March 2022 News

By Les Paul




Celebrating the Les Paul Advisory Council. This week we are highlighting JOAN JETT, who we are honored to have joined us in keeping Les' legacy alive. Les considered Joan his friend and one he truly admired. He often jammed with her at The Iridium in NYC whenever she stopped by on Monday nights. JOAN JETT has always been 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." Jett was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 CLIO Music Awards. She continues to be a figurehead for several generations of female rockers.

By Nick Levine




On her first non-compilation LP in nine years, Jett strips back the timeless likes of 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Bad Reputation', shedding new light on their lyrics

4 Stars
The last decade or so has done wonders for JOAN JETT's (not so) Bad Reputation. First Kristen Stewart played her in 2010's The RUNAWAYS, a rollicking biopic about the pioneering all-female band she co-founded as a teenager. Then in 2015, a year after she sang 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' with the surviving members of Nirvana at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame reunion, she too was inducted by Miley Cyrus, who hailed her as a “superwoman” who “made the world evolve”.

The 2018 documentary Bad Reputation didn't dig too deeply into Jett's private life, which is always the way this proudly old-school rocker has played it, but did highlight how she claimed space in an overwhelmingly male-dominated field. At this point, her legendary status must be guaranteed.

Though Jett remains a touring warhorse when there's no pandemic getting in her way, new music clearly isn't top of the agenda these days. 'Changeup' is her first non-compilation album in nine years, but it features no new songs. Instead, it offers new acoustic takes on 25 tracks from Jett's back catalogue including live staples such as 'Cherry Bomb', 'Light Of Day' and 'Bad Reputation'. However, her indelible signature hit is conspicuous by its absence; maybe recording an unplugged version of a song called 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll' felt like a troll move?

As befits a straight-up rock 'n' roller like Jett, 'Changeup' is a no-frills affair that doesn't overdo the studio polish. At times, her raw and raspy vocals are so unvarnished it's not unlike stumbling into a New York dive bar and finding JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS doing an impromptu acoustic set. And in the process, it provides a welcome reminder that Jett has some cracking tunes in her arsenal. 'I Love Playing With Fire', a song she originally recorded with The RUNAWAYS in 1977, remains as incendiary as its title suggests. A rockabilly-ish take on 'Crimson And Clover' is a wide-eyed delight.



In places, the stripped-back approach almost seems to shed new light on her lyrics. The usually spiky 'Victim Of Circumstance' becomes kind of touching, especially when Jett sighs: “They say that I'm demented and I never could sing.” And there's no missing the not-so-subtle allusions to S&M on this new, more subdued 'Love Is Pain'. “You are my pup, I'll beat you up in every way,” she sings on the first verse.

The result is a fun, nostalgic listen that will also make you want to play the hard-rocking originals. For this reason, it feels like a job well done.

By Emily Miller




The legendary queen of Rock'n'Roll, JOAN JETT has teamed up with her band The BLACKHEARTS to gift us an acoustic album of all of her most iconic hits. This is Joan's first-ever acoustic album and the format really brings the songs to life in a new way and lets you appreciate her lyrics even more. It's also being released on the label Blackheart, which Joan is a co-founder of. We see you, queen! There are so many amazing performances to dive into, but here are a few of our favorites to get you started!

'Bad Reputation - Acoustic'
We don't condone violence here at THP, but this song makes us want to chuck a bunch of stuff around and lose our cool. The song is iconic for so many reasons and many of us may remember it from that iconic scene in Shrek, but the song itself deserves so much credit. JOAN JETT was once the bad girl of Rock'n'Roll while it was still very much a male-dominated space. She may have had a 'Bad Reputation' but she was making a name for herself and trailblazing for all the incredible women in rock who came after her. For that, Joan, we say thank you.

'Cherry Bomb - Acoustic'
Another feminist bad girl anthem, 'Cherry Bomb' was originally written for Joan's all-female band, The RUNAWAYS, but JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS have made it their own since. The song has been used on the soundtracks of some iconic TV shows and films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Fear Street Part Two: 1978. The song is absolutely timeless. Turns out, it rocks just as hard acoustically.

'Crimson and Clover - Acoustic'
A cover of Tommy James and The Shondell's 'Crimson and Clover' is already one of the most popular tracks on the album. Joan's original version of this spiced up the song with her signature rock vibe and hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 after she released it on the I Love Rock and Roll album. It seems people love the acoustic version just as much! It's racked up over 10,000 streams over the weekend alone. Not bad!

