Surely, sheer life experience would have added a bit of wisdom or even "street smarts" along the way. It also rankled to read of her twin sister Marie used as a scapegoat for her drug use. Apparently, Marie's unwillingness to fully support their joint-effort album drove Cherie straight to freebasing cocaine. Seriously? Somehow I doubt Marie was forcing the pipe to her lips. How about some personal responsibility for the choices she willingly made? It was also interesting when reading the afterword where Currie gave some "where are they now" info, there was absolutely no mention of Lita Ford. No love lost there! All in all, Neon Angel was an interesting look at a crazed lifestyle and ultimate redemption.

[Caryn Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very tough book to read because it was a very tough story. This is a rewrite of an earlier edition and you can definitely feel that in parts. The beginning could be tough because there was less edit help than there was at the end. There seemed to be a conscious attempt to retain as much as Cherie's voice as possible and that did make reading the story tough at times. I wish there had been a little less voice and a little more editing in places because that would make the story easier to read simply from a language perspective - because it is a very powerful story.

If you didn't hate Kim Fowley before, you will by the time you're done.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was raw and gritty and dark, but also inspiring and uplifting and encouraging. Cherie has had quite a journey through life. She is a survivor. I would read more books of hers if she were to write them. Well done.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring.

[Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiografie se vždycky těžko hodnotí, protože máte pocit, že dáváte někomu hvězdičky za to, jaký má život, a ne za to, jak píše. Tohle byla jedna z nejděsivějších věci, jaké jsem kdy četla.

Několikrát jsem viděla film Runaways a při posledním sledování jsem si říkala, že je fakt výborný. Dakota Fanning i Kristen Stewart jsou fenomenální. Obě je jako herečky miluju. Nicméně s realitou to má společného jenom málo. Chápu, děláš film, chceš říct příběh, nehrajeme si na pravdu.

Na jednu stranu jsem si hlavně ze začátku říkala: What a life! ale později čím dál víc, že na obyčejném životě vlastně není vůbec nic špatného. Jesus fucking Christ, ty holky si prošly v době kdy jim bylo kolem patnácti let šíleným physical and psychological abuse kromě toho, že se teda musely nějak vyrovnat s náhlou celosvětovou slávou a životem na tour se vším, co k tomu patří. Každý, kdo to chce číst, by si měl důkladně projít všechny trigger warnings. Některé scény byly ohromně disturbing, i kdyby někdo prožil jenom zlomek z toho, co ty holky, musí mít zaděláno na trauma na doživotí.

Cherie je neskutečný survivor, fakt vůbec nechápu, jak to všechno přežila, mockrát měla štěstí a hodněkrát si prostě řekla dost, takhle to dál nejde, změním svůj život, jinak umřu. Obsahuje taky real angel intervention, u kterého totálně věřím, že se to stalo právě takhle.

Trošku se bojím, že člověk si už nikdy nemůže užít koncert tak, jako v době, kdy mu bylo patnáct.

Ze všeho nejvíc mě tam kromě Kima rozčiluje chování rodičů a taky moc nechápu, proč právě výběr těchhle fotek.

Tyvole, fakt si přečti, jak má někdo úplně jiný život. Cherie a holky z Runaways za pár let prožily hned několik životů a taky šílenosti, které se nepřihodí jen tak někomu v tom dobrým, i v tom špatným.

"I was my own creation, something monstrous, mysterious, and powerful."

"Chemically induced madness" a "the glitter sluts, the space-age Lolitas, the young, the damned, and the glamorous"

Přečteno na mobilu v epubu od Mem, protože není fyzicky nikde k sehnání. Vlastně takový náš první mini bookclub.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

