February 2009 News

This month's Vain Inc. Magazine "Look Of The Month" had me living out my dreams of Rock N' Roll Diva-tude, recreating album covers and iconic promo shots for some of my all-time favorites. JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS "Fake Friends", Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees circa 1982, and Blondie's "Parallel Lines" with Debbie Harry and The Band. Read more about this month's "Look" in Issue 19 Online, or In-World. Rock On! Full outfit credits available in the magazine, or can be found here. This month's look was inspired by the amazing Schadenfreude Siouxsie skins by Allegory Malaprop, they are too wonderful!

The RUNAWAYS - featuring a teenage Jett on guitar - were a quintet of leather-clad, feather-haired detention escapees that producer Kim Fowley hyped as Hollywood jailbait. But their grrrl-gang anthems made them proto-punk icons.

"There was a club on Sunset called Rodney's English Disco. They used to play all the British singles. It was the height of disco, so to hear things like Bowie, T. Rex, Gary Glitter, and Suzi Quatro, you went to this club for teenagers. I started asking friends there if they played instruments, and that's how I hooked up with the other girls in the RUNAWAYS."

BLACKHEART RECORDS Group has announced some updates on plans for 2009. The Dollyrots are in the studio right now, recording their third album, produced by Chris Testa. Plans are underway for a 2009 release.

Girl in a Coma has finished work on their second album, produced by Greg Collins (Gwen Stefani) and Gabe Gonzalez (member of Sleepercar) with a few tracks produced by JOAN JETT and KENNY LAGUNA. The album is also headed for a release this year.

JOAN JETT is thrilled to hear Twilight star Kristen Stewart will play her in an upcoming biopic - because she thinks the actress has the "right energy" to play the part.

Stewart will play the I Love Rock & Roll hitmaker in new film The RUNAWAYS, and the real Jett couldn't be happier.

She says, "When her hair is cut and with the right make-up, Kristen should make a really good me."

The odd couple has already had a chance to jam together, and Jett is impressed with the young star's musical skills: "She sounded great and played well.

"She has the passion for it, which you can't really be taught."

You know summer can't be far off when Bethlehem's Musikfest announces its first RiverPlace concert of the season.

The B52s and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will perform at 6 p.m. Aug. 5, the festival's Web site says. Tickets go on sale to ArtsQuest Members at 10 a.m. Feb. 23, and public ticket sales will begin 10 a.m. Feb. 27.

This is a blast straight out of my '80s past. While I never saw either of the bands back then, I did see Jett two years ago at the Vans Warped Tour. She still rocks hard, looks buff and hasn't lost a riff.

She stood tall and didn't flinch as rowdy teens in the crowd launched Gatorade bottles at the stage. I suspect the Bethlehem crowd will welcome her for the chick-rock royalty she is. The B52s are Musikfest alums, having played the festival in 2003.

So, start digging through your closet now for those leather pants you wore in high school and get ready.

Here's some vintage Jett to get you fired up!