Runaways' Cherie Currie Gives Advice to Today's Female Musicians

When the Runaways were signed in February 1976, the young teens really experienced the rockstar lifestyle. From not going to class to being given any drug they wanted, the band partied as hard as their male counterparts, something many young female artists are shielded from today.

"Thank god that the music industry is so different now," Runaways singer Cherie Currie tells Spinner. "When we were doing this, it had never been done before. Legally, they won't let kids leave school and go on the road at 15, 16 years old. It's just very different from the way it was."

Remembering the life they lived, which Currie recounts in her autobiography, 'Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway,' she tells today's stars to find people who can really help them out. "Protection and good management," Currie says. "Just make sure that you're with someone that's on the up and up."

For those young musicians who are still looking for their big break, they should keep pushing on if music is what they really want to do. "I want people to know that if they believe that they want to be in the music industry and they want to be stars and they feel it within their heart and if they feel that's what they were put here to do, that's what they were put here to do," she says. "Just some hard work, and never let go of that dream."

While Currie has seen how the Runaways have influenced many female rockers to break out since the band's time, she still believes that no one can top them. "The thing is there were some great bands like the Bangles and the Go-Gos," she says. "But were they anything like the Runaways? No. It was something about the magic of the five of us. The doors were opened for them because of what we did, so I feel there has never been a band like the Runaways."

Aside from enjoying the ride that 'The Runaways' film is taking her on, Currie plans to play some shows in the coming months and even have her son Jake perform with her. "I'm just going to enjoy what's happening," she says. "It's 35 years coming, and I'm going continue to [chainsaw] carve and sing and spend time with my son and my family and be grateful."

'The Runaways' is out now in limited release and will hit nationwide theaters on April 9.