"Now I don't hardly know her, But I think I could love her, Crimson and Clover...""

'Fake Friends - Acoustic'
The lead single from Joan's third album, appropriately named Album, 'Fake Friends' has also gotten the acoustic treatment and we love it! The song is about friendships that aren't serving you. People who are unsupportive or have ulterior motives for being kind to you? Yeah, not worth it. Joan is telling you that you're better off without those negative and draining friendships, and losing them isn't really losing a friend. It's a reminder we could all use from time to time. Thanks, queen!

You can catch JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS out on tour from next month. It will be a show you don't want to miss! Get your tickets here!

Are you loving the album as much as we are? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on Twitter: @TheHoneyPop! You can also reach us on Facebook or Instagram if that's more your vibe. Either way, we'll be rocking out acoustic style! Come rock with us!

By Blabbermouth.net




JOAN JETT paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins during her headlining concert on Saturday (March 26) at the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival in Brookhaven, Georgia. Prior to launching into the song "Fragile" from her band JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, she called Taylor "one of the greatest drummers of our time," adding that "the [FOO FIGHTERS] and Taylor are good friends of ours. And I can't even tell you what it means to all of us." Her voice cracking with emotion, Joan went on to say: "So this next song is for him. But really, all of you take it to heart - it's true for everybody: life is very fragile. One moment you're here and the next you're gone."

Jett served one of the guest vocalists when the surviving NIRVANA members - including FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl and guitarist Pat Smear - performed together to celebrate the band's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2014. Four years later, she performed with Grohl, Smear and former NIRVANA bassist Krist Novoselic at Cal Jam.

Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota, Colombia on Friday (March 25). Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. The 50-year-old musician did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

On Saturday, the Colombian attorney general's office announced that Hawkins had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died. A toxicology report showed traces of 10 substances in his body, including anti-depressants, the office said. The statement added that the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences "will conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death" and that it "will continue the investigation and will report the results obtained within the framework thereof in a timely manner."

FOO FIGHTERS announced Hawkins's death on their Instagram account. "The FOO FIGHTERS family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the announcement read. "His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time."

The FOO FIGHTERS were scheduled to perform Friday at the Picnic Stereo festival in Bogota but their performance was canceled.

The band played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18 and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20. They were scheduled to headline Lollapalooza Brasil on Sunday (March 27).

Hawkins has been open about his history of drug use. He overdosed on heroin in 2001 and spent a week in a coma, just four years after joining the FOO FIGHTERS.

By Blackheart




We are gutted to hear about the passing of our dear friend Taylor Hawkins. He was an incredible musician and the kindest, warmest person who always had the biggest smile in the room. We send our love to his wife, children, Dave, Pat, Chris, Rami, Nate and the entire Foos' Family. We love you guys and we will miss Taylor immensely.

By JOAN JETT Bad Reputation Nation

By Joseph S. Pete




Do you love rock 'n' roll?

Rock legend JOAN JETT will play Hammond's Horseshoe Casino this spring.

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will perform at The Venue in the casino at 777 Casino Center Drive in north Hammond near the Chicago border at 8 p.m. May 28. The band is stopping by as part of a national tour.

"After forming her band the BLACKHEARTS in 1979, with whom Jett has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she has had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics 'Bad Reputation,' 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll,' and 'I Hate Myself For Loving You,'" the Hammond Horseshoe Casino said in a press release. "After all these years, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS continue touring the globe with headlining shows alongside fellow rock legends, entertaining crowds with her unique brand of rock 'n roll."

Jett, who has been called "the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," "the godmother of punk," and "the original Riot Grrrl," previously founded the RUNAWAYS, known for the hit "Cherry Bomb." Academy Award nominee Kristen Stewart played Jett in the 2010 film biopic "The RUNAWAYS."

By Jackson Maxwell




Legendary Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, have released the new single, "(I'm Gonna) Run Away", off their first-ever acoustic album, Changeup, set for digital release on March 25 via Joan's longtime independent label, Blackheart. A lyric video for the song can be found below.

Featuring chart-toppers like "Bad Reputation" and "Crimson And Clover", it is at once intimate while capturing all the ferocity and menace for which JOAN JETT is known. These 25 new, stripped-down recordings match the current moment in both sound and sentiment.

