Joan Jett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joan Jett | ||
|---|---|---|
 Joan Jett on "I Love Rock 'N Roll" single cover
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Joan Marie Larkin | |
| Born | September 22, 1958 | |
| Genre(s) | rock and roll | |
| Occupation(s) | guitarist, singer, producer | |
| Instrument(s) | guitar | |
| Years active | 1975-present | |
| Associated acts |
The Runaways | |
| Website | Official Site | |
Joan Jett (b. September 22, 1958) is an American rock and roll guitarist, singer, producer and actress.
She is best known for her hit single "I Love Rock 'N Roll," which was #1 on the Billboard charts from March 20 to May 8 of 1982, as well as for her other popular recordings including "Crimson and Clover", "Do You Wanna Touch Me", "Light of Day", "I Hate Myself For Loving You", "Little Liar" and "Love Is All Around".
Contents |
[edit] Career and biography
Joan Jett was born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved to Los Angeles at age 12 [1].
At age 15, Jett formed The Runaways [2] with Sandy West, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie. Jett sang lead vocals, played rhythm guitar and wrote or co-wrote much of the band's material. The band recorded five LPs, with one becoming one of the biggest selling imports in U.S. and UK history. The band toured around the world and some of their opening acts included Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. They found massive success abroad and especially in Japan.
While The Runaways were popular in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada and even South America, they could not garner the same success in the U.S. that they had attained overseas. It seemed that the United States, and the music press especially, was not ready to take the music of female teenagers seriously. The Runaways disbanded in 1980. [3]
It was around this time that Jett, a punk rock fixture, produced The Germs' debut (and only)album G.I. This recording has been critically heralded as the American version of the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks.
In the spring of 1979, Jett was in England pursuing a solo career. While there, she cut three songs with ex-Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones (one of which was an early version of a cover song called "I Love Rock N' Roll," originally written and performed by The Arrows). Back in Los Angeles, she began to film a movie loosely based on The Runaways' career called, We're All Crazee Now! The movie was never released, but one good thing came out of the project; Jett met songwriter and producer Kenny Laguna. They became instant friends and decided to work together.
Jett and Laguna entered The Who’s Ramport Studios with the latter at the helm. Jett's self-titled solo debut was released in Europe. In the states, no fewer than 23 major labels rejected the album. Jett and Laguna released it independently on their own Blackheart Records label. Laguna remembers, “We couldn't think of anything else to do, but print up records ourselves, and that's how Blackheart Records started. It was more or less Joan's idea to do it ourselves." Jett inadvertently became the first female performer to start her own record label.
With Laguna's assistance, she formed The Blackhearts. The pair used their personal savings to press up records and set up their own system of independent distribution. Laguna was unable to keep up with demand for her album. Eventually, old friend and founder of Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart, made a joint venture with Laguna and signed Jett to his new label, Boardwalk Records. After a year of touring and recording, The Blackhearts recorded a new album for the label. The new single was a re-recording of the title track, “I Love Rock 'N' Roll”, which went number one on the Billboard charts for 8 weeks in a row. It is now Billboard’s #28 song of all time.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the first American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain and the first English-speaking rock band to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
After receiving her own MTV New Years Eve Special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. [4] Bruce Springsteen wrote the title song especially for her and her performance was critically acclaimed. Later that year, Jett released “Good Music” which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and The Crystals lead singer, Darlene Love.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by The Hit List, which was an international hit.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released Flashback, a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, Notorious (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
Jett produced several bands prior to releasing her Warner Brothers debut and her label Blackheart Records released recordings from varied artists such as thrash legends Metal Church and original gangsta Big Daddy Kane.
The press touted Jett as the "Godmother of Punk" and the "Original Riot Grrrl". In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes In Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
Jett, a huge sports fan, remained actively involved in the sports world. Her cover of “Love is All Around” (the theme song of The Mary Tyler Moore Show) became an anthem in women’s sports and was used by the NCAA to promote the Women’s Final Four. The song went into heavy radio play and became a number one requested song without an existing support CD. Jett supplied theme songs for the premiere ESPN X-Games and has contributed music to all the games since. She also sang the national anthem, by request of Cal Ripkin Jr. (of the Baltimore Orioles) at the game in which he broke Lou Gehrig’s record.
