Page updated on April 30, 2015
All news is attributed to the source from which it was received so that readers may judge the validity of the statements for themselves.
Have Joan Jett news to report? Email us at jettfc@aol.com, and please include the source of the information so it can be validated. Music lineup, new attractions announced for Spiedie Fest from: pressconnects.com By John R. Roby
TOWN OF DICKINSON â€" It will be a mix of new and old when the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally returns to Otsiningo Park this summer for its 31st year.
The three-day festival is going back to selling buttons for weekend-long admission after switching last year to offering individual tickets for daily admission, organizers said during a Friday afternoon press conference at Otsiningo Park.
Entry to the park will be free on Friday, July 31, the festival's opening day, thanks to a sponsorship by Visions Federal Credit Union, organizers said.
Buttons, which will cost $20 each, will still be required to get into the concert area, organizer Dave Pessagno said. They will be good for admission to the festival and the concert area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. [more] Long Beach Loves JOAN JETT - Locally Born Artist Honored by Homegrown Film Festival from: longislandexchange.com By Rick Eberle
JOAN JETT Music Film Series to Begin this September at LBIFF 2015
(Long Island, NY) The Long Beach International Film Festival (LBIFF), produced by the Long Beach Film Institute, 501(c)3, has been supported, since its inception four years ago, by Long Beach resident JOAN JETT.
On April 18th, as JOAN JETT is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the LBIFF is excited to announce that they will be establishing a music film series in her honor. The JOAN JETT Music Film Series will join the 4th annual LBIFF this September. Joan has been there in support of the festival since its inception, through hurricane Sandy, and beyond. Joan’s accomplishments and her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are legendary, and an example to all, most importantly, empowering women.
LBIFF is excited to announce that they will be establishing a music film series in honor of JOAN JETT. [more] JOAN JETT, Lou Reed personal items join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame collection from: newsday.com By GLENN GAMBOA
TEXAS TOWNSHIP â€" The walls of this upstairs hall inside Gary Moss' home near Honesdale are covered with a slice of rock and roll history.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, with hits including "I Love Rock and Roll," are going into a hall of their own. They'll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As an original member Moss will be immortalized with them this weekend in Cleveland.
"I didn't have aspirations to be famous, I never had aspirations to play big venues even, I just wanted to play in a band, I was happy to play in a club," said Moss.
Moss says he was into the Hollywood punk scene all those years ago and at 16, started playing bass guitar with JOAN JETT. The band moved to New York and began touring. Then its big single hit the airwaves.
"By the time we recorded 'I Love Rock and Roll,' it was all cranked up, wound up â€" ready to spring load," said Moss. [more] Elementary School Teacher Headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from: wnep.com By JIM HAMILL
TEXAS TOWNSHIP â€" The walls of this upstairs hall inside Gary Moss' home near Honesdale are covered with a slice of rock and roll history.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, with hits including "I Love Rock and Roll," are going into a hall of their own. They'll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As an original member Moss will be immortalized with them this weekend in Cleveland.
"I didn't have aspirations to be famous, I never had aspirations to play big venues even, I just wanted to play in a band, I was happy to play in a club," said Moss.
Moss says he was into the Hollywood punk scene all those years ago and at 16, started playing bass guitar with JOAN JETT. The band moved to New York and began touring. Then its big single hit the airwaves.
"By the time we recorded ‘I Love Rock and Roll,' it was all cranked up, wound up â€" ready to spring load," said Moss. [more] Long Beach to hold fim fest in September from: theislandnow.com
The Long Beach International Film Festival will celebrate its 4th anniversary this year with an action-packed line up of independent and studio films from around the globe.
Scheduled to take place from Sept. 24-27 on Long Island, the festival will screen an international slate of more than 50 films, including feature-length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films that will compete for a series of Jury, Festival Honors and Audience Awards.
“Shorts On The Beachâ€, the festivals annual free event, takes place on Aug. 7.
“The most important element of our festival is our filmmakers,†said Craig Weintraub, co-founder of the festival. “They are the ones who bring their works of art to life on screen. Their films shape not only our program, but also inspire our audiences throughout the festival. Each film submitted is evaluated by our prestigious team of industry professionals and we can’t wait to watch which new stories are being told from filmmakers around the globe.†[more] Cherie Currie on JOAN JETT's Rock Hall of Fame Induction: 'She So Deserves It' from: billboard.com By Gary Graff
JOAN JETT will have at least one former bandmate cheering her, from afar, when she and her BLACKHEARTS are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday in Cleveland.
"I am so proud of her," former RUNAWAYS singer Cherie Currie tells Billboard. "She so deserves it. I've never seen anyone work as hard as Joan has worked. She's made it her life and she deserves it." Currie says she's sent Jett some text messages since the announcement was made, "just saying, 'Wow! This is so cool!' Just a lot of texts and love and support. I'm really, really happy for her."
Jett's induction, of course, raises the question of whether the RUNAWAYS should at some point be considered for induction. Currie says that "a nomination would be great" but feels there's another priority before the RUNAWAYS get in. "I think Suzi Quatro deserves it before we do -- that's always been a stand of mine," she says. "Suzi was such a huge influence on Joan and the band, and when I see people like her fall to the wayside, I just...I think a lot of it's just very political, and I just don't think it's right. So I hope she gets nominated; I think she was truly badass and she really kicked the door open for us, and I just love her."
