January 2022 News

By Gail Mitchell | Photo Courtesy of the J.M. Smucker Company




The NOLA native on his "gumbo" approach to reworking "Bad Reputation" and why he'll always rep for his hometown.

Best known for its popular early '80s tagline "The Best Part of Wakin' Up", Folgers coffee is unveiling a new campaign today (Jan. 31) with a lot of fanfare - literally.

To reinforce its reputation as a brand leader and simultaneously bolster its connection with next-generation coffee drinkers, Folgers commissioned the JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS classic "Bad Reputation" as the theme song for its perception-shattering campaign. Headquartered in New Orleans, the 170-year-old firm - part of The J.M. Smucker Co. - also reached out to local favorite and Blue Note Records artist Trombone Shorty. In addition to imbuing the track with some energetic NOLA flavor, the Grammy-nominated musician, his brass bandmates and local Folgers employees also appear in the commercial. Being deployed across TV, online video, digital display and streaming audio, the Folgers campaign follows last year's pairing between fellow Smucker brand Jif with rap icon/spokesperson Ludacris.

"This is a highly competitive market when it comes to Gen Z and millennials," says Geoff Tanner, chief commercial & marketing officer at The J.M. Smucker Company, of the Folgers campaign. ":We have found through consumer insights that they often dismiss the brand without trying it because they think it's their grandma's coffee. That's why we didn't shy away from the misperceptions; instead we overtly addressed them head-on with this new campaign."

BCL Entertainment helped foster the organic pairing of Folgers with spokesperson Trombone Shorty. "It was a no-brainer to address the misconception head-on, in a bold and unapologetic fashion, while remaining authentic to the brand and its roots," says BCL Entertainment founder/CEO Bettie Levy. "Using JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS' 'Bad Reputation' shows consumers and non-consumers alike that the brand is ready to change the mindset. Through this campaign, we hope to show viewers Folgers' pride in the heart of their coffee, as well as the community behind it."



Recently announced as part of the lineup for the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Trombone Shorty also spoke with Billboard about his "gumbo" approach to reworking "Bad Reputation," why he will always rep for his hometown and what's next for him musically.

How did you give a New Orleans feel to Jett's "Bad Reputation"?
I've heard the song on the radio and in movies, of course. And my little sister and I watch wrestling and "Bad Reputation" was Ronda Rousey's theme song. But she [Joan] actually sent me the original stems from the original recording. So my band and I played underneath the original vocals. We tried to get it as close to the original as possible, but of course there's some rhythm that we use in New Orleans. Then I listened to see how we could add the brass elements. After we put down the rhythm section, which was the most important thing, we added the brass - kind of tailgating or tap dancing around the main vocal. I just wanted to make [the song] a big thing like you're on the streets of New Orleans but on top of this punk rock thing; to just mix it up like a gumbo.

Why is it important for you to rep for your hometown and Folgers, which has deep roots in the community?
Without New Orleans there's no me. I was born into the music here. [Because] of all the people who have taught and helped me, it's just a job of mine to keep that going and show others around the world. This is a different type of city and not like anywhere else. So we have an obligation to represent the city and the magic that it creates. A lot of people that live here probably didn't know that Folgers is here. To be able to represent in an ad as big as this, and with both of us being from New Orleans, it's just a wonderful collaboration with a lot of energy. I hadn't seen some of my friends that are playing in the commercial's brass band during the pandemic. So when you see us approaching each other and smiling, there's no acting there. It was a very spiritual thing and the cameras just happened to be there to capture that moment. I actually taught them the song on the spot so we could party on the street the way we normally would in a second-line parade.

Now that the campaign has launched, is there a new album or tour in the works?
I have an album that's already done, which will be announced soon. I've been in the studio every day making new music. It was tough during the pandemic since we couldn't see and play with each other. Now that things are a little easier, we've been getting in there to create some things. We also have a tour planned, the Voodoo Threauxdown. This will be our second such tour; the last one was in 2018. This time it will include Big Freedia, Tank & the Bangas, The Soul Rebels and Cyril Neville, among others. Once again, it's me and some of my friends coming together to represent New Orleans.

By JOSHUA KANTER | Photos by Epiphone




Inspired by her loyal Gibson Melody Maker, this Epiphone honors the lightweight guitar Jett has used for nearly half a century

Epiphone has teamed up with rock legend JOAN JETT on the JOAN JETT Olympic Special, a new guitar designed for both beginners and pros alike.

Available at Sam Ash Music, this lightweight model is inspired by Joan's go-to Gibson Melody Maker, the same guitar she's used since 1977 and on all her hits, including "I Love Rock n' Roll," "Bad Reputation" and "Do You Want to Touch Me?"




