70s Rock Star and Member of Iconic All-Female Band Would Have Been 67 Today
In the '70s, women in rock music were few and far between, so when The Runaways entered the scene, they set an unprecedented benchmark for an entire industry.
The alt-rock band's drummer, Sandy West, has helped to pave the way for generations of females. Today, the iconic musician would have been 67.
Sandra Sue Pesavento, known professionally as Sandy West, was born on July 10, 1959 in Long Beach, CA. West co-founded The Runaways alongside frontwoman Joan Jett in 1975, when they were 15 years old.
Best known for their hit single "Cherry Bomb," the teenagers found chart success. The career-defining song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart and dominated international charts, landing at the top spot in Japan.
The Runaways released four studio albums over the course of their career: The Runaways, 1976; Queens of Noise; 1977, Waitin' for the Night; 1977, and And Now... The Runaways; 1978. A live album came in 1977, titled Live in Japan, cementing the band as a huge international name.
In 2010, a biopic was released, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett, earning 4.68 million worldwide against a production budget of $10 million.
West died on October 21, 2006 from lung cancer. She was 47.
In a statement posted to The Runaway's website, Jett paid tribute to her late bandmate.
"I started The Runaways with Sandy West. We shared the dream of girls playing rock and roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," she said at the time, per Uncut. "So underrated, she was the caliber of John Bonham. I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her, we changed the world."
Vocalist Cherie Currie also paid tribute, saying: "Sandy West was by far the greatest female drummer in the history of rock and roll. No one could compete or even come close to her."
Related: Last Surviving Original Member of Iconic '80s Band Turns 69
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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 10:26 AM.