Currie, meanwhile, is rocking again with Reverie, her first solo album in 35 years (which is currently available on iTunes and looking for distribution for physical copies). The follow-up to an unreleased album produced by former Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, Reverie features four songs co-produced by the RUNAWAYS' controversial late svengali Kim Fowley (who spent the last nine days of his life living in Currie's house earlier this year) and covers of two RUNAWAYS songs -- "Is It Day or Night" and "American Nights" -- featuring vocals by former RUNAWAYS guitarist Lita Ford. Currie's son Jake Hays, from the band Maudlin Strangers, finished the album in Fowley's stead.
"To be able to work with Kim Fowley at the end of his life and also take care of him at my home before he passed away, to be able to purge myself of all those bad feelings and experiences I've had with him as a kid, that was just, to me, a blessing," Currie says. "I wanted this record done and completed before Kim passed away. He got to hear about three or four songs."
Currie plans to do some touring in support of Reverie later this year, after she fulfills some obligations for her chainsaw sculpting (the singer is commissioned for her sculptures, which she began during the early '00s and led to opening her own gallery in 2005 in Chatsworth, Calif.). She's also still hopeful the unreleased album she recorded for BLACKHEART RECORDS -- which includes guest collaborations with Slash, Duff McKagan, Billy Corgan, Brody Dalle and the Veronicas -- will eventually see the light of day. [more] Hudson Gardens concerts announced from: denverpost.com By Ian Mohr
Rocker JOAN JETT co-hosted a VIP screening of "Love & Mercy," starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as young and old Beach Boy Brian Wilson, this week.
But Jett admitted, "I was not a big fan of the Beach Boys" until she saw Wilson perform in person and was "moved to tears by the magnitude of his genius."
The film's directed by Bill Pohlad, who produced "12 Years a Slave" and "The RUNAWAYS," about Jett's 1970s band.
Also at the Crosby Street Hotel screening were Richard Gere and James Schamus. JOAN JETT's love for the Beach Boys came late from: pagesix.com By Ian Mohr
Rocker JOAN JETT co-hosted a VIP screening of "Love & Mercy," starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as young and old Beach Boy Brian Wilson, this week.
But Jett admitted, "I was not a big fan of the Beach Boys" until she saw Wilson perform in person and was "moved to tears by the magnitude of his genius."
The film's directed by Bill Pohlad, who produced "12 Years a Slave" and "The RUNAWAYS," about Jett's 1970s band.
Also at the Crosby Street Hotel screening were Richard Gere and James Schamus. Pandora Shares Most-Liked Songs From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2015 from: billboard.com By Joe Lynch
With the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony just days away (Saturday, April 18), Pandora is sharing some data about what their listeners think about the 2015 Rock Hall class.
Specifically, Pandora is sharing the most-liked song from each one of the 2015 inductees on Pandora. Check out the "top thumbed-up" songs below (graphic courtesy Pandora).
A few are total non-shockers. Obviously, "Ain't No Sunshine" is Bill Withers' most beloved song, and Lou Reed's biggest hit is "Walk on the Wild Side." And while they've had plenty of classics, no jaws will drop after reading that "Good Riddance" remains Green Day's most-liked.
A few are rather surprising, though. While "Pride and Joy" is Stevie Ray Vaughan's best-known song, it seems Pandora listeners are more likely to give his Jimi Hendrix cover "Little Wing/3rd Stone From the Sun" the thumbs-up. Also odd: JOAN JETT's "Destination Unknown" is her big winner.
The Internet radio giant -- which boasts 81.5 million active listeners -- rounded up some other facts about the most popular rock songs on Pandora, which you can check out below. [more] JOAN JETT's talks about upcoming Rock Hall induction from: news-herald.com By John Benson
JOAN JETT loves rock 'n' roll.
Now, rock 'n' roll is showing its appreciation by inducting her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It's been a long time coming for the former teen member of The RUNAWAYS who found early solo success in 1981 behind the title track from her JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS album “I Love Rock-n-Roll.†Later the same decade she made a comeback of sorts with surprise radio hit “I Hate Myself for Loving You.â€
Since then, Jett has remained a touring entity, playing every gig as if it were her last. While numerous platinum records don't don her walls (she does have two) and Grammy Awards take up no space on her mantle, the singer-guitarist's credibility and influence is indisputable. Not only did she span genres from hard rock and glam to punk, metal and garage, but her shadow is cast all over the riot grrrl movement.
First nominated for the Rock Hall in 2011, Jett has for years been atop of critics' must-induct list. Such talk is now put to rest as Jett and her BLACKHEARTS are indeed being inducted into the Rock Hall on April 18 in Cleveland. However, there's little time left for smelling the roses (or “Crimson and Cloverâ€) as Jett was tagged as opener on The Who's 50th-anniversary tour. She has a gig the night before and night after the Rock Hall induction. Such is the life of a working rock and roller.