The special-edition guitar features a pure aged classic white finish with contrasting black highlights and accents, like a sleek pick guard, and volume speed knob with rubber grip, for extra precision while playing. The single PowerHammer PRO humbucker bridge pickup is wired to the CTS volume potentiometer for even greater control when you want to crank it up loud on the chorus or bring it down for the next verse.

The covered die-cast tuners and an adjustable wraparound bridge come with nickel plating, anchored to the mahogany body for a boost of sustain, letting your last chord ring out. And a smooth Indian Laurel fingerboard with dotted inlays is ready for any skill level, especially newbies just learning chord formations or adapting to a 22-fret mahogany neck.

"What attracted me to guitar was just being able to make that kind of noise and have control over it," Jett says, in an accompanying promotion video for the collaboration. "So when we were talking about releasing my new Epiphone Signature guitar, it had to have my sound."

Along with her recognizable tone, Joan's branding is all over this bundle, with room to customize it as your own: the famous frontwoman's signature is featured prominently on the included gig bag, while her autograph adorns the back of the headstock. You'll also get stickers to slap onto your guitar, amp, case, or anywhere in your setup. "Paint on it, write on it, beat it up or polish it daily," says Jett. "The point is to make it your vision and voice."

Jett's incredible career has taken her from the small punk clubs of LA, to leading the RUNAWAYS (one of the first all-female rock bands of the era) and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, all the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also made Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists in music.

The new JOAN JETT Olympic Special Electric Guitar is being released in limited edition so fans and collectors will want to snag this before it's sold out. The special set retails for $549 and includes the guitar and gig bag. See more at SamAsh.com.

By Jonathan Horsley | Photos by Epiphone




Released to celebrate 40 years of Bad Reputation and I Love Rock 'N' Roll, the lightweight electric is finished in Aged Classic White and has a single PowerHammer PRO humbucker.

Epiphone and rock legend JOAN JETT have teamed up for a signature guitar inspired by her favourite stage six-string. The Epiphone JOAN JETT Olympic Special arrives in Aged Classic White with a black pickguard, and is a minimalist electric guitar with no shortage of character - not to mention a couple of tricks up its sleeve.

Comprising a lightweight mahogany body with a wide and shallow double-cutaway design, and a set mahogany neck, Jett's Olympic Special is a kissing cousin of the Gibson Melody Maker that Jett become forever associated with since the late '70s. It, too, is built to play hard, and has a single pickup format, with a PowerHammer Pro located in the bridge position.

The fuss-free control setup features just a single CTS volume pot to control the pickup and - like her signature Gibson - a kill-switch toggle which can be very useful for muting the guitar while delivering a vocal, or for adding some staccato slicer-style effects that always sound cool through an overdriven guitar amp.




The Gibson DNA is carried over into the 24.75” scale length and the 12” fingerboard radius, but as with the others in Epiphone's contemporary lineup, we have an Indian laurel 'board. Dot inlays further add to the throw-and-go vibe.




The narrow-style Olympic Special headstock bears Jett's signature on the back and is fitted with a set of sealed die-cast tuners. Eschewing a tune-o-matic bridge, Jett instead plumps for a wraparound bridge and tailpiece that is easily adjustable.

This being a celebratory collaboration to mark JOAN JETT and the Blackheart's landmark 2021 releases, I Love Rock 'N' Roll and Bad Reputation, the Olympic Special is a limited edition and comes in a custom premium gig-bag.

Which, when you factor in the quality components - CTS pot, the Switchcraft 1/4” output jack - makes it quite a special release for Epiphone, and any player who has lost a few bucks to any jukebox bearing Jett's back catalogue.

The JOAN JETT Olympic Special is available now, priced $549. See Epiphone for more details.

By Cayla White




LA's Pizzanista has collaborated with Miyoko's Creamery and PETA to honor rock legend and animal rights activist JOAN JETT with a limited-edition heart-shaped pizza in a JOAN JETT-decorated box.

What better way to celebrate Veganuary than honoring one of the most epic singers and animal activists in the world? Visit Los Angeles' Pizzanista this month to take part in their January collaboration with Miyoko's Creamery and PETA to honor JOAN JETT.

JOAN JETT and the Vegan Pizza

The collaboration was announced on January 22 and will be available for a limited time. The vegan pizza will come on a hand-stretched crust made with activated black charcoal in the shape of a heart-a nod to the singer's successful band JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS. The special will come with house-made tomato sauce and Miyoko's vegan cheese and is served in a limited-edition heart-shaped pizza box decorated with JOAN JETT artwork.

Customers will have the option to add a variety of toppings to the pizza, including Be-Hive Bacon or Pepperoni, tons of veggies, double Miyoko's mozzarella cheese, and even Pizzanista's iconic vegan mac 'n' cheese (only available on Sundays). The 18" pie serves 4-5 people, and a portion of the proceeds from each pizza will be donated to PETA. This special is available at the Los Angeles Pizzanista location only.

