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Cherie Currie

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Cherie Currie
Currie in March 2010
Currie in March 2010
Background information
Birth nameCherie Ann Currie
Born (1959-11-30) November 30, 1959 (age 64)
Encino, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • artist
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • tambourine
Years active1976–present
Labels
Formerly of

Cherie Ann Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actress, and artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of the Runaways, a rock band from Los Angeles, in the mid-to-late 1970s. She later became a solo artist. Currie and her identical twin sister, Marie Currie, released the album Messin' with the Boys in 1980 as Cherie & Marie Currie. Their duet "Since You Been Gone" reached number 95 on US charts. She is also known for her role in the 1980 film Foxes.

Early life

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Currie was born to Don Currie and actress Marie Harmon.[1] She was raised in Encino, California. She has an identical twin sister, Marie Currie,[2] an elder sister, actress Sondra Currie, and a brother, Don Currie Jr.

Currie and her twin sister were given a role on an episode of My Three Sons at the age of two. They were due to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with Fred MacMurray but they froze during filming and their part was cut from the show.[3] Before Currie and her twin sister rose to fame, they appeared on American Bandstand as background dancers.[4][5]

Career

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The Runaways

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In 1975, when she was 15 years old, Currie joined the all-female rock band the Runaways, performing as lead vocalist. Her bandmates were Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, Jackie Fox and Vicki Blue. Bomp! magazine described her as "the lost daughter of Iggy Pop and Brigitte Bardot".[6]

Solo

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Currie recorded three albums with the Runaways, The Runaways, Queens of Noise and Live in Japan. She signed a four-album deal with Mercury, but left the Runaways after the third album. To fulfil her contract, she recorded Beauty's Only Skin Deep for Polygram Records as a solo artist.[7] Marie Currie was featured on the track "Love at First Sight".[8]

Cherie and Marie Currie

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After Cherie left the Runaways at age eighteen, she performed in clubs in Los Angeles. Marie joined her onstage for encores, which drew a positive response from audiences.[2] When Marie joined Cherie on a promotional tour in Japan, they had the idea of recording an album together.[9] They recorded Messin' With The Boys for Capitol Records, released in 1979. "Since You Been Gone", a cover of the Russ Ballard song, reached number 95 on the charts.[10]

Cherie and Marie performed on television shows in the 1980s including Sha Na Na, The Mike Douglas Show,[11] and The Merv Griffin Show.[4] They wrote and produced songs for the soundtrack of the 1984 film The Rosebud Beach Hotel.[12] They acted and sang together in the film. In 1991, Cherie and Marie Currie performed a tribute concert to Paula Pierce, a member of the Pandoras. For the final song, the remaining Pandoras backed the Curries.[13] Currie performed at the Runaways' reunion in 1994 with Jackie Fox and Sandy West. Her sister Marie joined the three Runaways on stage and performed with the band.[7]

In 1998, Cherie and Marie held a concert at the Golden Apple, in support of their re-released version of Messin' with the Boys. Cherie's ex-bandmate West joined Cherie on stage to perform some of the Runaways songs. The Curries and West signed autographs after the show.[14] In 1998, the compilation Young and Wild was released.[15] Another compilation, 80s Collection, was released in 2000 by Times Square Productions.[16]

Film and television

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Cherie starred in the film Foxes in 1980 with Jodie Foster, and received strong reviews for her acting debut.[17] She also appeared in Parasite, Wavelength, Twilight Zone: The Movie, The Rosebud Beach Hotel (with Marie Currie), and Rich Girl. She made guest appearances on television series including Matlock and Murder, She Wrote. In 1984 Currie was cast as Brenda in Savage Streets, but was replaced by Linda Blair.[18] She was also cast as the lead singer of the fictional band the Dose in the film This Is Spinal Tap, but her character was cut out of the film.[19] Cherie was considered for a part in the 1985 film Explorers but, according to her autobiography, she was in the throes of drug dependency and couldn't even make it to a meeting.[20]

Later years

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Currie was a guest vocalist on Shameless's 2013 album, Beautiful Disaster. Currie released singles with ex-bandmate, Lita Ford[21] and Glenn Danzig the same year. On October 19, 2013, Currie won the Rock Legend Award at the sixth annual Malibu Music Awards. The award was presented to her by ex-bandmate, Lita Ford. That night Currie and Ford played on stage together for the first time in 37 years.[22] Currie released another studio album, Reverie, in 2015.[23] The album features guest work from ex-bandmate, Lita Ford, Currie's son, Jake Hays, and Currie's ex-manager, Kim Fowley. Cherie toured the UK in November 2015, to support her new album. While in the UK, Currie recorded "Midnight Music in London", a live album that features a special live appearance by Suzi Quatro. It was released in 2016.[24] In late May and early June 2016 Currie toured Australia and New Zealand.[25] In 2018, Currie and her son were nominated for the Marshall Hawkins Award for Best Original Score for the film Take My Hand.[26]