During a recent phone call to New York City, The News-Herald talked to the humbled artist about her unlikely career and her legacy. [more] Rock Pioneer JOAN JETT To Get Her Rightful Place In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame from: womenyoushouldknow.net By WYSK
This Saturday, April 18, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will, at long last, be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Among the 8 legendary groups and artists being inducted this year, JOAN JETT is the only woman, which is an all too familiar spot for this fearless pioneer who has fought for everything she's achieved over the course of her four decade plus career in the maleâ€"centric, testosterone fueled world of rock 'n' roll.
So as she prepares to receive this long overdue honor, let's review just how kickass JOAN JETT is...
In the early 70s, when she was just 15â€"yearsâ€"old, Joan founded the trailblazing, allâ€"girl, punk rock fivesome... the RUNAWAYS (JOAN JETT â€" guitar/vocals; Sandy West â€" drums; Cherie Currie â€" lead vocals; Jackie Fox â€" bass guitar; and Lita Ford â€" guitar). She also wrote most of the band's songs, including their 1976 hit "Cherry Bomb." The group recorded four albums between 1976 and 1978, and also went on tour. As WYSK noted in a November 2014 piece, "Their fandom was sometimes called the next Beatlemania." Joan eventually took over as the RUNAWAYS frontwoman after Cherie and Jackie left.
When the RUNAWAYS completely disbanded in 1979, Joan refocused and got to work on a solo album. But when it came time to find a distributor, she had the proverbial door slammed in her face by 23 different record labels. According to a recent Inquisitr article, "In those early days, Jett remembers having to defend her gender to everyone in the music industry and, at times, even to wouldâ€"be fans. Joan recalls sending the same four songs to each of the record labels she approached ("I Love Rock ‘N Roll," "Crimson and Clover," "Do You Wanna Touch Me," and "Bad Reputation") and receiving rejections from every one of those labels."
Totally frustrated, but driven by her neverâ€"giveâ€"up attitude, Joan took control of her own future by founding BLACKHEART RECORDS with producer KENNY LAGUNA in 1980. This historic move made JOAN JETT, "the first female artist to own and have direct control over an independent record company." She then formed her hardâ€"rocking BLACKHEARTS in 1982, and her epic career has been on a nonâ€"stop trajectory of success since.
As the BLACKHEARTS leader, Joan's had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including... "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock ‘N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover." Yep... the very same songs that almost two dozen myopic record label heads previously rejected. Today, over three decades later, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS are still touring around the world for legions of diehard fans. [more] Premier Guitar Profiles JOAN JETT's Gibsons from: fox8.com By MELISSA REID
CLEVELAND â€" Rock and Roll royalty were carved into history Monday afternoon as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum officially installed glass panels etched with the signatures of the 2015 inductees.
"If you think about the Hall of Fame, it's really the pinnacle achievement for a lot of artists. And one of the things that are most important to fans is signatures," said Todd Mesek, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
"We have two different panels for these signatures. They are actually in alphabetical order, we pull the panels off and they are shipped off," said Mesek.
This year, the glass panels were shipped back signed by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The "5" Royales, Green Day, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and Bill Withers.
"We take these signatures from the artists themselves. Or in the case of artists that have passed away, we take something from a contract they had and use a strong signature from there and it's actually etched in the glass," added Mesek.
It's all part of the celebration leading up to the 30th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday evening. [more] Premier Guitar Profiles JOAN JETT's Gibsons from: gibson.com By Peter Hodgson
Ahead of JOAN JETT's induction in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, Premier Guitar has profiled the rock legend's guitar gear including her iconic Gibson Melody Maker.
Jett's main guitar for the past 20 years has been a Melody Maker with a Red Rhodes Velvet Hammer humbucker in the bridge position. But a new guitar is joining Jett on the road as she tours opening for Heart: a new signature metallic redburst Gibson Melody Maker prototype with a Burstbucker 3 humbucker and red dot inlays. All of Jett's guitars have a particularly stage-friendly feature; the volume knobs are wrapped in the hooked half of a strip of Velcro for improved grip.
BLACKHEARTS lead guitarist DOUGIE NEEDLES' main guitar is also profiled; a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior with its original and very well-worn P-90 single coil pickup, modded with locking Grover tuners and covered in stickers. Their love for Rock' N Roll help JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS top the Big 40 Countdown (4/13/2015) from: siriusxm.com By Peneliope Richards
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS top the 80s on 8 Big 40 Countdown this week with I Love Rock N' Roll. Journey, Go-Go's, and Stevie Wonder aren't far behind with their respective 82 hits. Be sure to check out who else made the cut below!
