Abhiroop Das
Prime Video’s ‘The Runarounds‘ follows the musical journey of Charlie Cooper and his ragtag group of friends, who also happen to be gifted artists. With college and career nearly at their doorsteps, the crew decides to take a shot at greatness with their band, The Runarounds. However, they are soon confronted by problems at every level, be it creative, operative, or interpersonal, and have to learn how to deal with all of them. The band comes together for their shared love of the craft, which in turn propels them to churn out song after song, each reflecting their present moods and feelings, be it positive or negative. The Runarounds are not the only band in town, with several other performers from various points in the career ladder chiming in. Two of these bands, Kitty Hawks and Lost Teen, come with their own lessons for the bandmates, putting their tenacity to the test.
Kitty Hawks Shares Its Name With a Real Punk Band, But Not Much Else
Within ‘The Runarounds,’ Kitty Hawks is an all-girls band that is known for blending rock and metal to create songs that light the stage on fire. Despite being a fictional creation by Jonas Pate, Nora Kirkpatrick, David Wilcox, and Ilana Wolpert, specifically for the show, the group is potentially inspired by real-life bands and artists. In particular, the band shares its name with a real band called The Kittyhawks. Based in Melbourne, Australia, the sky punk group is an underground sensation, with multiple global concerts. While their fictional counterpart enjoys a similar level of fame in the story, the fact that it only includes girls is a major point of difference, coupled with their diverging musical styles. As such, the similarities of the names are likely a coincidence.
Kitty Hawks stands out over the course of the episodes in large part due to the vocal prowess of its lead singer, Phoebe Rhodes, who is brought to life by Canadian actor MacKenzie Porter. Given that she is a trained singer, Porter became an instrumental component in actualizing the band’s performance and adding a layer of authenticity to their music. With an industry legend such as Danny Mace at its side, Kitty Hawks leaves its mark wherever it goes, and that aligns with the workings of many real all-girls bands. In particular, bands such as Burning Witches, Junkyard Lipstick, and Rock Goddess stand out as possible points of reference for the fictional crew. Another dimension of their title lies in the fact that Kitty Hawk is the name of a real city in North Carolina. As the state is the primary setting for the show, the band name may be a play on their point of origin.
Lost Teen Might Be Inspired by a Real Classic Rock Band
Much like Kitty Hawks, the rock band Lost Teen is a fictional group that has captured the hearts of millions with its riveting tracks. The band is introduced in the show, but a drummer is missing, and whether Bez joins them or not becomes one of the core events in the show. Although the band only makes a brief presence in the narrative, a lot can be inferred from the minor details, ranging from their names to their personas. The title Lost Teen points to themes such as a corrupted childhood taking center stage in their art. To that end, bands such as Teenage Bottlerocket and Teenage Head stand out as potential sources of inspiration. The similarities go beyond their names, with the themes of their music also lining up. However, given that the resemblance is superficial at best, it is likely coincidental in nature.
The aesthetic of Lost Teen is defined by a sense of gloom and despair, with the bandmates going for a special look, complete with eyeliner and facial makeup. This facet, coupled with the nature of their songs, makes the popular band, The Cure, the likeliest inspiration. The latter is a rock band known for its enigmatic musical themes and bold presentational choices, both of which hold true for Lost Teen. To top it off, The Cure had a notable switch-up of drummers in 1994, with Boris Williams giving way to Jason Cooper. This adds to the overlaps between the band and its fictional analogue and, in turn, adds zest to the narrative. However, with no official confirmation as of writing, this remains a mere probability. It is also likely that Lost Teen is a composite of several bands at once, with the express intent of replicating the charm of an era-defining team of musicians.
Read More: Are The Runarounds and Futhermucker Based on Real Bands?