In 2019, Currie's album Blvds of Splendor was released on April 13.[27][28][29][30] The album featured guests including Slash, Billy Corgan, Juliette Lewis, and the Veronicas.[31] On August 2, The Motivator, her album with Brie Darling, was released.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

In 2020 Cherie Currie released an audio version of her memoir, Neon Angel. It reached number 1 on Amazon's Best Biographies of Punk Rock Musician.[40] In the same year, Currie contributed her vocals to the song "Flatten the Curve" for the band FTC.[41]

Currie is now a wood-carving artist, using a chainsaw to create her works. She has been doing chainsaw art since 2002 and opened her own gallery in 2005 in Chatsworth, California.[42] As a chainsaw artist, Currie has competed in and won awards at three world Chainsaw Art competitions.[43]

Personal life

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Currie struggled with drug addiction for much of her younger life, a major factor in the abrupt ending of her career. She wrote a memoir, Neon Angel, recounting life in the band and her traumatic experiences with drug addiction, sex abuse, and her broken family.[44][45][46][47][48][49] In the 1980s, Currie began working in drug and psych facilities, later becoming a counsellor.[50]

The Runaways, a 2010 biographical drama film executive-produced by Joan Jett, focuses on the group's beginnings and explores the relationship between Currie and Jett. Dakota Fanning portrays Currie.

Currie married actor Robert Hays on May 12, 1990, and they had one son together, the musician Jake Hays.[51][52] Currie and Hays divorced in 1997.[52]

In January 2024, Currie began to express gender-critical views on social media.[53] In May 2024, Currie expressed support for the anti-trans hate group, Gays Against Groomers and did a collaboration to sell merchandise with the group later that month.[54][55]

Influence on pop culture

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In 1979 an alternative cover photo of Currie's album Beauty's only Skin Deep appears in the background of the feature film Rock 'n' Roll High School. It appears when the Ramones are backstage.[56]

Characters in the 1997 film Gummo, sisters Dot, Helen, and Darby (played by Chloë Sevigny, Carisa Glucksman, and Darby Dougherty) were influenced by the Currie twins. Writer and director Harmony Korine, stated that, "Dot and Helen were based off a combination of Cherie and Marie Currie, home schooling, and the Shaggs."[57]

In a season 3 episode of The O.C., Marissa makes an entrance to "Cherry Bomb". She does so while dressed in a provocative schoolgirl outfit.

Discography

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With the Runaways

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Studio albums

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Live albums

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Solo

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Studio albums

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Live albums

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EPs

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  • 2007 – Cherry Bomb[61]

Guest appearances

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Singles

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Year Single US Album Artist
1977 "Call Me at Midnight" – Beauty's Only Skin Deep Cherie Currie
1978 "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" – Beauty's Only Skin Deep Cherie Currie
1978 "Love at First Sight" – Beauty's Only Skin Deep Cherie and Marie Currie
1978 "Science Fiction Daze" – Beauty's Only Skin Deep Cherie Currie
1979 "Since You Been Gone" 95 Messin' with the Boys Cherie and Marie Currie [69]
1979 "Messin' with the Boys" – Messin' with the Boys Cherie and Marie Currie
1980 "This Time" – Messin' with the Boys Cherie and Marie Currie
1980 "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" – Messin' with the Boys Cherie and Marie Currie
1989 "Instant Karma!" – Mono! Stereo: Sgt. Shonen's Exploding Plastic Eastman Band Request Tater Totz featuring Cherie Currie
1998 "Cherry Bomb" – Maximum Overdrive The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs meets Cherie Currie
2013 "Life's a Gas" – Beautiful Disaster Shameless featuring Cherie Currie
2013 "Some Velvet Morning" – Single only Glenn Danzig featuring Cherie Currie
2013 "Rock This Christmas Down" – Single only Lita Ford and Cherie Currie
2015 "Believe" – Reverie Cherie Currie
2018 "When We Need Her" – Fanny Walked the Earth Fanny
2019 "The Motivator" – The Motivator Cherie Currie and Brie Darling
2019 "Get Together" – The Motivator Cherie Currie and Brie Darling
2020 "Black Hole Sun" – Single only Cherie Currie and Brie Darling
2020 "What the World Needs Now Is Love" – Single only Cherie Currie and Dave Schulz

Album charts

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Year Album US US Indie Heatseekers Album Artist
1978 Beauty's Only Skin Deep - - - Cherie Currie
1980 Messin' with the Boys TBA - - Cherie and Marie Currie
1997 Messin' with the Boys (Re-released) - - - Cherie and Marie Currie
1999 The 80's Collection - - - Cherie Currie
Cherie and Marie Currie
2015 Reverie - - - Cherie Currie
2016 Midnight Music in London - - - Cherie Currie
2019 Blvds of Splendor - - - Cherie Currie
2019 The Motivator - 48 18 Cherie Currie and Brie Darling