Original Air Date 4/03/1982:
40. GET DOWN ON IT - KOOL & THE GANG
39. POP GOES THE MOVIES PART I - MECO
38. JUST CAN'T WIN ‘EM ALL - STEVIE WOODS
37. THEME FROM MAGNUM P.I. - MIKE POST
36. TAKE IT EASY ON ME - LITTLE RIVER BAND
35. LEADER OF THE BAND - DAN FOGELBERG
34. SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD - THE POLICE
33. MIRROR, MIRROR - DIANA ROSS
32. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME - CHARLENE
31. TONIGHT I'M YOURS - ROD STEWART
30. DID IT IN A MINUTE - DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES
29. SHAKE IT UP - THE CARS
28. BABY MAKES HER BLUE JEANS TALK - DR. HOOK
27. ON THE WAY TO THE SKY - NEIL DIAMOND
26. JUKE BOX HERO - FOREIGNER
25. GOIN' DOWN - GREG GUIDRY
24. 867-5309/JENNY - TOMMY TUTONE
23. MY GUY - SISTER SLEDGE
22. BOBBIE SUE - OAK RIDGE BOYS
21. NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY - LE ROUX
20. FIND ANOTHER FOOL - QUARTERFLASH
19. CENTERFOLD - THE J. GEILS BAND
18. '65 LOVE AFFAIR - PAUL DAVIS
17. ONE HUNDRED WAYS - QUINCY JONES
16. TAKE OFF - BOB & DOUG MCKENZIE
15. (OH) PRETTY WOMAN - VAN HALEN
14. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN - STEVIE NICKS
13. SHOULD I DO IT - THE POINTER SISTERS
12. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE - HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS
11. SWEET DREAMS - AIR SUPPLY
10. KEY LARGO - BERTIE HIGGINS
9. PAC-MAN FEVER - BUCKNER AND GARCIA
8. DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS - RICK SPRINGFIELD
7. FREEZ E-FRAME - THE J. GEILS BAND
6. CHARIOTS OF FIRE - VANGELIS
5. MAKE A MOVE ON ME - OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
4. THAT GIRL - STEVIE WONDER
3. WE GOT THE BEAT - GO-GO'S
2. OPEN ARMS - JOURNEY
1. I LOVE ROCK N' ROLL - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS JOAN JETT To Be Inducted Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame By Miley Cyrus from: rttnews.com By RTT Staff Writer
JOAN JETT will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Miley Cyrus, the HOF prexy Greg Harris announced during a presser. The 30th annual ceremony, set for April 18, goes down in Cleveland.
"It was interesting to learn that they are mutual admirers," Harris said, noting that the pair had previously performed on Oprah.
After the choice was announced, many Jett fans hit her Facebook page to make their displeasure public.
However, an unnamed source, speaking with Cleveland.com, claimed that the pair are "close."
"She and Miley are close. They did Oprah together years ago. You can take a look at that footage, but there is a huge fondness there for each other."
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Tommy James of Tommy James and Shondells will provide a musical opening for Jett. JOAN JETT and the Heart of Rock N' Roll from: epiphone.com Photo by Kevin Estrada
Today's Plug and Play Revolution might be marching to the sound of Epiphone and Rocksmith 2014, but that revolution started long ago with JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS. When Ms. Jett plays rock and roll, she's all heart and nothing gets in the way of her tone.
In an interview backstage with Premier Guitar, BLACKHEARTS guitar tech Zach Nagy takes us through Joan's Melody Makers as well as DOUGIE NEEDLES' own "TV Needles" Epiphone in a classic TV Yellow finish and P-90 pickups.
Joan's first guitar in the RUNAWAYS was an Epiphone Olympic (thanks to Kevin Estrada for the terrific photo) and it wouldn't surprise us if she played it on stage when she's inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18. Congrats, Joan, from all your friends and fans at Epiphone! Why Miley Cyrus inducting JOAN JETT into the Rock Hall makes sense from: cleveland.com Troy L. Smith, Northeast Ohio Media Group
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Now we know why it took a little longer to find out who would be inducting JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18 in Cleveland.
The announcement was both huge and polarizing. Miley Cyrus will do the honors, to some fans' excitement and others' disdain.
That being said, you have to admire the Rock Hall's willingness to think outside the box. Here are five reasons why I think Miley's involvement in this year's ceremony is a wrecking ball of awesomeness:
It's good for business
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn't just a celebration, it's a show that costs a lot of money to put on and has to make a lot of money to break even (and then some). It's no mistake that the group of nominees in recent years has featured a diverse mix of acts ranging from longtime music legends to pioneering hip-hop acts to 1990s rock icons. The goal is to draw a broad audience of music fans. Think of this year's show as an epic concert that pays homage to late legends and geniuses of yesteryear with Green Day as the headliner. In that sense, Miley Cyrus fits right in. Just like Fall Out Boy presenting Green Day, it's one of the few aspects of the ceremony that will draw a young audience, something that's essential to the Rock Hall's future.
JOAN JETT is cool with it
I haven't spoken to JOAN JETT personally, but here's what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is not going to do. The museum is not going to have someone JOAN JETT hates present her for induction. In fact, there's a good chance Jett loves what Miley stands for in refusing to care what people think. This is the singer who scored one of her biggest hits with the song "Bad Reputation."
The Rock Hall isn't as sacred as purists like to think
I don't mean this as a slight towards the Rock Hall. It's just that some music fans act like there's a divine force that tells people who to induct or involve in the ceremony. That's just not the case. In a recent Rolling Stone story on Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney basically asserts that Ringo's induction as a solo artist stems from McCartney telling those with influence that if they inducted Ringo, McCartney would show up to induct his former bandmate. I have no problem with Ringo being inducted as a solo artist, but there are other artists whose solo careers deserved recognition first (Tina Turner, Sting, Mick Jagger). Perhaps those artists don't have McCartney's backing. Sure, Miley Cyrus is a controversial pop star, but don't act like she's disgracing some religious ceremony. [more] JOAN JETT Will Be Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by -- Miley Cyrus? from: ultimateclassicrock.com By Nick DeRiso
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In one of the more -- shall we say -- offbeat decisions in recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame memory, Miley Cyrus will induct JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS this year.
