Roni Lee
Runaways songwriter Roni Lee plays a free show in San Marcos at Biggs Harley-Davidson on April 20, where early arrivals will be treated to free hot dogs and burgers. Lee began her career in Hollywood as lead guitarist for Venus and the Razorblades, a rock band created by Runaways mastermind Kim Fowley that sometimes hosted Van Halen as their opening act (Van Halen later recorded the Razorblades’ song “Young and Wild”). In the late 70s, while roommates with Runaways Joan Jett and Sandy West, Lee co-wrote “I Want to Be Where the Boys Are” with Kim Fowley, a song later included on the Runaways’ 1977 Live in Japan album and in the 2010 Runaways biopic, sung by actress Kristen Stewart. Lee went on to perform in latter-day versions of Steppenwolf and Spirit, and recorded an ill-fated album with a band named Touch, backed by the original Heart rhythm section. After relocating to San Diego in 1984 to settle down with her family, she maintained a low profile for several years before resurfacing with a series of new releases and performances, including backing a May 2013 comeback gig staged by former Runaway Cherie Curie at Brick By Brick. Lee recently founded her own label, Play Like a Girl Records, and recorded a new album titled Heroes on Sunset.