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1974-1975 American Bandstand Background Dancer, Herself
1980 Foxes Annie
1982 Parasite Dana
1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie Sara Segment #3
1983 Wavelength Iris Longacre
1984 Murder, She Wrote Echo Cramer TV episode: "It's a Dog's Life"
1984 The Rosebud Beach Hotel Singing Maid Cherie Her twin Marie Currie played Singing Maid Marie.
1990 Matlock Renee Thorton 2 episodes: "The Informer: Part 1" and "The Informer: Part 2"
1991 Betsy Rhodes TV episode: "The Suspect"
Rich Girl Michelle
1992 Dr. Giggles ADR voice
2004 Getting the Knack Herself documentary
2005 Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways Herself Film by former Runaways bassist Victory Tischler-Blue documenting the Runaways' musical history.
2013 Hansel and Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft Ms. Thoman Direct-to-DVD release
Warehouse 13 Herself TV episode "Runaway"
2014 Keeping up with the Kardashians Herself
2014 Glory Days Herself
2017 Under the Influence – Glam Rock Herself documentary
2018 Bad Reputation Herself documentary
2019 Suzi Q Herself documentary

Bibliography

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Year Book L.A. Weekly author(s) notes
1989 Neon Angel - Cherie Currie, Neal Shusterman author
2008 Cherry Bomb - Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna contributor
2010 Neon Angel (Re-released) 9 Cherie Currie, Tony O'Neill author
2014 The Narrow Road of Light - Marie Currie developer