Changeup showcases Joan's signature, blistering presence with an immediacy that allows listeners to delve into the lyrics with an entirely new slant. Changeup will be available on all digital streaming platforms, as well as in immersive audio including Sony 360 RA and Dolby Atmos. The vinyl release will follow later in 2022.

In 2021, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS released the single "Bad Reputation" (Acoustic), giving fans a preview of the sound that they can expect from Changeup. Listen below. Preceding the release of Changeup, March 20, 2022 marks the monumental 40th anniversary of "I Love Rock & Roll" soaring to #1 on the Billboard charts and remaining there for 7 weeks.

By Jackson Maxwell




Set for release later this month, the 25-track effort contains acoustic re-imaginings of some of Jett's biggest hits

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS have announced their first-ever acoustic album, Changeup.

Boasting 25 tracks, and set for a March 25 release via BLACKHEART RECORDS, Changeup contains acoustic re-imaginings of some of Jett's biggest hits, like Bad Reputation and Crimson and Clover.

The album's announcement has arrived in tandem with its second single - an unplugged take on Jett's 1981 tune, (I'm Gonna) Run Away. It was preceded by the acoustic version of Bad Reputation that Jett released last year.

Though quite faithful to, and lacking the brawny power of, the original, the acoustic (I'm Gonna) Run Away has an endearing, Stones-y, campfire-sing-along vibe. You can hear it below.

By Melisa Iscan




JOAN JETT expressed her thoughts and feelings about the upcoming tour with Motley Crue and Def Leppard, along with talking about the bands themselves in her latest appearance on Audacy Check-In.

Def Leppard and Motley Crue announced their co-headlining tour, The Stadium Tour featuring Poison and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, in 2019, and they should have started in the following year. However, the bands had to reschedule it to 2021 because of the COVID-19 restrictions and precautions.

The year 2021 became another disappointment for the bands after it was revealed that they postponed it to 2022 for the same reason. The tour will start on June 16 in Atlanta and end on September 9 in Las Vegas. After waiting for almost two years, their fans are looking forward to watching them together.

In addition, JOAN JETT talked about The Stadium Tour and said she's very excited to perform with Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Poison by adding that it'll be fun. She reminded that she had performed with Def Leppard and Poison before, but it will be her first time with Motley Crue.

Jett stated in her interview that:

By MICHAEL CHIN




JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will release an acoustic album, "Changeup", on March 25. The 25-track effort features unplugged versions of songs spanning Jett's entire career, including her work with the pioneering 1970s all-female band THE RUNAWAYS. Among the songs that are set to appear on the LP are "(I'm Gonna) Run Away", which can be streamed below, her cover of TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS' "Crimson And Clover", THE RUNAWAYS' "Cherry Bomb" and an acoustic rendition of "Bad Reputation", which was initially made available last year.

"Changeup" track listing:
01. (I'm Gonna) Run Away
02. You're Too Possessive
03. Long Time
04. Victim Of Circumstance
05. Coney Island Whitefish
06. Love Is Pain
07. Oh Woe Is Me
08. You Drive Me Wild
09. Frustrated
10. Bad Reputation
11. Fake Friends
12. Fresh Start
13. Soulmates To Strangers
14. Make It Back
15. Fragile
16. I Love Playin' With Fire
17. Cherry Bomb
18. I Want You
19. Crimson And Clover
20. A Hundred Feet Away
21. Androgynous
22. You Don't Know What You’ve Got
23. School Days
24. Good Music
25. Light Of Day

Jett grew up during a time when rock 'n' roll was off limits to girls and women, but as a teenager, she promptly blew the door to the boys' club right off its hinges. After forming her band THE BLACKHEARTS in 1979, with whom Jett has become a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, she 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". With a career that has spanned music, film, television, Broadway, and humanitarianism, Jett remains a potent force and inspiration to generations of fans worldwide.

As a producer, she has overseen seminal albums by BIKINI KILL, and the GERMS' L.A. punk masterpiece "GI". Jett and co-founder KENNY LAGUNA (her longtime producer and music partner) founded Blackheart from the trunk of Kenny's Cadillac after countless rejections from no less than 23 labels. 40 years later, Blackheart is a thriving entertainment company producing music, film, and television, and continues to champion emerging bands.