By Zachary Hansen, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution




A Brookhaven music festival landed a 1980s rock 'n' roll icon as its headliner.

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, known for "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "Bad Reputation" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You," will headline the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival in March. The free festival will take place March 26 and 27 at Blackburn Park.

Brookhaven canceled the annual event for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the city held a block party named after the festival last summer, making it the first major music festival in metro Atlanta since the onset of the pandemic. The block party included performances from Collective Soul, Rick Springfield, The Revivalists and several other bands.

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will cap off the first night of the festival, which will be located at 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road. The other acts will be announced at a later date.

"I'm so excited that Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival is returning to Blackburn Park this year," District 1 Councilmember Linley Jones said in a news release. "This event has become a cherished venue for the community to come together, celebrate spring, enjoy the cherry blossoms and listen to great music!"

The festival will also include an artists' market, kids zone, pet area, classic car show and food trucks. For more information on the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, visit BrookCherryFest.org.

By Rebecca Maness




Get ready, Los Angeles! Starting on January 22, you'll be able to eat like a rock star-with animals in mind. PETA is teaming up with PIZZANISTA!, legendary musician JOAN JETT, and Miyoko's Kitchen to bring you a stellar heart-shaped pizza-in honor of JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS-just in time for Valentine's Day.

This exclusive pizza features a heart-shaped crust colored black with activated charcoal and comes in a matching heart-shaped pizza box. It's topped with Miyoko's Kitchen vegan mozzarella and whatever vegan toppings you love the most. PIZZANISTA! offers BE-Hive vegan pepperoni, Abbot's Butcher vegan sausage, vegan bacon, and all the classic veggies. All these delicious, animal-friendly ingredients help save cows, pigs, and other smart, sensitive animals who are used for food.

In honor of the collaboration, local artists Alex Aranovich, Tait Roelofs, and Elizabeth Ward painted PIZZANISTA!'s downtown Los Angeles location in PETA blue, with a portrait of JOAN JETT and the message "I LOVE ROCK & ROLL & VEGAN PIZZA!" Exclusive merchandise is also available with the artwork so that you can rock the look year-round.

For every black heart pizza sold, $2 will be donated to PETA to help support our vital work for animals. PETA members can also get a 20% discount by showing their membership card at checkout.



PIZZANISTA! is just one of the many businesses across the country serving delicious vegan options. Find vegan pizza near you, or try out other vegan menu items at your favorite chain restaurants. Going vegan is the best thing that you can do for animals, the planet, and your personal health.

By Brianne Tracy | CREDIT: JORDI VIDAL/REDFERNS



Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of the legendary girl group the Ronettes, died at age 78 on Wednesday after "a brief battle with cancer," her family told PEOPLE in a statement.

Ronnie Spector famously did a cover of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," but Hollywood isn't ready to say goodbye to the star after her death.

Spector, the lead singer of the legendary girl group the Ronettes, died "in the arms of her husband" Jonathan Greenfield on Wednesday following "a brief battle with cancer," her family told PEOPLE in a statement. She was 78.

"Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face," her family said. "She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her."

Spector indeed left a huge mark on those who knew and worked with her, and many of her fellow musicians spoke out about her legacy following the news of her death.

"Our dear friend Ronnie Spector has passed," JOAN JETT wrote on Twitter. "She was the sweetest person you could ever know. And her mark on rock and roll is indelible."

The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who developed a close friendship with Spector after going on tour with the Ronnettes in 1964, called her death "so sad."

"Ronnie was a very dear friend and she leaves a huge gap," he wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of them together in 2000. "How I'm going to miss that infectious laugh and that great voice! My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones."

By Blabbermouth | Photo: YouTube



Ted Nugent has defended his recent comments about JOAN JETT, saying that he was only being "honest" when he questioned her inclusion on a list of the world's top guitar players. Late last month, Ted blasted Rolling Stone magazine for including Jett on its list of "100 Greatest Guitarists". The 73-year-old rocker, whose recent time in the spotlight has been more for his political views than his music, railed against Jett's appearance on the list during his December 30 YouTube livestream. He said: "How do you list the top 100 guitar players and not list Derek St. Holmes? How do you do that? You do that by lying. The same way you get Grandmaster Flash in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. You do that by lying. You have to be a liar. You have to have shit for brains and you have to be a soulless, soulless prick to put JOAN JETT... [I] love Joan. Some of my greatest memories include lesbians. I love the lesbians; it's a cocktail of wonderment. [I] love JOAN JETT - 'put another diamond in the jukebox, baby'; great rock and roller - but as a top 100 guitar player, but you don't list Rickey Medlocke [LYNYRD SKYNYRD] or Dave Amato [REO SPEEDWAGON]. Really? Or Dick Wagner? Dick Wagner and THE FROST from Detroit. Or Mark Farner? Mark Farner from GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. JOAN JETT is on the list but not Mark Farner? Grandmaster Flash is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame but not GRAND FUNK RAILROAD? [Laughs]

"By the way, if Grandmaster Flash is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and JOAN JETT is on the list of top 100 guitar players, then I'm Caitlyn Jenner's boy toy," he concluded.

