One legendary rock band went a step too far during Runaways show

The Runaways never got the respect they deserved in the 1970s. They might have still been seen as a rock band of females instead of what they really were: A band that rocks. At least in more recent years, the excellence of the band can be seen without such bias.

Still, they were a band of females and during a tour in the 1970s, one legendary rock band played a trick on them before the Runaways took the stage that might have caused real injuries. Not that the group creating the issue had a problem with it. They simply laughed while the chaos occurred.

In a recent interview with The Metal Voice, founding member Cherie Currie spoke about a concert in 1977 at Detroit's Cobo Hall when the Runaways were opening for Rush. Joan Jett and friends had opened for other groups before, such as Tom Petty and Cheap Trick, but there had been no concerns. Rush, though, decided to be fools.

Rush almost caused the Runaways to have horrible injuries

When the Runaways started performing, at least one member in platform boots that aren't exactly made for traction, Rush threw pieces of 8" x 10" paper onto the stage which meant if one of the Runaways stepped on the piece of paper, bad things were likely to happen. That almost occurred with Currie who, as part of the gig, had to jump off the drum kit and land on her feet. When she did so, she landed on a piece of paper that sent her out of control toward a group of photographers.

Thankfully, just before she would have gone careening into the photographer pit, she was able to get her balance and do a "rock star pose" to make it seem as if she had meant to do what had just happened. The Runaways knew differently, of course, and Rush apparently never apologized for potentially causing harm. In fact, according to Currie, Geddy Lee and his mates simply snickered at what they had done.

Currie said, "I could have been paralyzed. I'm not exaggerating, I could have been very much injured had I gone off that stage. So that's why Joan and I in particular don't care much for (Rush) because they weren't protecting us, they were sabotaging us that night and they would be sitting there behind Lita's (Ford) amp (laughing)."

Sure, playing a joke on someone is fine as long as the person on the opposite end is not going to be hurt and would understand the prank. Playing a joke where someone might be injured and then laughing as that happens is just the mentality of a bully. It isn't too late for Geddy Lee to say he is sorry.

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