Greg Harris, the hall's president and CEO, addressed the apparent incongruity during a news conference announcing another round of presenters and performers for the 30th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held April 18 in Cleveland.
"It was interesting to learn that they are mutual admirers," Harris said today, adding that Cyrus and Jett earlier performed together on Oprah Winfrey's television program.
Meanwhile, a group including John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. will perform for fellow 2015 inductees Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble; Zac Brown and Tom Morello will perform for '60s-era blues legend Paul Butterfield; Beck and Karen O. will play in honor of the late Lou Reed, and John Legend will perform for Bill Withers.
Other key presenters already announced for the ceremony include Paul McCartney, for Ringo Starr; Stevie Wonder, for Withers, and Patti Smith, for Reed. Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh and Jimmie Vaughan will also perform at the sold-out event. The entire special will then be broadcast on May 30 on HBO.
Green Day and the 5 Royales, an early influence on soul great Steve Cropper, will also be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Top 10 JOAN JETT Songs from: ultimateclassicrock.com By Dave Swanson
JOAN JETT is a rock and roll pioneer and icon. From her teenage years with the legendary RUNAWAYS and right up to her brand new album, ‘Unvarnished,’ Jett has been rocking full throttle for the better part of 40 years now, and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Whether as writer or interpreter, Joan knows her way around a good song. Drawing on inspiration from her beloved Glam era of Sweet, Slade and Gary Glitter, she crafted her own songs that sit proudly alongside those of her heroes. We salute Miss Jett with nods to the RUNAWAYS, her solo material as well as many of the cover songs that she claimed for her own. Get down ladies (and gents) you got nothin’ to lose with out Top 10 JOAN JETT songs.
10 'Do You Wanna Touch Me?'
From: 'Bad Reputation' (1981)
The ugly (and self-created) problems over the last several years have cast an irremovable shadow over the fact that in his prime, Gary Glitter made some great rock and roll singles. Jett was a big fan, and took this classic Glitter hit, gave it a bit of 80s gloss and took it into the U.S. Top 20. The Glitter original flopped in the U.S., but had been a massive hit in the U.K. in early 1973, coming just shy of the No. 1 slot.
9 'Activity Grrrl'
From: 'Pure and Simple' (1994) JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS issued an album in 1994 called 'Pure And Simple,' which should have brought the band back to the top of the charts. Yes, it was that good! But sadly, the album kind of sunk without a trace. Maybe Jett's style of rock and roll was out of sync with the angst ridden 90s rock scene, or maybe someone dropped the ball in promoting it, but regardless, it is an album full of great songs like 'Activity Grrrl.' The song is a nod to the 'Riot Grrrl' movement that included such bands as Bikini Kill. In fact, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill co-wrote this one with Miss Jett. It's a fired up rocker and one of the standout tracks on the LP.
8 'Fake Friends'
From: 'Album' (1983)
'Fake Friends' kicks off Jett's third album, the profoundly titled, 'Album,' and does so in fine style. Another in a long line of stomping rockers, 'Fake Friends' has all the usual bubblegum pop meets glam rock slash-and-burn that makes Jett's sound so irresistible. Though the single barely dented the Top 40, the album proved another hit for Joan and band, sliding into the Top 20 and selling millions. [more] Miley Cyrus to Present JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS With Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction from: billboard.com By Colin Stutz
It was announced Wednesday that JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS' induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will come at the hand of an unlikely presenter: Miley Cyrus.
The choice to have the pop star deliver such high honors to the "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" singer and her band at the April 18 event has resulted in some head-scratching and outcry from rock purists. But Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Greg Harris pointed out at a press conference that the two have history together, having performed some of Jett's songs on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011.
[more] JOAN JETT, LI native, rolls into Rock Hall of Fame from: newsday.com By GLENN GAMBOA
JOAN JETT has always cultivated a tough-looking exterior -- the leather-jacketed cool, the way she wields her guitar as a weapon.
She has always looked ready for battle, and throughout her legendary career as one of rock's most powerful women, she has had some doozies.
You want to rattle Ms. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"? Ms. "Bad Reputation"? Give her an award.
On Saturday, Jett and her band the BLACKHEARTS will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with a star-studded ceremony in Cleveland, alongside Ringo Starr, Green Day, the late Lou Reed and others. It's the rock world's biggest award and Jett says she's excited about the event and grateful for the honor.
But the longtime Long Beach resident says she's still adjusting to the long windup to the event.
"I'm a very nervous type of person, so preparing for something like this isn't really fun, it's stressful," she says, calling from Manhattan, where her label BLACKHEART RECORDS is based. "You want to make sure everything is done properly and give respect to people you need to respect. On that level, it's stressful." [more] Rig Rundown: JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS from: premierguitar.com By Shawn Hammond
Jett's primary guitar for most of her shows for the last 20 years is a battered and sticker-bedecked Gibson Melody Maker with a single Red Rhodes Velvet Hammer humbucker. A black-finished 2011 signature Melody Maker with a Velvet Hammer that was a gift of the late Brian Farmer (guitar tech for Warren Haynes) serves as yet another backup. The volume knobs on all her guitars are wrapped with the hooked side of a piece of Velcro to increase their grip-ability, and each instrument features D'Addario .010â€".046 string sets. Nagy says that a big part of Jett's sound comes from using the broad, serrated edge of her D'Andrea Delrex Sharkfin 1.0 mm picks.
