From: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kim-fowley-runaways-dead-at-75-20150115

Runaways producer and notorious L.A. music legend Kim Fowley has died. In recent months, he had been undergoing cancer treatments, though no cause of death has been announced. He was 75.

Charismatic and eccentric, Fowley is best remembered as the record producer for the all-female rock group the Runaways. He introduced Joan Jett, who was 15 at the time, to teenage drummer Sandy West and helped them find frontwoman Cherie Currie, lead guitarist Lita Ford and bassist Jackie Fox. He produced the band's 1976 self-titled debut and co-wrote the band's biggest hit, the punkish "Cherry Bomb," with Jett. He also co-produced the following year's Queens of Noise and helmed the same year's Waitin' for the Night.

Fowley was born in 1939 to Singin' in the Rain actor Douglas Fowley and actress Shelby Payne and grew up in Los Angeles and around southern California. After a bout with polio in 1957, he began a career in the music industry, producing his first single – the Renegades' "Charge" – in 1959. In the Sixties, worked with Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Seeds and Gene Vincent, among others, as well as launching his own solo career; his 1968 LP Outrageous, Fowley's third, was the only one to chart in the U.S. Fowley closed out the Sixties by MCing John Lennon's performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, where he asked the audience to hold up its cigarette lighters, arguably starting the concert fad.

The Seventies found Fowley working with the Modern Lovers, Blue Cheer and Helen Reddy. He also co-wrote songs on Kiss' hit Destroyer and a "Escape" on Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare. Fowley and the Runaways severed their ties in 1977, after which he set out to find another group he could market as a novelty. Although he worked with a few groups over the ensuing decades and continued to put out his own solo LPs, none reached the success or notoriety of the Runaways.

In the 2000s, he tried his hands at experimental film, and in 2012, he won a special jury prize for innovation and audaciousness at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival for his films Golden Road to Nowhere and BlackRoomDoom. In 2014, Fowley made an appearance in Beyoncé's "Haunted" video.

In September 2014, Billboard reported that Fowley had been receiving cancer treatments and that Runaways frontwoman Currie, with whom he had been in legal battles over royalties over the years, had been caring for him. The pair had been working with Lita Ford that was earmarked for 2014 but has yet to come out. At the time of the Billboard report, Currie said she was optimistic about Fowley's condition, even though he had been hospitalized and was recording a radio show for SiriusXM's Little Steven's Garage channel from his bed.

"Kim Fowley is a big loss to me," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt said in a statement. "A good friend. One of a kind. He'd been everywhere, done everything, knew everybody. He was working in the Underground Garage until last week. We should all have as full a life. I wanted DJs that could tell stories first person. He was the ultimate realization of that concept. Rock Gypsy DNA. Reinventing himself whenever he felt restless. Which was always. One of the great characters of all time. Irreplaceable."

"Kim was a great and often misunderstood individual," Blondie drummer Clem Burke said in a statement. "When Blondie first came to Hollywood Kim was one of the legends we wanted to meet. We did meet him at the Tropicana motel and became friends. I had the privilege of sitting next to Kim at a screening at SXSW of the Runaways film. When it ended, I turned to Kim and told him he was the hero of the film. He seemed happy to hear that."

In a 2012 interview with the San Diego Reader, Fowley characterized his own role in rock music. "It's necessary for a band to have charisma, and it's necessary for a band to have a Kim Fowley in there someplace," he said. "The behind-the-scenes people are as much a part of rock 'n' roll as the guys onstage.... Kim Fowley is a necessary evil."

Ralph Peer, the chairman and CEO of Peer Music was the first to report on Fowley's passing saying, "He and his energy will be missed." He confirmed the news with author Harvey Kubernik.

This still comes as a shock , even though Fowley had been grappling with Cancer for years.

I met him , once , at The Las Vegas Rockaround in 2004. He actually asked me if I knew exactly what it was he'd been flown in to do. "UMMM.....I think they just want you to introduce some of the bands , and provide some atmosphere.' . Which is exactly what he did , with audacity and flair. In fact , he even introduced Rudy Ray Moore , who did a far - too short comic monologue , then , he , himself introduced what turned out to be Hasil Adkins' farewell performance.

"Can you tell me if there's a catch phrase for this music , now? Do they call it "Punk" , or what?" , he asked my friends and I . " Generally , people call it "Garage" ", I replied . Then , he got down to holding court , answering questions and telling stories , and kvetching at great length , about whatever.

Kim addressed one guy in the group , whom I'd never met , and said "You fucking Garage kids . You just want to jack off and smoke a joint to the new Seeds reissue (His insults no longer had any venom.) . Are you gonna sit there and tell me that if you had teh chance to fuck Brittney Spears ,that you would'nt ?".

"Well ..." , he said , "I might fuck her boyfriend , whoever THAT is at the moment , but , I'm a QUEER !".

Fowley did NOT have an answer to that.

All weekend , Sky Saxon and Kim Fowley went to great lengths to avoid each other. It was plain to see the bad blood spoken of between the two had not simmered down. But , I did'nt think much of it.....Until I got the word that Saxon had sucker - punched Fowley , in front of witnesses , saying something to the effect of " Kim , I'm tired of you running down The Seeds and their fans!" (He HAD made a career of doing that , but , NO ONE saw it coming.). At least six cops arrived , and Sky confessed to punching Kim , unprovoked. Fowley opted not to press charges , though rumors floated around of retribution teh following day . This , of course ,did'nt happen.    I hope Sky and Kim are hugging each other , man , I really do.

John Battles.

Thanks for sharing your memories of the late great Kim Fowley.  I was so sad to hear that he past.  He will be missed.

BROJAMES ! i HAVE'NT SEEN YOU AROUND IN A WHILE.

Glad you liked the story . It's sad , but , he was in a lot of pain for a long time. 

I know he announced that he hoped to get out of the hospital , soon , and marry his Girlfriend/ Caretaker, but , he must have known it would , most likely , not go that way , and I don't think he was afraid to face the end.