She had me with the first chapter, where she first describes her Bowie fixation. Despite the fact that I've always had a soft spot for The Runaways, I knew I'd have an easy time reading the memoir of a fellow Bowiephile - but man, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with reading the stories of Cherie Currie's life. Even after seeing the Runaways movie (which was based largely on this book), I only knew the tip of the iceberg. Currie shares tales from her life that made my blood run cold, hot, and every temperature in between. And the style of writing that she and her co-writer employ is personable, bittersweet and deliciously campy all in one package. I got the feeling while reading this book that I was sitting at a diner with Cherie Currie, demolishing bottomless cups of coffee and shooting the breeze. I enjoyed the way this book addressed the reader with a breezy tone of familiarity, as if we were her besties. Her life story is not always easy to digest, but from the very first chapter, it's easy to invest in the wild life of this amazing lady. Good stuff.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a depressing read! I had to force myself to finish - something I have NEVER said before in regards to a rock memoir. Usually a rock memoir is the equivalent of eating a candy bar - short and sweet and makes you slightly ill afterwards because you knew it wasn't good for you.

I read Joan Jett's memoir a while ago and wanted to compare and contrast her book with Cherie's. Oh Cherie. Poor Cherie. Maybe it's because I have a 16 yr old daughter and the bulk of this book takes places during Cherie's years of 15-18 but all of Cherie's story made me SO SAD. ALL THE SADS! Her neglectful mother, her alcoholic father, the bullies at school, getting ripped off by the record company & Kim Fowley and ALL THE RAPES.....yikes. It was hard to finish because I kept dreading what would come next. Not the feeling you want to have when reading a supposedly fun book.

I was glad to read in her epilogue that she seems ok now but jeez, that was a rough road to get there.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shortly after watching the movie The Runaways I came across this book during one of my online searches for interesting books. I was so excited to find this, and just knew I was going to love it! It did not disappoint!

Cherie Currie is lucky to be alive today for so many different reasons! I was shocked, and horrified at some of the things she went through. Oh, and let me not forget pissed off! If you think you're going to be reading some run of the mill celebrity memoir when you open this book you're in for a good surprise! There's so much to Cherie's story that I feel like this woman has lived many lives.

If you're a fan of memoirs don't pass this by just because it's a celebrity memoir! It's absolutely worth the read! Now that I have read the book I'm going to go watch the movie again because I feel I will understand it so much better now!

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated with The Runaways since I watched the 2010 film based on this book. After the movie, I got into their music and have wanted to learn more about them; a band of 15 year old girls in the 70s surely has some crazy stories. I was not let down by Neon Angel. I was a little let down to learn that everyone in the band was so mean to Jackie Fox just because she wasn't as outgoing as the rest of them. Learning about why she left the band really drove that home, and I was dumbfounded at how much Currie insulted Fox in her book after 30 years had gone by and she had seemingly done nothing wrong but be too boring for the rest of the band. Of course, most of the band's problems come from their manager Kim Fowley. If I did not hate this man before, I certainly do now. All in all, this was an interesting and very honest memoir.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to read at times because you get so involved with Cherie but do hang in there! She is a survivor and her story must be read!

[Terese · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a survivor she is

[Saule Krasauskaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it ❤️

[Lea Marz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of The Runaways so this was super interesting to read! The chapters about the band were captivating and heartbreaking. I lost some interest after the band chapters and I listened to the audiobook and noticed the energy dropped significantly after as well. HEAVY TW of course; lots of drug use and a ton of SA, like an entire chapter dedicated to an incident. The details really transported me into Cherie’s life but it did feel redundant and too dark to handle at some points. Overall I’d recommend simply because the band stuff is so fascinating

[Mikel Pfeiffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir was mostly too depressing for me. Cherie Currie's story of her past with The Runaways is interesting but being surrounded by so many bad elements and the worst, Kim Fowley, took what was a pretty good childhood and turned it upside down. I did like some parts about her time with the Runaways, interesting Hollywood characters and a couple very chilling stories but it was dragged down by her drug use and crumbling home life. I was glad by the end that she slowly put he life back together.

[Abby🦷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t like Cherie Currie as a person, but this book was good, and brutally honest, which earned her some respect from me.
I do feel like Cherie used Joan Jett’s name to sell it. Joan’s name is all over the cover, while she’s actually not a giant part of the book, like they made it seem.