It seems strange now, but all-girl rock bands used to be merely mythical beasts, existing only in rumor or fantasy. But then this week in 1975, the Runaways were formed, bringing together guitarists Joan Jett and Lita Ford to play a hormone-heavy stew of punk, glam and metal. Though they were prefabricated (producer Kim Fowley put them together after dreaming up the concept), they were excellent musicians with genuine chops and attitude. Though their time together was short-lived (their first album came out in 1976 and they were broken up by 1979), their influence went much deeper. Jett and Ford had extremely successful solo careers and original bassist Micki Steele joined the Bangles. Next year, the Runaways will be given the proper memorial treatment with a biopic directed by music video director Floria Sigismondi (Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People," Christina Aguilera's "Fighter") and starring Dakota Fanning as singer Cherie Currie, Scout Taylor-Compton (she played Laurie in Rob Zombie's "Halloween") as Ford and "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart as Jett. (Stewart has been especially enthusiastic about developing her role.)

Jett has certainly had the most incredible post-script to the Runaways. After the band broke up, she formed the Blackhearts, and after they couldn't find a label, she created her own. She went on to have a string of hits (including the oft-covered #1 smash "I Love Rock and Roll") and continues to put out exceptional music today. (Also, even at 50 years old, she still looks hot.) Every few years, she gets pulled back into the zeitgeist, like when "Bad Reputation" became the theme song to the cult classic TV show "Freaks and Geeks."