After Nugent was widely criticized for singling out Jett as someone who didn't deserve to be on the Rolling Stone list, he doubled down on his comments during an interview with Dave Spuria of The Real Music Observer. Addressing the negative feedback he received for his remarks, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I started off by praising JOAN JETT's genuine shitkicker, down-to-earth, all-American rock and roll credentials. I started off by praising her. I even saluted the lesbian thing.

"Here's the question: how on God's good green earth could someone listen to what I say and then claim it's about hate and about knocking and belittling? Joan's awesome. I mean, THE RUNAWAYS. Her whole, 'Put another diamond in the jukebox, baby.' I mean, she's the real rock and roll McCoy. But belonging on the 'top 100 guitar player' list anywhere on planet earth, even 'Boring' Stone before genuine virtuosos of the six-string? That was my statement. I was only using Joan as an example because she happens to be a perfect one."

Addressing Spuria directly, Nugent continued: "I think I can tell that you are a real music lover - you love spirit and soul, defiance, middle fingers on fire, genuine musical authority, all that combination that represents that dynamic and majestic soundtrack to our lives, our American Dream, and if there is a German or a Spanish Dream, I hope they get a soundtrack as well. But JOAN JETT represents that. But on the top 100 guitar players list, before Tommy Shaw [STYX], before Rickey Medlocke and before Derek St. Holmes - I can go on with a hundred examples... I was only using that beautiful young lady as an example, and people literally went berserk trying to twist it into hate.

By Dan Tracer | Photo: YouTube



Musician Ted Nugent is a man with opinions, and there aren't enough grains of salt on Earth to take them all with. His latest nugget of "wisdom" involves rock icon JOAN JETT and a twelve-year-old Rolling Stone article.

But first, here is just a tiny sampling of Nugent's other insights:
Donald Trump was "sent here by God. Just like our founding fathers were touched by divine intervention."
Vegans are "responsible for the most death possible."
He once called Barak Obama a "communist-raised, communist-educated, communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel."

Nugent chose an odd target for his latest bit of ire: This list of music critic David Fricke's picks of the 100 greatest guitar players, published by Rolling Stone in 2010.

Coming in at number 87 on Fricke's countdown is JOAN JETT, of whom he wrote: "Lead guitarists gave rock its icons; rhythm players gave it soul. The line runs from Eddie Cochran to Pete Townshend to Johnny Ramone, a lineage in which JOAN JETT should not be taken lightly. In the early RUNAWAYS and the later BLACKHEARTS, she played it straight ahead: No frills, all heart, no f**king around."

Here's Nugent's hot take via YouTube, twelve years after the fact: "When you see the Rolling Stone magazine list of greatest guitar players, they list JOAN JETT but not Tommy Shaw.

"How do you list the top 100 guitar players and not list Derek St. Holmes? How do you do that? You do that by lying. The same way you get Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You do that by lying. You have to be a liar. You have to have sh*t for brains and you have to be a soulless, soulless prick to put JOAN JETT... [I] love Joan. Some of my greatest memories include lesbians. I love the lesbians; it's a cocktail of wonderment.

By 13WMAZ Staff/



The rock legend will be at the Macon City Auditorium in May

MACON, GA. - If you love rock 'n roll then do we have some news for you -- JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will be in Macon in May!

According to a news release, the show will be at the Macon City Auditorium on Saturday, May 14 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

ARTIST BIO

JOAN JETT is an originator, an innovator, and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking BLACKHEARTS, with whom she has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 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 independent record label, Blackheart, was founded in 1980 after she was rejected by no less than 23 labels. Blackheart is one of the longest running indie labels and continues to give voice to new bands. As a producer, she has overseen albums by Bikini Kill, Circus Lupus, as well as the Germs' LA punk masterpiece, 'GI.' Jett ' s music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. Jett and the BLACKHEARTS continue touring the globe with headline shows alongside fellow rock icons like The Who, Green Day and the Foo Fighters.

Additionally, Jett has acted and appeared in movies, television, and theater. Jett was also able to see her story told in ' The RUNAWAYS', the feature film based on her first band, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. Jett was close to the project, serving as executive producer. ' Bad Reputation', a documentary about Jett's life, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The film continues to receive praise and accolades and is available on all streaming platforms.