[edit] Film, Broadway and television appearances
Jett's first appearance on film is in the 1981 live concert film Urgh!, subtitled A Music War, performing "Bad Reputation" with The Blackhearts at The Roxy in New York City. She made her acting debut in 1987, co-starring with Gena Rowlands and Michael J. Fox in the Paul Schrader film Light of Day. She has also appeared in some independent films, including Sweet Life and Boogie Boy.
During the 1990s, she appeared on the sitcom Ellen, performing the title song. She also appeared on the television show Highlander. Her song "Bad Reputation" was used as the theme song for the cult TV show Freaks and Geeks, and later for the Sirius Satellite Radio show "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer". A version of "Bad Reputation" also appeared on the soundtrack of the film Shrek.
In 2000, Jett appeared in the Broadway production of The Rocky Horror Show in the role of "Columbia". [5]
[edit] Later music career
Jett returned to producing for the band Circus Lupus in 1992 and again, in 1994, for Bikini Kill. This recording was the New Radio EP for which she also played and sang back-up vocals. It was during the 1990s that the Riot Grrrl movement arose, of which Bikini Kill was a representative band, and many of these women credited Jett as a role model and inspiration. Another Riot Grrrl band, Bratmobile, covered the song "Cherry Bomb" as a tribute to her.
Near the end of the 1990s she worked with members of The Gits, whose lead singer and lyricist, Mia Zapata, had been murdered. The results of their collaboration together was a live LP, Evil Stig, whose earnings were contributed to the investigation of Zapata's murder. To this end, the band and Jett appeared on the television show America's Most Wanted, appealing to the public for information. The case was finally solved in 2004, when Zapata's murderer was finally brought to trial and convicted.
Jett performed "I Love Rock N Roll" with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 19, 2005.
Jett is a guest artist on The Ramones drummer Marky Ramone's solo album Start Of The Century on the track "Don't Blame Me."
She is a guest vocalist on Peaches album Impeach My Bush on the track "Boys Wanna Be Her", and a guest on "You Love It".
In 2004, Jett and Laguna produced, "No Apologies" by Warped Tour favorites The Eyeliners. Jett also guested on the track "Destroy" and made a cameo appearance in the music video.
In 2005, Jett discovered Cleveland punk rockers The Vacancies. She and Laguna produced their second album, A Beat Missing or a Silence Added. It went top 20 in the CMJ Music Charts.
In 2005, she was recruited by Steven Van Zandt to join original Rolling Stones manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham, former Runaways manager Kim Fowley, humorist/producer Martin Lewis and others by hosting her own radio show on Van Zandt's Underground Garage radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. She hosts a a 4-hour show entitled Joan Jett's Radio Revolution - heard every Saturday and Sunday.
In 2005, Jett and Laguna celebrated the 25th anniversary of Blackheart Records with a sell out show at Manhattan's Webster Hall that featured their groups The Eyeliners and The Vacancies as openers to the headlining Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.
[edit] Current projects
Joan Jett has just released a new album, Sinner, on Blackheart Records, her own label.
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are traveling across the United States on a Fall 2006 tour in support of their new album Sinner with Eagles of Death Metal. Various other bands like Valient Thorr, The Vacancies, Throw Rag and Riverboat Gamblers will hook up with the tour for a handful of dates each.
Joan Jett was recently in the Dominican Republic, for the Hard Rock Cafe Concert Series. This series has bring classics, such as Joan Jett and the Village People, to the great yet poor country of the Dominican Republic. God Bless Dominican Republic!
[edit] Trivia
- On May 15, 2006, Jett visited the Pentagon for a meet-and-greet, and many photographs were taken with personnel. She has been a consistent supporter of the US Armed Forces and has toured for the USO for over 20 years.
- Jett is left-handed, but plays the guitar right-handed.
