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Punk rocker Jett still loves her rock 'n' roll
from: The Desert Sun
by Maggie Downs
At 10 a.m., JOAN JETT is supposed to call. Me. On my phone.
This is THE JOAN JETT: Legendary singer, pioneering guitarist and rock 'n' roll icon.
A one-time member of the all-girl band The RUNAWAYS, best known for "Cherry Bomb," Jett later hit the top of the charts with her No. 1 song, "I Love Rock N Roll."
10:05 passes. Then 10:15. 10:20 ...
I figure the tough, bad-ass JOAN JETT is probably busy chewing glass for breakfast. Or skinning a cow for leather pants.
10:34 a.m. the phone rings.
It's JOAN JETT.
QUESTION: You rock so hard, I have to wonder who you listen to?
ANSWER: I still listen to a lot of stuff I grew up listening to. Once in a while something jumps in there. It varies. I grew up with a lot of David Bowie, T. Rex and stuff like that.
Q: Anything punk?
A: The Ramones had formed at the same time as The RUNAWAYS. So I listened to punk rock as it was happening. When we started touring and getting out there, that's when we heard bands like the Clash and the Sex Pistols, which I still listen to. Right now I also like The Vacancies out of Cleveland, Ohio. They're a great punk-rock band, with very hooky songs.
Q: What can this audience expect from your show?
A: Expect to get a kick-ass rock show. It will pretty much span my whole career, with a couple RUNAWAYS songs. There'll be some new stuff, too. I've got a new CD coming out, "SINNER," and I'm really excited about that.
Q: I've seen a lot of stories that describe you as an "out lesbian rocker." When did you officially come out?
A: I never made any kind of statement about my personal life on any level. I never made any proclamations. So I don't know where people are getting that from.
Q: I have a T-shirt that says, "What would JOAN JETT do?" Do you ever wonder what would JOAN JETT do?
A: Ha. The people who made up those shirts sent one to me. I like it a lot. It's really strange because you have to step out of yourself when you look at it. I look at it as this persona of JOAN JETT, but not really as me.
Q: How does your persona differ from the real you?
A: People think I'm mean. That's the last thing I want people to be. And I'm not mean - as long as you treat people with respect. People see a certain thing, like the black leather and black hair and they make assumptions. They also think I'm 6 feet tall, and I'm little.
Q: How tall are you?
A: 5'5"
Q: So is there a softer side to JOAN JETT?
A: Well, I don't knit, but I guess I have a softer side. I guess I do a lot of things people wouldn't expect me to do. I love to ride my bike. I have four cats, and they're my favorite people to hang out with. I love to cook when I get a chance. I read a lot.
Q: What book are you reading right now?
A: "I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta." (By Nisargadatta Maharaj.) I don't even know how to describe it. There's this guy who is an Indian swami or guru, and it's about getting control of your mind. It's intense.
Q: You sound pretty spiritual.
A: I tend to be introspective. I like going inside. I like being alone. I like having space. And I like being quiet.
Q: That's pretty strange for such a loud woman. I saw you a few years ago and you had more energy than I ever could muster. Where does that come from?
A: A lot of it comes from the audience. When you feel the people out there and they're projecting a very up kind of energy, that propels you. You need that energy. But I still get nervous before I go on stage. You can't go out there and be complacent.
Q: You nervous?
A: It's not because I don't know what I'm doing.
I think you need that little bit of edge to keep you on your toes.
Q: How did you start playing guitar?
A: It started once I hit about 13, 14, and I asked for a guitar for Christmas. (My family) was really supportive. I remember my mother driving me out to rehearsal and classes. They told me I could be whatever I wanted to be.
Q: So you knew that early you wanted to be a rock 'n' roll star?
A: I talked about it more than I remember, I guess. I recently went to a high school reunion type of thing and all the other people kept saying, "I can't believe you did it! You got what you wanted!" But I don't remember ever talking about it.
Q: Wow. That's amazing.
A: It just shows you you've got to go for your dreams.
Look at me. All the odds are stacked against women in rock 'n' roll. But I'm proof it can happen. I'm there.
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