Runaways Bassist Jackie Fox Says Manager Kim Fowley Raped Her in 1975

Former Runaways bassist Jackie Fuchs -- who went by the stage name Jackie Fox during her time in the band between 1975 and ’77 -- has opened up for the first time about allegedly being raped by the band’s manager, the late Kim Fowley.

Huffington Post reports the abhorrent details of the attack, which Fuchs said took place on New Year’s Eve in 1975 at a party following the Runaways’ concert earlier that evening. Fuchs was 16 years old at the time.

Fuchs says multiple people witnessed the rape, including Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. Songwriter Kari Krome -- who alleges she was also sexually assaulted by Fowley prior to Fuchs' attack -- and her friend Brent Williams are also said to have witnessed the attack and have corroborated Fuchs’ retelling of the events. Williams recalls others present at the party discussing Fuchs being given as many as six Quaaludes.

“I remember opening my eyes, Kim Fowley was raping me, and there were people watching me,” Fuchs said.

Currie claims she objected and left the room, saying she “didn’t know what to do.” Both Currie and Fuchs say the girls in the band never spoke about the rape, with Fuchs saying she “didn’t know if anybody would have backed me.” Likewise, Currie suggested the unspoken rule was to “forget it and you move on.”

Victory Tischler-Blue, who replaced Fuchs on bass, says that when she joined the band, Fuchs’ rape was “a kind of running joke,” adding, “I heard about that nonstop. They would talk about Kim f---ing Jackie like a dog.”

A representative for Jett has denied that the Blackhearts leader witnessed the attack and asked that all questions be directed at Fuchs “as it’s a matter involving her and she can speak for herself.” Williams also claims that Jett asked him to not speak about the attack if lawyers ever approached him.

Fowley passed away earlier this year at the age of 75 from bladder cancer. Fuchs says she attempted to contact Fowley prior to his death without success.

Read the Huffington Post's entire report here.