References

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  1. ^ "Neon Angel – Interview with The Runaways' Cherie Currie". Tribute.ca. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Arar, Yardena (March 22, 1980). "Cherie And Marie Double The Fun". The Lewiston Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. Retrieved September 1, 2020 – via Google News.
  3. ^ "To Cherie and Marie Currie, Two Blondies Are Better Than One". People.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Rev Derek Moody; Sister Tracy (September 23, 2018). "Marie Currie interview". Church of Rock radio show. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2019 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ CherieO (April 21, 2006). "The Runaways - Cherie Currie Interview". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2019 – via YouTube. Japan 1977
  6. ^ "Runaways rock the big screen: New film revisits all-girl band that broke gender barriers three decades ago". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta: Postmedia Network. April 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018 – via PressReader.
  7. ^ a b "Cherie Currie (Outtake from Episode #580)". Reality Check TV. March 17, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2018 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Richie Unterberger. "Beauty's Only Skin Deep". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "To Cherie and Marie Currie, Two Blondies Are Better Than One". People.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ^ "1979 Cherie and Marie Currie – Messin' With The Boys | Sessiondays". Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Marie Currie". IMDb.com.
  12. ^ The Rosebud Beach Hotel (1984) - Soundtracks - IMDb, retrieved November 3, 2023
  13. ^ "THE PANDORAS – Hell On High Heels". Psychorizon. November 22, 2011. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "Cherie Currie Makes Another Run At Rock". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  15. ^ Cherie Currie - Young & Wild Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved November 3, 2023
  16. ^ Cherie Currie - 80's Collection, 2000, retrieved November 3, 2023
  17. ^ Tom Demalon. "Cherie Currie - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "Cherie Currie". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  19. ^ "11 Things You May Not Know About 'This Is Spinal Tap'". Loudwire.com. February 23, 2015.
  20. ^ Currie, Cherie (March 16, 2010). Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway. New York City: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0061961359. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  21. ^ "Lita Ford & Cherie Currie - Rock This Christmas Down". Discogs.com. December 3, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "Former THE RUNAWAYS Bandmates LITA FORD And CHERIE CURRIE Reunite On Stage At MALIBU MUSIC AWARDS". Blabbermouth.net. October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  23. ^ "iTunes - Music - Reverie by Cherie Currie". iTunes.apple.com. March 16, 2015.
  24. ^ "Cherie Currie Midnight Music in London Live CD". The Official Shameless Store · Online Store Powered by Storenvy. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  25. ^ "Cherie Currie 'The Voice Of The Runaways' - DRW Entertainment". Tombowler.com.au. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  26. ^ ""Take My Hand" - awards". IMDb. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  27. ^ a b "RSD '19 Special Release: Cherie Currie - Blvds of Splendor". Recordstoreday.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  28. ^ Isonhart, Carl (May 24, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Cherie Currie – Blvds Of Splendor". The Rockpit. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  29. ^ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (June 16, 2020). "Cherie Currie talks new music, reviving 'Queens of Noise' and how wielding chainsaws is therapeutic". Orange County Register.
  30. ^ "Album of the Week: Cherie Currie's Blvds of Splendor". LA Weekly. June 23, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Runaways' 'jailbait' rocker who questions #metoo". Australian Financial Review. June 12, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  32. ^ "Cherie Currie and Brie Darling Announce First-Ever Tour Together". Broadway World. September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  33. ^ "Female Rock Icons, Cherie Currie and Brie Darling, Bring Their First Ever Collaboration The Motivator Tour To City Winery". In The Loop Magazine. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  34. ^ Chiarito, Bob (November 8, 2019). "The Runaways and Fanny stars on MeToo, the 1970s and Suzi Quatro". NME. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  35. ^ Turman, Katherine (July 25, 2019). "How two fearless rock pioneers survived the '70s and found each other four decades later". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  36. ^ Graff, Gary (May 29, 2019). "Cherie Currie & Brie Darling Rip Through T. Rex's 'The Motivator': Video Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  37. ^ Burke, Kevin (June 26, 2019). "Cherie Currie & Brie Darling - The Motivator (Blue Elan Records)". The Big Takeover.
  38. ^ Grow, Kory (April 8, 2020). "Cherie Currie Releases New Rendition of Runaways' 'Queens of Noise'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  39. ^ Price, Jason (July 16, 2019). "THE MOTIVATOR: Cherie Currie and Brie Darling On Making Beautiful Music Together!". Icon Vs. Icon. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  40. ^ Kiki Classic Rock (June 2, 2020). "The Real Cherry Bomb Talks! Cherie Currie Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  41. ^ Callwood, Brett (July 1, 2020). "L.A. Musicians Flatten the Curve with New Video". LA Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  42. ^ "Welcome!". ChainsawChick.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  43. ^ "About the Artist - Cherie Currie". ChainsawChick.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  44. ^ Kaye, Ben (July 12, 2015). "Cherie Currie on standing by during Jackie Fox's alleged rape: "I am innocent"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  45. ^ Cherkis, Jason. "Jackie Fox Of The Runaways Opens Up About Her Traumatic Rape". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  46. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: "Neon Angel" by Cherie Currie, Author; Neal Schusterman, Author; Brenda Jackson, Author; (Price Stern Sloan) $4.95 (176p) ISBN 978-0-8431-2348-7". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  47. ^ Cohen, Alex (April 2, 2010). "The Runaways' Cherie Currie tells all in her book 'Neon Angel'". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  48. ^ Currie, Cherie; O'Neill, Tony (March 30, 2010). Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780061998072. Retrieved September 1, 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  49. ^ Currie, Cherie. "Neon Angel". Good Reads. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  50. ^ Valentish, Jenny (April 21, 2016). "'It was the end of a nightmare': Cherie Currie on putting the ghosts of the Runaways to rest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  51. ^ "Cherie Currie rocks with biopic - LA Daily News". Los Angeles Daily News. August 19, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010.
  52. ^ a b Strauss, Bob (March 19, 2010). "Cherie Currie rocks with biopic". Los Angeles Daily News.
  53. ^ Mascord, Steve (January 6, 2024). "Cherie Currie weighs in on gender issue". Hot Metal Magazine.
  54. ^ Cherie Currie [@CherieCurrie3] (May 1, 2024). "I LOVE Gays Against Groomers!! Absolutely the most courageous, LIFE SAVING organisations in my lifetime! See you tomorrow!! WooHoo!!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Twitter.
  55. ^ Cherie Currie [@CherieCurrie3] (May 6, 2024). "LOVE IT! And I LOVE Gays Against Groomers!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Twitter.
  56. ^ "Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  57. ^ Jarrod (March 13, 2015). "UNCULTURED: GUMMO". Doomrocket. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  58. ^ "The Runaways Singer Cherie Currie The 80's Collection CD 15 songs • $25.00". PicClick.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  59. ^ Fiala, Marek. "80's Collection - Cherie Currie". Karaoke-lyrics.net. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  60. ^ cheriecurrieofficial. "Cherie Currie Live at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles 8/30/2013 Exclusive 10 Song CDr". eBay. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  61. ^ "Cherry Bomb: Cherie Currie Of the Runaways: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com.
  62. ^ "Struck Down - Yesterday & Today - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  63. ^ "707 - The Second Album". Discogs.com. 1981. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  64. ^ "Mono Stereo - Tater Totz - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  65. ^ "What You See Is What You Get: The Very Best of Precious Metal - Precious Metal - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  66. ^ "Ramones Solo Performances - Dee Dee Ramone,Johnny Ramone,Marky Ramone - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  67. ^ "The Family Tree - The Ramones - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  68. ^ Blistein, Jon (May 5, 2020). "Mike Watt, * Cherie Currie, Eddie Spaghetti Team for COVID-19 Relief Song 'Flatten the Curve'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  69. ^ "Messin' with the Boys - Cherie & Marie Currie - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
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