No doubt you've been bombarded by all things Runaways, what with the Kristen Stewart-Dakota Fanning flick and designer Todd Oldham's just-released biography on Joan Jett. But singer Cherie Currie's own memoir, Neon Angel, is one of those harrowing rock & roll survival stories that'll make you think twice about ever picking up the mike. Currie was spotted at North Hollywood's Sugar Shack by Jett and manager Kim Fowley — a sadistic Svengali who had a penchant for calling the girls “dogs” — going from 15-year-old suburban Encino girl with a Bowie obsession to rock star with all its dangerous pitfalls, including surviving multiple rapes. The last one landed her captor in prison for only a year. Of course, she also dishes plenty about her former band mates, including Jett, who became a lifelong friend and wrote the book's foreword. (Yes, the two did get it on.) A few bits of trivia you might not know: Nigel Harrison of the then little-known Blondie played the bass parts on the group's debut album; Kenny Ortega, future director of High School Musical and Michael Jackson's This Is It, briefly worked as their stage choreographer; and “Cherry Bomb,” their biggest single, was put together in 30 minutes. Currie reads and signs her book at Book Soup. Also at Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Fri., March 26, 7 p.m. (626) 449-5320. —

Sun., March 21, 4 p.m., 2010

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