- In 2006, actress and model Carmen Electra, who is featured in the music video for Jett's "A.C.D.C." admitted she grew up with a secret crush on Jett. [6], [7]
- Jett was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in October of 2006. [8]
- Jett's hair during the Up Your Alley era was a wig.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | U.S. | UK | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Joan Jett | debut album | ||
| 1981 | Bad Reputation | 51 | - | - |
| 1981 | I Love Rock 'N Roll | 2 | 25 | #38 Norway, #31 Germany, #14 Austria |
| 1983 | Album | 20 | - | #19 Norway |
| 1984 | I Need Someone | - | - | Released in Venezuela |
| 1984 | Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth | 67 | - | - |
| 1986 | Good Music | 105 | live album | |
| 1988 | Up Your Alley | 19 | - | - |
| 1990 | The Hit List | 36 | - | #27 Switzerland |
| 1991 | Notorious | - | - | - |
| 1992 | I Love Rock'N Roll 92 | - | - | Released in Japan |
| 1993 | Do You Wanna Touch Me | - | - | Released in France |
| 1993 | Flashback | - | - | - |
| 1994 | Pure And Simple | - | - | - |
| 1995 | Evil Stig | - | - | - |
| 1995 | 1979 | - | - | - |
| 1996 | Great Hits | - | - | Released in Germany |
| 1997 | Fit To Be Tied | - | - | - |
| 1999 | Fetish | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Jett Rock | - | - | Released in Japan |
| 2003 | NAKED | - | - | Released in Japan |
| 2006 | Sinner | 56 | - |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 |
U.S. MSR* |
UK singles |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 (Holland) | "You Don't Own Me" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 (UK) | "You Don't Own Me" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 (Holland/Germany) | "You Don't Know What You've Got" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 (UK) | "Jezebel" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 (Germany) | "Bad Reputation" | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | "Little Drummer Boy" | - | - | - | - |
| 1982 | "I Love Rock 'N Roll" | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (5 weeks) | 4 | #3 Switzerland, #6 Germany, #1 Australia - 5 weeks, #4 Austria |
| 1982 | "Crimson and Clover" | 7 | 8 | 8 | #8 Switzerland, #19 Germany, #12 Austria |
| 1982 | "Do You Wanna Touch Me" | 20 | 11 | - | #12 Switzerland, #31 Germany, #19 Austria |
| 1982 (Canada) | "Summertime Blues" | - | - | - | - |
| 1982 (Germany) | "Nag" | - | - | - | - |
| 1982 (France) | "Victim Of Circumstance" | - | - | - | - |
| 1983 | "Fake Friends" | 35 | 15 | - | - |
| 1983 | "Everyday People" | 37 | 9 | - | - |
| 1983 (Canada) | "The French Song" | - | - | - | - |
| 1984 | "I Need Someone" | - | - | - | - |
| 1984 | "I Love You Love" | 105 | - | - | - |
| 1984 (Australia) | "Cherry Bomb" | - | - | - | - |
| 1986 | "Good Music" | 83 | 18 | - | - |
| 1986 | "Roadrunner" | - | - | - | - |
| 1987 | "Light of Day" | 33 | 23 | - | - |
| 1988 | "I Hate Myself For Loving You" | 8 | 4 | 46 | - |
| 1988 | "Little Liar" | 19 | 6 | - | - |
| 1990 | "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" | 36 | 22 | 69 | - |
| 1990 | "Love Hurts" | - | - | 100 | - |
| 1990 (Malaysia) | "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | "Backlash" | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | "Don't Surrender" | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 (Germany) | "Treadin' Water" | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | "I Love Rock And Roll" | - | - | 75 | #13 Sweden |
| 1994 | "Spinster" | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | "As I Am" | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | "Eye To Eye" | - | - | - | - |
| 1995 | "Bob (Cousin O.)" | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 | "Love Is All Around" | 108 | - | - | - |
| 1999 | "Fetish" | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | "The Word" | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | "A.C.D.C" | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | "Change The World" | - | - | - | - |
[edit] See also
- The Runaways
- (GI)
- Boardwalk Records
- I Love Rock 'N Roll
- Crimson And Clover
- Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1982 (USA)
- List of Number 1 singles in Australia during the 1980s
- Songs of the Century
- Urgh! A Music War
- Light of Day
- Highlander: The Series
- Episodes of Highlander (Season 1)
- Wayne's World 2 (soundtrack)
- Boogie Boy
- Freaks and Geeks
- Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love
- Guitar Hero
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Joan Jett: NYC Punk, Rock Icon, Babe Written by Taleen Kalenderian
- Joan Jett Is A Rock Star For Animals. Rock Icon Slams Butterball with Hotline and Feature Contest
- Joan Jett Official Site
- Joan Jett Bad Reputation Nation Official Site Fan Site
- Blackheart Records Group
- Joan Jett at the Internet Movie Database
- Interview: Joan Jett on Sinner
- Biography and summary from Ultimate Band List
- Joan Jett Photos and Fan Zone
- Joan Jett fan site
- A.C.D.C. Video on JukeboxAlive
