Joan Jett and fellow musicians pay tribute at Kim Fowley’s funeral

Fowley died at the age of 75 after a long battle with bladder cancer

A host of musicians have attended the funeral of Kim Fowley, following the legendary manager’s death earlier this month.

The music producer, best known for being behind the Runaways, died on January 15, aged 75, after a long battle with bladder cancer.

Among those in attendance at the funeral, which took place on Thursday (January 22) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, were musician Joan Jett, actor and singer Shaun Cassidy and more. According to Billboard, Jett delivered a “heartfelt speech” to those in attendance.

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Fowley rose to prominence in the ’60s and worked with several big-name acts including Gene Vincent, KISS, Alice Cooper, Leon Russell and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. As recently as last year, he collaborated with Ariel Pink on Pink’s ‘Pom Pom’ album.

Fowley famously recruited the Runaways in 1975 by placing an advertisement in Los Angeles fanzine Who Put the Bomp, and ended up producing the band’s 1976 self-titled debut album and co-wroting their biggest hit ‘Cherry Bomb’. “I didn’t put the Runaways together, I had an idea, they had ideas, we all met, there was combustion and out of five different versions of that group came the five girls who were the ones that people liked,” Fowley later said of the partnership. The producer parted with the group in 1977 over a disagreement.

Fowler had his first US Number One in 1960 with ‘Alley Opp’, a song he recorded with Gary S Paxton under the name the Hollywood Argyles. In 1962, he made UK Number One as the writer of B Bumble And The Stingers’ ‘Nut Rocker’. Foley is also known for bringing John Lennon to the Toronto Rock And Roll Revival in 1969 and telling the audience to hold up their matches and lighters to welcome him onstage, creating the now-popular act of holding up lighters for artists during a performance.

The likes of Ariel Pink and Sky Ferreira recently paid tribute to Fowley. Ariel Pink worked with Fowley on his own album ‘Pom Pom’ in 2014 and tweeted his feelings upon hearing the news. “No words. prayers go out to his wife, kara. his music, life, and spirit will continue to be an inspiration,” he wrote.

Sky Ferreira also spoke fondly of Fowley, who was a friend and collaborator. “I’m super bummed about the one & only Kim Fowley. He was the first person I almost worked with when I was 14 & he had green hair.”

Other artists who have paid tribute to Fowley since his death include The Twilight Sad, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Har Mar Superstar, No Age and Blondie drummer Clem Burke.

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