For her spring 2015 tour opening for Heart, she's also been playing a brand-new signature Melody Maker prototype with a Burstbucker 3 pickup, a metallic redburst finish, and red dot inlays.
Since her breakout years in the early '80s, Jett has relied on a Music Man HD-130 2x12 combo with JJ EL34 power tubes and Electro-Voice speakers. She plugs into input 1 of the rhythm channel and cranks the volume all the way up. An HD-130 head comes along as backup. [more] JOAN JETT on the Rock Hall: 'There Should Be More Women' from: ultimateclassicrock.com By Jeff Giles | Photo by Mike Coppola, Getty Images
Rock 'n' roll has always been kind of a sausage fest, but even if men have tended to hog the spotlight, plenty of brilliant female artists have made their own crucial contributions along the way -- and JOAN JETT would like to see more of them numbered among the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jett states her case plainly in an excerpt from a recent conversation with Billboard, saying, "There should be more women in the Hall of Fame, and more women in rock. They're out there, they just don't get the notice the pop girls do. Go to any city and there's an all-girl rock band -- it's just a matter of society wanting to hear that kind of music. But people's tastes change, so you have to just do what you love and hope other people love it too."
Jett, who will be honored with her own Rock Hall induction on April 18, understands firsthand the prevalence of sexism in the music business. As she went on to point out in her Billboard piece, she ran up against nothing but rejection while seeking her first solo deal following the breakup of the RUNAWAYS.
"We couldn't forget that we were girls -- we had to defend it all the time. I could not get a record deal after the RUNAWAYS broke up," said Jett. "I gave all the labels four songs: 'I Love Rock 'N Roll,' 'Crimson and Clover,' 'Do You Wanna Touch Me' and 'Bad Reputation.' All four of those songs became hits, and all of those labels sent us rejection letters."
Seemingly in a reflective mood on the eve of her enshrinement, Jett closed out by musing about how far she's come since those early days, and what -- if anything -- she'd change if given the chance. "If I could go back and give my 15-year-old self some advice, I'd say to document what you go through," she concluded. "The RUNAWAYS have few photos or video. I don't think teenagers think that far ahead. I didn't think about the future or 'When will I retire?' I still haven't thought about that. Other people keep going, so obviously I can." JOAN JETT Advises Cool Teens to Photograph Their Cool Faces More from: nymag.com By Maggie Lange
MILEY CYRUS will pay her own form of tribute to female rockers JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS by inducting the group into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME APRIL 18th at CLEVELAND's PUBLIC HALL (NET NEWS, 3/18). The show will be televised by HBO on MAY 30th.
Others to be inducted and their presenters include RINGO STARR (PAUL McCARTNEY), BILL WITHERS (STEVIE WONDER), LOU REED (PATTI SMITH), THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (PETER WOLF), GREEN DAY (FALL OUT BOY), STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE (JOHN MAYER) and THE 5 ROYALES (STEVE CROPPER)
THE HALL OF FAME also announced that DAVE GROHL, JOE WALSH, TOM MORELLO, JOHN LEGEND and JIMMY VAUGHAN will perform, as will GREEN DAY, who have already indicated they will break a year-long sabbatical to take the stage. Miley Cyrus To Induct JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame from: allaccess.com By All Access Music Group
MILEY CYRUS will pay her own form of tribute to female rockers JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS by inducting the group into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME APRIL 18th at CLEVELAND's PUBLIC HALL (NET NEWS, 3/18). The show will be televised by HBO on MAY 30th.
Others to be inducted and their presenters include RINGO STARR (PAUL McCARTNEY), BILL WITHERS (STEVIE WONDER), LOU REED (PATTI SMITH), THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (PETER WOLF), GREEN DAY (FALL OUT BOY), STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE (JOHN MAYER) and THE 5 ROYALES (STEVE CROPPER)
THE HALL OF FAME also announced that DAVE GROHL, JOE WALSH, TOM MORELLO, JOHN LEGEND and JIMMY VAUGHAN will perform, as will GREEN DAY, who have already indicated they will break a year-long sabbatical to take the stage. Photo Essay: JOAN JETT and Pamela Anderson Headline NYClass Charity Event from: stereoembersmagazine.com By Geoff Tischman
JOAN JETT and Pamela Anderson headlined a charity event at the Edison Ballroom the other night and it was awesome.
The event was for NYClass (www.nyclass.org) a group that lobbies to ban horse carriages in NYC.
It was a great event and all the food was vegan!
And JOAN JETT shredded.
JOAN JETT calls on Rock And Roll Hall of Fame to induct more women from: nme.com
JOAN JETT has called for more women to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
Jett, who will be inducted herself this year, made her claim in a new interview with Billboard. The former RUNAWAYS member, turned solo singer, said she wants to see more female rock stars as well as those who are in the Hall of Fame.
"There should be more women in the Hall of Fame, and more women in rock," Jett said. "They're out there, they just don't get the notice the pop girls do. Go to any city and there's an all-girl rock band -- it's just a matter of society wanting to hear that kind of music. But people's tastes change, so you have to just do what you love and hope other people love it too."
Jett is the only woman who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year (2015). Paul McCartney will usher former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr in while Patti Smith will induct the late Lou Reed. Green Day, Bill Withers and late guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan will also join the esteemed group of musicians on the list of inductees.
It has also been confirmed that Beck, Dave Grohl, Fall Out Boy, Tom Morello and John Legend will perform at this year's ceremony, which takes place on April 18 at Cleveland, Ohio’s Public Hall.
In 2014 Jett performed with the remaining members of Nirvana as the band reunited with an all-female frontperson line-up at that year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction. As well as Jett, Lorde, St. Vincent and Kim Gordon, formerly of Sonic Youth, joined the remaining Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl and guitarist Pat Smear for a special performance to mark the band's induction. JOAN JETT: 'There Should Be More Women' in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from: billboard.com By Chuck Arnold | Photo by Stephen Flood
Trying to make it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Follow this advice from the glass-ceiling-shattering pioneer, who will be inducted April 18.
Don't Chase Trends
"There should be more women in the Hall of Fame, and more women in rock. They're out there, they just don't get the notice the pop girls do. Go to any city and there's an all-girl rock band -- it's just a matter of society wanting to hear that kind of music. But people's tastes change, so you have to just do what you love and hope other people love it too."
Have Thick Skin
"We couldn't forget that we were girls -- we had to defend it all the time. I could not get a record deal after The RUNAWAYS broke up. I gave all the labels four songs: 'I Love Rock 'N Roll,' 'Crimson and Clover,' 'Do You Wanna Touch Me' and 'Bad Reputation.' All four of those songs became hits, and all of those labels sent us rejection letters."
Take Pictures -- They Last Longer
"If I could go back and give my 15-year-old self some advice, I'd say to document what you go through. The RUNAWAYS have few photos or video. I don't think teenagers think that far ahead. I didn't think about the future or 'When will I retire?' I still haven't thought about that. Other people keep going, so obviously I can."
This story originally appeared in the April 11 issue of Billboard. JOAN JETT's I Love Rock 'N Roll Remastered And Reissued As 33 1/3 Anniversary Edition In April from: musictap.net By MARowe
On April 21, BLACKHEART RECORDS will release a "33 1/3 Anniversary" Deluxe Edition of I Love Rock 'N' Roll, the 1981 classic by JOAN JETT, in celebration of over thirty years of existence. The Deluxe set will be available in both CD Deluxe, and a vinyl LP Deluxe Edition.
This is the album that delivered the anthemic title track, "I Love Rock 'N' Roll", and "Crimson And Clover", as well as other cover tracks, and originals.
I Love Rock 'N' Roll â€" 33 1/3 Anniversary Edition is expected to contain additional tracks as a bonus to the original release. The reissue will feature newly remastered audio. Heart /JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS Review at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids from: axs.com By Cheryl Frishman
Heart played at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 28, 2015. JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS were the opening act for Heart that evening.
JOAN JETT was born in Pennsylvania. She started her career in the RUNAWAYS, an all female rock band, before moving onto a solo career. She eventually formed JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS in California. Joan has also taken on acting and many fans remember her performance in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. She has also made many other appearances on television and movies.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS took the audience by storm. She played many old favorites such as "I Hate Myself for Loving You", "Crimson and Clover", "I Love Rock and Roll". They were supporting their most current album "Unvarnished" and sang new songs mixed in with the older songs.
Joan chatted with the audience between songs. She told the audience this was their last performance on Heart's tour. They will be headlining their own tour starting April 15 and it will run through November. She also spoke about the Light of Day movie and played "Light of Day" from the movie soundtrack.
Ann and Nancy Wilson are part of an American rock band that has been playing music since the 1970's. Ann is the lead singer and Nancy plays guitar and sings. They have been recognized the last few years for their amazing work by getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2012. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. [more] JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS to headline FRY fest concert from: press-citizen.com By Laura Hordesky | Photo by Getty Images
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will be rockin' the Iowa River Landing on the FRY fest concert stage Sept. 4.
Tickets for FRY fest's concert are $15 each until the week of the event and available online now.
As the leader of the hard-rocking BLACKHEARTS, Jett has 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."
She sits at the head of her own independent label, BLACKHEART RECORDS. Jett has acted in movies and television, including 1987's "Light Of Day," and in a Tony-nominated Broadway musical, "The Rocky Horror Show." She has appeared on such acclaimed television shows as "Oprah" and "Law and Order."
