Sandy West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sandy West
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West in 1976
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sandra Sue Pesavento |
| Born | July 10, 1959 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 2006 (aged 47) San Dimas, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1972–2006 |
| Associated acts | The Runaways, the Sandy West Band |
Sandy West (July 10, 1959 – October 21, 2006) was an American singer, drummer, and songwriter. She was one of the founding members of The Runaways, which was the first all-girl hard rock band made up of teenagers. They became very successful in the 1970s.
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Early Life and Drums
Sandy West was born in 1959 in Long Beach, California. When she was 9 years old, her grandfather gave her a drum kit. Sandy was a big fan of rock and roll music from the 1960s and 1970s. She started practicing rock music right away and played drums often.
From 4th to 6th grade, she was the drummer in her elementary school orchestra. Sandy was a natural talent and quickly became a very skilled drummer. By the time she was 13, she was the only girl playing drums in local bands at teenage parties. She also played drums in the marching band and other school bands at Edison High School.
When she was 15, Sandy met Joan Jett and a music producer named Kim Fowley. Together, they decided to create a new band called The Runaways.
Sandy West's Music Career
Forming The Runaways
Sandy really wanted to play music professionally. She looked for other musicians and people in the music business in Southern California. Her goal was to start an all-girl band. In 1975, she met producer Kim Fowley. He gave her the phone number of another young musician, guitarist Joan Jett.
Joan and Sandy met soon after. They played music for Kim Fowley, who agreed to help them find other female musicians to complete the band. This led to Lita Ford and Cherie Currie joining The Runaways.
Cherie Currie, who was a bandmate, once described Sandy. She said Sandy was "the muscle of the group" and "the rock." Cherie remembered Sandy as strong, passionate, and always smiling. Sandy got along well with everyone and was not afraid to show her feelings.
After The Runaways
After four years of making music and touring around the world, The Runaways band broke up in April 1979. Sandy West tried to keep her music career going. She played with other bands in Southern California. She also released her own music, including a solo album called The Beat is Back. She even formed her own group, the Sandy West Band.
However, these music projects did not earn her much money. So, Sandy had to work outside of music for most of her life after The Runaways. She later said that the band's former manager, Kim Fowley, had not paid the band members what they were owed.
Sandy West appeared in a documentary film called Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways in 2004. In the film, she talked about the different jobs she had to do to earn money after the band. She worked mostly in construction, which means building things. She also spent some time as a bartender and helped at a vet's office.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sandy West never got married and did not have any children.
Sandy West passed away on October 21, 2006, at the age of 47. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer a year before. For many years, Sandy had hoped that The Runaways would get back together and play music again. Sadly, she did not live long enough to see that happen.
Cherie Currie said that with Sandy's loss, "The Runaways, in all its glory, would forever be missing the true heart of the band." She also called Sandy West "one of the greatest drummers of all time."
On December 9, 2006, a concert was held in Los Angeles to honor Sandy West. Many musicians performed, including the Sandy West Band, Cherie Currie, the Bangles, and the Donnas.
Time Magazine called Sandy West a "pioneering rock drummer." This means she was one of the first and most important drummers in rock music.
In 2009, a special monument was put up in Dana Point, California, to remember Sandy West. It is a statue of a mermaid playing the guitar.
Sandy West was played by actress Stella Maeve in the 2010 movie The Runaways. The film also starred Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, and Scout Taylor-Compton as Lita Ford. Joan Jett dedicated the film to Sandy West.
Discography
- Runaways albums
- The Runaways (1976)
- Queens of Noise (1977)
- Live in Japan (1977)
- Waitin' for the Night (1977)
- And Now... The Runaways (1978)
- Flaming Schoolgirls (1980)
- Little Lost Girls (1981)
- Born to be Bad (1993)
- 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Runaways (1999)
- Post-Runaways releases
- 7" – F-13
- 4 song tape
- The Beat is Back
Images for kids
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West in 1976
See also
In Spanish: Sandy West para niños