Jett and THE BLACKHEARTS continue touring the globe with headlining shows alongside fellow rock legends like THE WHO, GREEN DAY, HEART and FOO FIGHTERS.

After two COVID-19 postponements, the group will return to the road in summer 2022 for "The Stadium Tour" with DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE and POISON.

"Bad Reputation", a documentary about Jett's life, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is now available for streaming.

By MICHAEL CHIN




Is today's WWE theme music too generic to serve modern Superstars the way Jim Johnston's songs once did?

There is a long history of music being used in professional wrestling. Gorgeous George is generally credited as the first wrester to use entrance music as early as the 1950s. Sgt. Slaughter has, in different shoot interviews, taken credit for the concept in WWE for when he suggested to Vincent J. McMahon that they play "The Marines' Hymn" when he entered Madison Square Garden. Regardless, the 1980s saw a proliferation of ring music, with WWE in particular applying a song to almost every major act. Indeed, over time, entrances have become a huge part of the presentation of a wrestler, creating a spectacle that matches WWE's concept of "sports entertainment." However, there is an uncomfortable reality that present day WWE theme music simply isn't up to snuff.

It's Difficult To Distinguish Wrestlers' Theme Music
A part of what makes a WWE theme song great is that fans can immediately associate it with a particular act. The sound of glass shattering was synonymous with Stone Cold Steve Austin and hearing the guitar en route to a proclamation of "Oh you didn't know!" popped a crowd for the entrance of The Road Dogg or the New Age Outlaws. It's hard to reflect on Hulk Hogan in the 1980s without hearing "Real American," or to imagine Mr. McMahon's power walk without "No Chance In Hell Playing in the Background." Ask any PG Era fan to sing John Cena's theme music, and they can surely riff off the brassy instrumental that precedes the lyrics.

Nowadays, even the music of some of WWE's top stars like Roman Reigns can be difficult to immediately place, whereas quite a few newer stars seem to have wholly generic music defined by heavy rock guitar chords or the occasional hip-hop informed beat. While the music of the Attitude Era may not have represented a lot of melodic masterpieces, it's nonetheless telling that fans were all too eager to buy albums of those songs in a way that only the most hardcore fans or completists are interested nowadays.

The Most Identifiable WWE Theme Music Is From Outside Artists Or Veteran Stars
There are those current WWE theme songs that do stand out, but they tend to fall into one of a handful of buckets. There's Ronda Rousey, who uses an iconic JOAN JETT song she carried over from her MMA career-licensed, professional music from outside the WWE sphere. There are acts like The Miz and Dolph Ziggler who may not have great songs attached to them, but they are nonetheless distinctive tunes with lyrics to match the performer and, perhaps most importantly, have been in use for over a decade such that fans readily recognize them. Finally, there are talents like Charlotte Flair with theme songs that directly play off of traditional songs, in her particular case using a variation on "Also Sprach Zarathustra" that hearkens back to her father.

By Tamzin Kraftman | Image: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty




The advisory board is hoped to further the aims of The Les Paul Foundation and educate those on his life and achievements.

The Les Paul Foundation is bringing in the experts, as it forms a star-studded advisory board to continue inspiring innovation and creative thinking through Les Paul's legacy.

Slash, JOAN JETT, Nile Rogers, among others, have all been appointed to this new advisory committee in the hopes for all members to bring their own levels of experience, expertise, and creative passion in the music world, contributing to the current and future work of the Les Paul Foundation.

The Foundation aims to honour the legacy of Les Paul through the support of music education, recording, innovation, and medical research related to hearing and tinnitus.

To date, the foundation has awarded over $4,000,000 to non-profit organisations, and it is hoped that this new advisory board will help widen the outreach of the foundation.

Michael Braunstein, the executive director of the Les Paul Foundation, has said that the connection between those on the advisory council to Les Paul help share the "historic legacy" of the guitar icon.

"The individuals who have joined the Les Paul Foundation Advisory Council are a prestigious and influential group of music industry artists, educators, executives and friends. The names we announced today are a fitting tribute to Les."

Other advisory board members include Les Paul's godson and musician, Steve Miller, guitarist Peter Frampton, producer Richie Sambora and music executive Don Was.

The Foundation also hopes to inspire the public through the support of public exhibits that present Les Paul's life and achievements, such as his invention of the solid-body electric guitar, and multi-track recording. Exhibits can be found in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Grammy Museum, with many more across North America.