Her music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. A version of "I Hate Myself for Loving You" has been a part of NBC's "Sunday Night Football," performed this past season by Carrie Underwood, and her music is heard in countless films and TV shows including "Easy A," "Kick Ass," "The RUNAWAYS," "Shrek," "Baby Mama" and many more.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2015 nominee, who co-founded the seminal group the RUNAWAYS at age 16, spent decades fending off music industry males who snubbed and humiliated female rockers. While the glass ceiling is still not entirely shattered, "there are girls playing rock 'n' roll in every city I go to," Jett said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Jett and the BLACKHEARTS released their latest record, "Unvarnished," last year and continue touring the globe to throngs of adoring fans. [more] Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Bracket Challenge Final Four: Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, The Smiths and JOAN JETT Battle for Championship from: musictimes.com By Ryan Book | Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Heavy hitters such as Nine Inch Nails, Green Day have both moved on to the Final Four of Music Times' annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tournament, while some upsets have gotten through to the Final Four as well. By combining the obsessive bracketology of March Madness with the annual naming of nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we allow you, the fans, to vote for nominees competitively, and therefore choose just one winner. Last year's champ was Peter Gabriel, who overtook KISS in the championship. Vote below and check back next Monday for the Championship match. Let's see who's left after the first round this year:
No. 2 Nine Inch Nails versus No. 4 JOAN JETT JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS may have been assigned a no. 4 seed but Music Times readers are helping them play dark horse card during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tournament. Lou Reed was the no. 1 seed in the ROCK Region but didn't manage any wins, thanks in part to his first-round bye and because of a major upset in the second round. Jett and her band had dominated Bill Withers during the first round and she came back just as strong against Reed, taking 68 percent of the vote and leaving the Velvet Underground member in the dust. She'll face what's been an even tougher competitor during the Final Four, facing up against no. 2 seed Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor's crew wrecked The Spinners during the first round and managed to get past a tougher competitor in Sting. NIN "only" took 66 percent of the vote in its last battle, compared to 95 percent during Round One. The band seemed like a juggernaut at the beginning of the tournament, but if Jett can outlast Reed, there's a decent possibility that the voters can push her past NIN and into the championship. Nine Inch Nails "Only" wants to get to the championship and Jett wants to "Run Away" with the match.
JOAN JETT Music Film Series to Begin this September at LBIFF 2015
TEXAS TOWNSHIP â€" The walls of this upstairs hall inside Gary Moss' home near Honesdale are covered with a slice of rock and roll history.
The Long Beach International Film Festival will celebrate its 4th anniversary this year with an action-packed line up of independent and studio films from around the globe.
Rocker JOAN JETT co-hosted a VIP screening of "Love & Mercy," starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as young and old Beach Boy Brian Wilson, this week.
Rocker JOAN JETT co-hosted a VIP screening of "Love & Mercy," starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as young and old Beach Boy Brian Wilson, this week.
With the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony just days away (Saturday, April 18), Pandora is sharing some data about what their listeners think about the 2015 Rock Hall class.
Ahead of JOAN JETT's induction in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, Premier Guitar has profiled the rock legend's guitar gear including her iconic Gibson Melody Maker.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS top the 80s on 8 Big 40 Countdown this week with I Love Rock N' Roll. Journey, Go-Go's, and Stevie Wonder aren't far behind with their respective 82 hits. Be sure to check out who else made the cut below!
JOAN JETT will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Miley Cyrus, the HOF prexy Greg Harris announced during a presser. The 30th annual ceremony, set for April 18, goes down in Cleveland.
Today's Plug and Play Revolution might be marching to the sound of Epiphone and Rocksmith 2014, but that revolution started long ago with JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS. When Ms. Jett plays rock and roll, she's all heart and nothing gets in the way of her tone.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Now we know why it took a little longer to find out who would be inducting JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18 in Cleveland.
JOAN JETT is a rock and roll pioneer and icon. From her teenage years with the legendary RUNAWAYS and right up to her brand new album, ‘Unvarnished,’ Jett has been rocking full throttle for the better part of 40 years now, and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Rock 'n' roll has always been kind of a sausage fest, but even if men have tended to hog the spotlight, plenty of brilliant female artists have made their own crucial contributions along the way -- and JOAN JETT would like to see more of them numbered among the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
MILEY CYRUS will pay her own form of tribute to female rockers JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS by inducting the group into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME APRIL 18th at CLEVELAND's PUBLIC HALL (NET NEWS, 3/18). The show will be televised by HBO on MAY 30th.
MILEY CYRUS will pay her own form of tribute to female rockers JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS by inducting the group into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME APRIL 18th at CLEVELAND's PUBLIC HALL (NET NEWS, 3/18). The show will be televised by HBO on MAY 30th.
JOAN JETT and Pamela Anderson headlined a charity event at the Edison Ballroom the other night and it was awesome.
JOAN JETT has called for more women to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
Trying to make it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Follow this advice from the glass-ceiling-shattering pioneer, who will be inducted April 18.
On April 21, BLACKHEART RECORDS will release a "33 1/3 Anniversary" Deluxe Edition of I Love Rock 'N' Roll, the 1981 classic by JOAN JETT, in celebration of over thirty years of existence. The Deluxe set will be available in both CD Deluxe, and a vinyl LP Deluxe Edition.
Heart played at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 28, 2015. JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS were the opening act for Heart that evening.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will be rockin' the Iowa River Landing on the FRY fest concert stage Sept. 4.
Heavy hitters such as Nine Inch Nails, Green Day have both moved on to the Final Four of Music Times' annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tournament, while some upsets have gotten through to the Final Four as well. By combining the obsessive bracketology of March Madness with the annual naming of nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we allow you, the fans, to vote for nominees competitively, and therefore choose just one winner. Last year's champ was Peter Gabriel, who overtook KISS in the championship. Vote below and check back next Monday for the Championship match. Let's see who's left after the first round this year: