April 2014 News

By Hunterdon County Democrat

She helped turn the rock world upside down and now JOAN JETT will be taking it to new heights as she becomes the first female performer to headline the 32nd annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning on July 27.

The New Jersey Lottery presents JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS in association with NJ101.5 on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. Reserved concert seats go on sale Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. Lawn seating, which includes general admission into the Festival, are on sale now at balloonfestival.com.

As the leader of the hard-rocking BLACKHEARTS, JOAN JETT has had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock ‘N' Roll," "I Hate Myself for Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover."

Jett's music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. A version of "I Hate Myself for Loving You" has been the theme for NBC's Sunday Night Football telecasts, performed this past season by Carrie Underwood, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night." Her music is heard in countless films and TV shows including Easy A, Kick Ass, The RUNAWAYS, Shrek, Baby Mama and more.
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'Alternative Press' announces award show: JOAN JETT, Billy Corgan among honorees
from: musictimes.com
By Carolyn Menyes

Alternative Press magazine is looking to get into the award show game. Today (April 24), the alt-rock publication announced it will be holding its first-ever Alternative Press Music Awards this July in its hometown of Cleveland.

According to AP, the new ceremony will take place on Monday, July 21, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and will be hosted by Blink-182's Mark Hoppus.

Fittingly enough for the magazine, which largely focuses on youth culture and its music, the nominees for the show's 12 awards consist of some pop-punk and alternative rock acts. A Day To Remember, Avenged Sevenfold, Black Veil Brides, Bring Me To The Horizon, Fall Out Boy, Of Mice & men, Panic! At The Disco, Paramore, Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens lead the nominees as the bands up for Artist Of The Year, for instance.

Fan votes will determine the winners of standard categories, including Song Of The Year, Most Dedicated Fans, Album Of The Year and more.

This ain't your mama's award show.

In addition to the fan-vote trophies, JOAN JETT will receive the AP Icon Award and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins will receive the AP Vanguard Award. An unnamed musician will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well.
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Axl Rose, JOAN JETT Display Patience at Chaotic 'Golden Gods' Awards Show
from: ultimateclassicrock.com
By Matthew Wilkening



Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose and JOAN JETT took home the biggest honors -- and displayed some saintly patience -- during tonight's frequently chaotic Golden Gods Awards ceremony.

As an unedited home viewing experience, the show left much to be desired. There were long, momentum-killing gaps between nearly every band's introduction and actual performance, one of which prompted Jett to ask, "Did I do something wrong?" Deep Purple somehow beat Black Sabbath for 'Comeback of the Year,' a choice that left presenter Scott Ian of Anthrax literally shaking his head both onstage and on Twitter.


Jett had to re-do her performance of 'I Hate Myself for Loving You' when guest star Taylor Momsen's vocal line was flubbed the first time around. For some reason, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons showed up for the second take, did some cheerleading and then split without further explanation -- or a single guitar lick. Naturally, Jett was a total professional despite this confusion.

Zakk Wylde played the piano and sang a touching tribute to metal stars who've passed away -- not just in the past year, but in a unique and slightly odd move, over the last decade or so. This went from random to just plain wrong when Jani Lane of Warrant was identified as a former member of Motorhead.

In another unique touch, both of the evening's main honorees had two different presenters speak separately on their behalf -- comedian Andrew 'Dice' Clay and actor Nicolas Cage for Rose, then Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider and Alice Cooper for Jett.

As the delays and hiccups mounted, you couldn't help but wonder if we were in store for an old-school blow-up from Rose, a noted perfectionist who's not afraid to speak up (or storm out) when production problems raise their head.
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Fair to Close Out Rocking to JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
from: gantdaily.com
By Gant Team

The Clearfield County Fair will close out rocking to JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS on Saturday, Aug. 2.

CLEARFIELD â€" At age 14, JOAN JETT picked up her first guitar and not long after that she helped turn the rock world upside down for female musicians.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will turn the Clearfield County Fair upside down with a memorable night of rock-and-roll.

JOAN JETT is an originator, an innovator and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking BLACKHEARTS, she's had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock ‘N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and "Crimson and Clover."

Her music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. A version of "I Hate Myself for Loving You" has been used by NBC's Sunday Night Football and performed this past season by Carrie Underwood. Her music is heard in countless films and TV shows, including Easy â€" A, Kick Ass, The RUNAWAYS, Shrek, Baby Mama and many more.
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JOAN JETT: Musician + Feminist + Badass
from: ozy.com
By BARBARA FLETCHER



Why you should care Because she was an original riot grrrl, smashing the boundaries for women in music. And admit it: You've sung along to I Love Rock 'n' Roll. Loudly.

When you hear the name JOAN JETT, this image immediately springs to mind: a leather-clad, sassy, undeniably authentic, tough rocker chick (and we use that term with reverence). A determined and driven badass musician who, from an early age, gestured a triumphantly raised middle finger toward a hostile, mostly male-dominated music industry.

She challenged the idea that punk was a men's-only club.

Because even before her 1982 No. 1 rock anthem, I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Jett was a woman hell-bent on forging her own way (proof positive: She produced the landmark record GI by the Germs) and on her own terms. Her path gave direction to the riot grrrl movement of the 1990s â€" the third wave of feminism that challenged, among other things, the idea that punk was a men's-only club â€" and remains well-trodden by generations of female rockers.

Jett picked up her first guitar at 13 and didn't stop. Four decades later, at age 55, she's finding new fans and still seeing accolades for her work. Case in point: In March, Gibson named her No. 1 on their Top 10 Female Guitar Players of All Time, beating out serious strummers like former bandmate Lita Ford, Heart's Nancy Wilson and Joni Mitchell. Gibson crowned the Queen of Noise for her "sincere and simple rock 'n' roll" style.

Jett was the first female artist to own and control an independent record company.

That style emerged early. At age 15 in L.A., Jett co-founded the band The RUNAWAYS, at a time when "there was no support for girls in rock and roll." Known for their hit Cherry Bomb, the all-female rock band saw success internationally, especially in Japan (Jett executive-produced a 2010 film about the band, with Kristen Stewart playing Joan as a teen). In 1980, Jett and her producer financed her first solo album, JOAN JETT. After being rejected by almost two dozen record labels, she formed her own, BLACKHEART RECORDS, becoming the first female artist to own and control an independent record company.
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Sixth Annual REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS Awards Show To Air In May On VH1 CLASSIC
from: blabbermouth.net



According to Billboard.com, the Revolver Golden Gods awards show presented by Epiphone, America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal awards show, will return to TV on Saturday, May 24 via VH1 Classic at 8 p.m. ET/PT, produced by Dick Clark Productions and Revolver magazine. The four-hour live show will tape Wednesday, April 23, at Los Angeles' Club Nokia, and stream at VH1.com and on VH1's mobile app, with a black carpet hosted by TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider. The May 24 telecast will be an edited, 90-minute version of the show.

This year marks Dick Clark Productions' first time producing Revolver Golden Gods, with executive producer Assaf Blecher telling Billboard.com: "We are very into music properties, so it's just natural that the Golden Gods would make sense for us. The show is a good combination [of older] and newer heavy-metal icons, and it's a great occasion for the community to come together for a one-night only event."

Among this year's Revolver Golden Gods nominees are heavyweights BLACK SABBATH, KORN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, METALLICA, and many more.

This year's Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award will go to hard-rock legend and GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose, with Rose taking his place in the Revolver Golden Gods hall of fame alongside such previous honorees as METALLICA, RUSH, MÖTLEY CRÜE, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Ozzy Osbourne. GUNS N' ROSES are one of the most celebrated acts in music history with sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide and continue to tour annually, headlining sold-out stadium shows and festivals across the globe.

Iconic rocker JOAN JETT will be the recipient of the Golden God Award, given each year to one special honoree that embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal. The legendary axewoman, singer, songwriter and performer makes her mark in Golden Gods history as the first female to receive the coveted honor alongside such previous winners as Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and Gene Simmons. Jett's latest album, "Unvarnished", surged into the top 50 on The Billboard 200 upon its 2013 release and features the hit single "Any Weather".

"No one deserves this award MORE than JOAN JETT. She's never compromised who she is â€" she's a rocker through and through," commented 2011 Golden God Award winner Alice Cooper, who will present Jett with the award at this year's show. "I wish some of the younger bands had the balls that JOAN JETT does!"

Both honorees will take the stage for special performances as part of the 2014 Revolver Golden Gods awards show, with Rose being joined by GUNS N' ROSES and Jett appearing with THE BLACKHEARTS. Heavily nominated for their 2013 release "The Paradigm Shift", former "Album Of The Year" winners KORN will also make their return to the show to perform. Additional performers included on this year's show are A DAY TO REMEMBER, Zakk Wylde and THE PRETTY RECKLESS, with more acts to be announced. Appearances will include Dave Navarro, Orianthi, Ace Frehley, Scott Ian, Jamey Jasta and Chino Moreno. The crowd at Club Nokia and viewers at home can expect the show-stopping moments the Revolver Golden Gods awards show has become known for, along with surprise guest appearances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations.
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The Inside Story Of Nirvana's One-Night-Only Reunion
from: rollingstone.com
By ANDY GREENE



"We looked at that evening as a night that may never happen again," says Dave Grohl. "That's what made it so powerful"

John McCauley of Deer Tick performs with Pat Smear, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, New York.

The thought of entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in Nirvana barely even entered Dave Grohl's head until shortly after he walked offstage at last year's ceremony in Los Angeles after inducting Rush and jamming with them on "2112." "I did a quick interview and someone said, 'Are you excited to be eligible next year?'" Grohl says. "I just hadn't done the math. Then it hit me. But I couldn't imagine they would nominate us in our first year of eligibility."

Groups are eligible to enter the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, and Nirvana's debut release - a cover of "Love Buzz" by Shocking Blue - hit shelves in the final weeks of 1988. "I found out we were on the ballot right around the same time we were nominated for a Grammy [for the Paul McCartney collaboration "Cut Me Some Slack,"] says Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. "I was just like, 'Wow!' But it was bittersweet because the ceremony was scheduled for about a week after the 20th anniversary of Kurt's passing. I got anxious about that, but then I thought, 'Well, why don't we just make this a great tribute to him?'"

Most groups inducted into the Hall of Fame perform in one form or another, but the surviving members of the group hadn't played a Nirvana song in public since Cobain's death. "We didn't even start talking about playing until about eight weeks ago," says Grohl. "It just seemed practically impossible. It was hard to imagine jumping onstage and playing those songs. It takes a little bit of musical preparation, and a lot of emotional preparation."
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Golden Gods to Air in May on VH1 Classic; Axl Rose and JOAN JETT Lead Honorees
from: billboard.com
By Andrew Hampp

The Golden Gods Awards, a ceremony devoted solely to hard rock and heavy metal, is returning to TV on Saturday, May 24 via VH1 Classic at 8 p.m. ET/PT, produced by Dick Clark Productions and Revolver magazine. The four-hour live show will tape Wednesday, April 23, at Los Angeles' Club Nokia, and stream at VH1.com and on VH1's mobile app, with a black carpet hosted by Dee Snider. The May 24 telecast will be an edited, 90-minute version of the show.

Topping this year's star-studded talent lineup will be Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, who will be presented with 2014's Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, and JOAN JETT, the first-ever female recipient of the Golden God Award, which will be presented by 2011 winner Alice Cooper. Guns N' Roses and Jett are also among the show's confirmed performers, alongside Zakk Wylde, who will play during a very special musical tribute to the heavy-metal and hard-rock legends who've passed away over the last year. Additional appearances will include Dave Navarro, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Andrew Dice Clay, Joe Manganiello, Tony Hawk, Pauley Perrette, Carmen Electra, A Day To Remember and The Pretty Reckless.

Duff McKagan Reuniting With Guns N' Roses to 'Help Axl Out,' Says Tommy Stinson Nirvana Joined By JOAN JETT, Kim Gordon, St. Vincent, Lorde at Rock Hall Ceremony Slayer's Jeff Hanneman Remembered at Golden Gods Awards Ceremony The show will be hosted by metal experts Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, hosts of VH1 Classic's own "That Metal Show."
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Smokin'! Get JOAN JETT's Makeup Look From The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
from: news.instyle.com
By MARIANNE MYCHASKIW


Thursday night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City, punk rock icon JOAN JETT brought down the house when she joined Nirvana's Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic to perform the group's hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

While all of us (and our non-waterproof mascara) suffered the fate of happy, nostalgic tears, Jett's makeup was flawless throughout the high-octane set. The secret? Some careful application by her makeup artist James Vincent. "When it comes to rock n' roll royalty, there are few names that have associated with the genre as closely as the queen of rock JOAN JETT," he tells InStyle.com exclusively. "Every time I work with her, I feel like I am so lucky, and my 17-year-old self would be beyond excited."

To create her edgy smoky eye, Vincent combined Jett's signature cat-eye with a touch of Seattle grunge. First, he layered Ardency Inn Modster Eye Powders in Purple Hearts and Friendly Fire ($32 each; sephora.com), using the dark eggplant hue all the way up to the eye crease, then applying the light, iridescent shade on top to highlight and add dimension. Then with Smooth Ride Eyeliner in Black ($19; sephora.com), he drew on a thick, precise line, finishing with a graphic upward wing. To top off the high impact look, he brushed on a few coats of the Punker Volume & Curl Lash Wax ($24; sephora.com). "Eyes are what Joan is most famous for," he explains. "I kept it simple, but used products that would stay set all night and into the morning."

Finally, for a luscious pout, Vincent swept on Ardency Inn's Modster Lip Vinyl in Original Mix ($23; sephora.com), a vivid red with orange undertones. "Joan said that playing with these other musicians and seeing so many artists come together reminded her what she loved about rock n' roll: the raw power and ability to bring people together," Vincent adds. "Standing in the middle of the pit, listening to these legends play some of the most important songs from my life was an unbelievable experience I will never forget."

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Nirvana performed surprise show in Brooklyn with JOAN JETT, Kim Gordon, Annie Clark and more
from: musictimes.com
By Caitlin Carter



Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear performed as Nirvana last night for the first time in 20 years at Brooklyn's Barclays Center after being officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But that wasn't all. After the ceremony, they headed over to Brooklyn's 230-capacity club Saint Vitus for an invite-only surprise show.

According to Noisey, the band hit the stage around 2:30 a.m. and played an intimate 16-song show of all Nirvana songs. Once again, a variety of guest singers accompanied the band including St. Vincent's Annie Clark, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, JOAN JETT, Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis and Deer Tick's John McCauley.

Jett took on "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "In Bloom," "Breed," and "Territorial Pissings;" Gordon sang "Aneurysm," "Negative Creep," and "Moist Vagina;" Clark performed "Lithium," "About a Girl," and "Heart Shaped Box;" J Mascis took on "Drain You," "Penny Royal Tea," and "School;" and John McCauley performed "Serve the Servants," "Tourette's," and "Scentless Apprentice."

View the full set list and some fan footage below. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
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Watch: JOAN JETT & Nirvana play "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
from: philly.com
By Dan DeLuca, Inquirer Music Critic



After the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclay's Center, the surviving members of Nirvana and guests played a secret show at a Brooklyn club called St. Vitus.

The video below is of JOAN JETT doing "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which she also performed with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear at the gala, which will be shown on HBO on May 31. Lorde, St. Vincent and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth also played with the band at the induction ceremony. The clip is a little rough, but you get the idea.

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Hall of Fame 2014: JOAN JETT, Lorde and more step in for Kurt Cobain
from: smh.com.au
By Peter Vincent


The hottest question in music was answered on Thursday: who would sing in place of the late, great Kurt Cobain when Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York, less than a week after the 20th anniversary of his death.

The answer was a major shock: not one but four singers and all women. JOAN JETT (who was widely tipped), Kiwi teen superstar Lorde, Kim Gordon from alt-rock pioneers Sonic Youth and Annie Clark from current avant-garde act St Vincent each sang one song with remaining members of Nirvana.

Early reactions on social media suggests that Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear have pulled off what seemed too daunting if not impossible for the past 20 years: positive responses to someone else singing Cobain's songs. It has also been the first time that they have ever performed Cobain's music together since his death.
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PAT BENATAR NEIL GIRALDO - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS WITH SPECIAL GUEST BERLIN
from: laughlineventcenter.com



Pat Benatar: she’s always been a rule-breaker and a trail-blazer, she remains a bold and distinctive artist both on stage and on record, and now, after more than three decades in rock ‘n’ roll, she’s a bonafide living legend.

Neil "Spyder“ James Giraldo, has been a professional musician, producer, arranger and songwriter for over four decades now, changing the face of the pop charts throughout the 1980s with his collaborator, muse and wife, Pat Benatar. More than just an explosive steel-bending guitar player, Giraldo’s innovative vision helped him create the signature Benatar sound, from its inception.

Giraldo and Benatar’s vision merged explosively on her 1979 debut album, In The Heat Of The Night, which, thanks to the feisty sass of Top 40 hits like “Heartbreaker” and the Giraldo-penned “We Live For Love”, ultimately went platinum.

1980’s Crimes Of Passion album was a Grammy Award-winning, number 2 smash, reaching quadruple platinum and giving Pat her first Top 10 hit - the gold-certified “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”. It also spawned “You Better Run”, the second ever video to air on MTV.

With classic singles like "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and "Bad Reputation," JOAN JETT established a brand of punkish hard rock & roll that would inspire millions of barroom singalongs and influence a generation of female rockers. Jett was one of the most surprising success stories of the 1980s. The latter-day leader of the all-female teenage hard-rock group the RUNAWAYS. Her second solo LP, I Love Rock 'N' Roll, had a Number One single with its title track and went platinum.

*No event parking. Subject to change or cancellation. Ticket prices include L.E.T. tax; additional service fees apply. Laughlin Event Center is owned and operated by Marnell Gaming, LLC, a limited liability corporation which owns and develops gaming establishments in Laughlin, Nevada.

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Nirvana Reunion 2014: JOAN JETT To Front Grunge Band In Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame After Dave Grohl's Instagram Post; Cobain Hologram Not Happening
from: kpopstarz.com
By Staff Writer



Nirvana Reunion 2014: Nirvana is ready to rock the world as the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame President Joel Peresman is pleased to announce the inductees for the 2014 ceremony on April 10 in Brooklyn.

The 90's Grunge band is expected to play some songs for the crowd but it would be hard to do it without their front man Kurt Cobain. Earlier this year, it was reported that PJ Harvey would front the band during awards night as the band mates and Dave Grohl even hinted that Cobain loves Harvey, in an interview.

"Every once in a while we talk about it. For the Sound City gig here in London we were thinking about musicians that we could invite because Stevie Nicks and John Fogerty couldn't make it. Someone suggested doing a Nirvana song with PJ Harvey. Kurt loved her and we love her and we thought, 'Yeah, what would we do?' I said: 'God, what if we were to do 'Milk It' from 'In Utero' with Polly singing?' We all looked at each other like, 'Woah, that would be amazing...' and then she couldn't do it!"

But it was until early this week that Dave Grohl hinted on the Foo Fighter's Instagram account that JOAN JETT would probably be the one playing for Nirvana on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Posted on the band's Instagram account is Jett's iconic guitar alongside, what appears like a bass guitar of Krist Novoselic and assumedly Pat Smear's guitar.
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JOAN JETT and Nirvana: Five Reasons Why She's a Good Pick for Rock Hall of Fame
from: hollywoodreporter.com
By Jem Aswad, Billboard


Former Runaway is slated to front surviving members Nirvana at induction ceremonies tomorrow night.

Unless someone in the Nirvana camp is playing an elaborate joke with the band's equipment, it seems nearly inevitable that JOAN JETT will be joining the surviving members of Nirvana onstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony tomorrow night.

JOAN JETT, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers Nominated to Rock Hall of Fame To be perfectly honest, the Nirvana segment is one we'd been dreading as the show approaches -- not that we don't trust the band's taste, but it'd be so easy to get it painfully wrong. Dave Grohl told NME last year that he'd asked PJ Harvey to join his Sound City Players to perform "Milk It" (she wasn't available), before allowing, "It's sacred ground. If we were ever to do something like that it would have to be right because you want to pay tribute. There's a reason Foo Fighters don't do Nirvana songs." Here are several good reasons why Jett is not just a relief, but a solid choice in her own right.

1) Her Past History with Grohl: Grohl, rock's reigning alpha male, has been living out his Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp for the past several years, ranging from remixing a 1987 album by the hardcore band Bl'ast to calling Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones onstage for "Rock and Roll" at a Foo Fighters gig in London a few years back (not to mention taking seemingly half of his teenage record collection on tour -- John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Fear's Lee Ving, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, even Rick Springfield -- last year to promote his Sound City documentary).

Jett is of that era (and probably was in his collection), and also: the two co-wrote the song "Any Weather" on Jett's 2013 LP Unvarnished; they presented an award together at last year's American Music Awards; and Jett has joined the Foo Fighters onstage multiple times, usually for her songs "Bad Reputation" and "I Love Rock and Roll," on Letterman, at Madison Square Garden, and even at Lollapalooza in Chile. Grohl has even given her what probably amounts to his highest possible verbal praise, calling her a "real fuckin' rock-and-roll bad-ass hero" and once saying that she made Foo guitarist Pat Smear "wanna start a band."

2) Jett's Shout-Singing Style: She doesn't have Cobain's visceral sandpaper roar -- hell, who does? -- but she's no slouch at rock-and-roll shouting, and the thought of her taking on one of rock's holiest of holies -- the chorus of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a thankless task for anyone -- does not make us cringe.
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JOAN JETT rumoured to front Nirvana at Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame gig
from: gigwise.com
By Edward Keeble


The band are performing but who will lead?

Rumours have been circulating that JOAN JETT will join Nirvana for a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On Thursday (10 April) the band will finally be inducted during the annual ceremony, which will also witness the surviving members of the band put on a performance. Kris Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear will all form the nostalgic line-up, but it has long been questioned who will be singing.

Paul McCartney and Michael Stipe have been favourites in the running previously but JOAN JETT is now a likely contendor after a photo emerged of Joan's Melody maker Guitar next to Novoselic's bass. The picture was posted on the Foo Fighters' Instagram, with speculation mounting that she could be a leftfield choice that could potentially appease the band's fans.

Meanwhile last Saturday (5 April) marked the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. Numerous tributes flooded in from the world in music including Muse and St. Vincent who both performed very different versions of 'Lithium' at very different gigs.

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JOAN JETT to Front Nirvana At Rock And Roll Hall of Fame?
from: billboard.com
By Lars Brandle


Might JOAN JETT take the mic for Nirvana's performance at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame cerremony? That's the chatter doing the rounds ahead of the grunge group's induction into the Rock Hall on Thursday.

Drummer Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters sparked a whole lot of speculation when his band's Instagram page shared a photo that features Krist Novoselic's bass, Pat Smear's Strat, Grohl's drumkit and what appears to be Jett's Melody Maker.

The snap should put an end to the speculation that had former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe performing out front for the Seattle legends. Stipe, a friend of the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, will be on hand to induct the group.

Jett and Grohl have shared the spotlight on a handful of occasions. The Foo Fighters appeared with Jett on "The Late Show With David Letterman" back in 2011, while Grohl collaborated on "Any Weather," which appeared on Jett's 2013 album "Unvarnished".

Jett, who is best known for her 1981 international hit "I Love Rock N Roll" and was played by Kristen Stewart in the 2010 feature film "The RUNAWAYS," has not yet been inducted into the Rock Hall.

The career of first-time nominee Nirvana will be celebrated along with those of KISS, Linda Ronstadt and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates and Cat Stevens during a gala at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

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Play Ball: JOAN JETT Talks Baltimore Orioles' 2014 Season
from: billboard.com
By Chris Payne


Jett loves the Orioles almost as much as she loves rock 'n' roll

April is upon us and that means the return of Major League Baseball. To preview the new season, Billboard.com spoke to a panel of baseball fans from around the music world for a team-by-team preview of their favorite squads.

The musician: JOAN JETT is a punk icon, of course best known for her No. 1 hit "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." She had plenty of other hits and continues to make music with the BLACKHEARTS, as they released their last album, "Unvarnished," last year. She's long been a celebrity fan of the Orioles. She was a guest of honor when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played record, and sang the national anthem they day he tied it. She sat alongside President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and baseball greats like Joe DiMaggio and Willie Mays.

The team: The Orioles have an exciting young team that led the American League in home runs last year. First baseman Chris Davis, who hit 53 of them, was baseball's breakout star of 2013. The Orioles are an above average club, but the trouble is they play in baseball's toughest division, the American League East. Their rotation has upside, but it looks shaky compared to the lineups of division rivals like Boston, Tampa Bay and New York.

You've been an Orioles fan since the late-60s, right?
JOAN JETT: Yeah,'69. We used to live in Maryland and my dad took us to see the Baltimore Orioles several times. But my first game was Jim Palmer against Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A's. Jim Palmer threw a no-hitter. So how can you not be an Orioles freak after seeing that for the first game? It was the team with Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and the 4 20-game winners. It was quite a learning experience at the time.

What sorts of things have you done with the team over the years?
JJ: I've sung The National Anthem before the game six or seven times. I got a chance to go out on the field during batting practice in the 80s. That was when Cal Ripken, Jr. was going to play his first game. I was on the field joking with those guys, like Eddie Murray. It was just nice to be a fan and be on the field with them.

I also went to Fantasy Week. We would go down and spend a few weeks before Spring Training started. Each team has it and you can go. I did it in '92. There were 105 people and 5 women including me. You form teams and play baseball for two weeks. You get Major League coaches. My coach was from Baltimore. They would teach you what to do. I played second base; those throws are far! When you're on a major league diamond, it's a whole different deal. I had real people teaching me out to pitch. Mike Cuellar, who was a 20-game winner for the Orioles, taught me how to throw a screwball. If you're a baseball fan, that's one of the best things you can do with yourself.

What's it been like to see the Orioles become a winning team again over the past two seasons?
JJ: It's really exciting to see, seeing someone like Buck Showalter come in and make some changes. I think the general manager, Dan Duquette , is making some moves. I pay attention from Spring Training on.
[more]

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JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS - Arizona Bike Week's CycleFest at WestWorld - 4/4/14
from: phoenixnewtimes.com
Article and photo by Jim Louvau


Iconic female rocker JOAN JETT played a solid set of old favorites and new tracks as her and the BLACKHEARTS got the party started last night during Cyclefest at WestWorld in Scottsdale.

The band hit the stage before Southern headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd and from opening track 'TMI" from 2013's Unvarnished it was apparent that Jett was not only confident in new material but she was out for blood.

The band jumped right into a cover of The Runways "Cherry Bomb" which sent the female bike fans into a frenzy as they sang "Hello World I'm Your Wild Girl" during the chorus. She didn't leave the guys out of the fun during the sexy "Do You Wanna Touch Me" as the 55-year old showed she was just as fierce as ever as she flipped off a heckler during the song.

"When Hurricane Sandy happened you had empathy, when it happens to you it's shocking for a bit" the singer said. " I said look man we got to build it back and inspired me," she said before the rocking "Make It Back."

Never one to forget her roots she told this crowd "This is the first RUNAWAYS song we ever wrote" before "You Drive Me Wild." The romantic tale "Any Weather" followed. The crowd full of bikers erupted during "I Love Rock N' Roll" and "Crimson and Clover."

Jett introduced each member of the band before closing with "I Hate Myself For Loving You." Though the 40-minute opening set was short JOAN JETT proved her longetvity is no fluke, and she stopped having to prove she could hang with the guys along time ago.

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JOAN JETT Rocks Out On The Late Late Show
from: metrolyrics.com
by AMANDA HUTCHISON

One of the most iconic songs in rock (or, in music!) has to be JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS' "I Love Rock N Roll". Want proof? The legendary rocker stopped by The Late Late Show (with Drew Carey -- Craig Ferguson switched places with him on The Price Is Right for April Fools) to promote her upcoming album Unvarnished, and as the show came back from a commercial break, the audience was in full singing and dancing mode as her hit about lovin' rock n' roll played in the background to her delight.

When asked by Drew Carey how awesome it feels to have her music resonate with so many people, Jett graciously responded "It's why you do it!" She goes on to describe how music is something that everybody can relate to, and it's a joy to see her humble about her music so long into her career. You go, Joan!

Watch the clip from The Late Late Show with JOAN JETT rockin' out below: