August 2024 News

By Julia Pryor




On the left side of the Suburban Park Stage, an interpreter translated JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS' lyrics into American Sign Language as the band rocked the stage. Karen Engel and her daughter, Amara, who is hard of hearing, returned to the Great New York State Fair because of its accessibility, and this time, they also came specifically for Jett.

"Having interpreters is really nice. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable because we can enjoy it together," Karen said.

The Great New York State Fair hosted rock 'n' roll legend JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS on Wednesday for an unforgettable live performance. The crowd for the band ranged from adults who grew up listening to the band in the 1970s to toddlers watching the stage in awe from atop their father's shoulders. The band has become a fairgoer favorite, featured on the stage five times since 2006 and last performing on Labor Day in 2021.

This year, the band's performance fell on Women's Day at the Fair, which gives fairgoers the chance to hear inspiring speeches from women leaders and advocacy groups. Jett defeated gender-based stereotypes in the 1970s and was coined the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll."

Wearing her signature black skinny jeans and combat boots, Jett ran onto the stage, igniting cheers and whistles from the audience. When the opening chords to "Shooting Into Space" resounded through the fairgrounds, a family in the front row broke into dance.

Shelly Canavan and her daughters are Syracuse locals and big fans of JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS. Canavan already saw Jett and her band this summer on The Triple Moon Tour with Alanis Morissette.

Canavan said the crowd's singing and dancing lacked energy during Jett's set on the Triple Moon Tour. This time around, though, she had high hopes for the band's performance and audience reception at the Fair.

"I just hope people are gonna dance and move," Canavan said. "There's nothing worse than coming to a show and people just sit there. I'm hoping (Jett) gets a lot of movement tonight because she kicks it. She's still rocking hard."

By katarina Hein




JOAN JETT, rock icon and avid Orioles fan, recently shared her reasoning on why being the O's good luck charm is a title she won't take on.

The lifelong O's fan has been involved with Baltimore's baseball team in a variety of ways; in 2024 she threw out the ceremonial first pitch and acted as Mr. Splash ahead of 98 Rock night and in 2023 she sang the national anthem at Game 1 of the American League Division Series game.

But that's not all...

Growing up in Rockville, MD, the BLACKHEARTS lead singer garnered love for the orange and black quite quickly with her dad taking her to plenty of games, including Jim Palmers 1969 no-hitter in memorial stadium.So, what's stopping the rock and roll hall of famer from being charm city's luck good charm?

According to Jett, she doesn't want to influence the game or "be looked at as any kind of omen," positive or negative.

She says she would throw out the first pitch again, but only if it remained fun and easy with no fear of fan expectations being let down.

She also doesn't want to take the blame for anything, should something go awry.

Jett emphasized her reluctance to be seen as a good luck charm, saying, "Somebody said years ago, like, oh, you're good luck. You were there. She's like, no, no, no, no, no. Don't put that on me."

While we may not see her frolic on the field sprinkling her rocking energy, we can all rest assured the singer will see Baltimore soon.

And although some O's fans may be dissatisfied with her choice, the Orioles have plenty of magic on their own.

By Bravewords.com




World-renowned photographer Mark "Weissguy" Weiss talks below about his iconic photographs of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, and JOAN JETT. These photographs will be presented - paired with recording artist and contemporary fine artist Billy Morrison's unique canvas paintings of them - for one weekend only: September 19, 20, and 21 at the iconic Motor Cars LA Showroom in Hollywood, CA. Billed as "A Moment In Time," the event is presented by X5 Podcast and Motor Cars LA. See the event details below.

The exhibition will feature 12 pieces from Morrison, and high-end editions of the same photographs from Weiss, with a special 13th painting and prints going to support mental health, suicide prevention and trauma counselling through the Above Ground charity spearheaded by Morrison and Dave Navarro, Jane's Addiction's guitarist.

Below are Weiss' photographs of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, and JOAN JETT, along with Morrison's paintings of them.

Mark Weiss on Ozzy Osbourne Photograph (Ozzy Osbourne and daughter Aimee, 1984, New York City): "Ozzy was always game for my out-of-the-box ideas. Our first shoot together was for the cover of Circus magazine in 1981, where I had him wear a pink tutu. From there, we pushed the envelope with every session, each one more outrageous than the last.

"When Sharon asked me to do a shoot that would get him noticed in the magazines, Faces magazine agreed to put Ozzy on the cover, but it had to be something over the top. I came up with a twist on his album Diary of a Madman. Since it was the May issue, I thought, why not go with a Mother's Day theme? We dressed Ozzy as a housewife, and the cover featured the headline "Diary of a Mad Housewife." The photo ironing his daughter Aimee, ended up as a gatefold in the magazine and stirred quite a reactionâ€"some people even thought the iron was plugged in!"

By Elizabeth Wagmeister, Samantha Waldenberg and Norma Galeana, CNN




CHICAGO -- When Barack Obama accepted his presidential nomination at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Jennifer Lopez was in town, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner attended the proceedings together, and Kanye West performed at an Obama campaign party.

Four conventions later, many things are different in Hollywood - but the A-list enthusiasm for the party's presidential ticket remains the same.

Not since the Obama years has celebrity enthusiasm been so high, merging the world of pop culture and politics as the race to kicks into high gear with this week's Democratic convention in Chicago.

John Legend - who performed at the 2008 and 2020 conventions - is set to headline a show Tuesday for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. On Wednesday afternoon, "Veep" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is hosting a panel with the country's eight female Democratic governors. And on Wednesday night, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS will perform at a benefit concert thrown by the Creative Coalition, a Hollywood advocacy nonprofit. Notable actors expected to attend include Tim Daly, Uzo Aduba, Anthony Anderson, Iain Armitage, Yvette Nicole Brown, David Cross, Jon Cryer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Danai Gurira, Richard Kind, Busy Philipps and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

High-profile speakers are still being finalized, multiple sources told CNN, adding that a slew of actors will speak on the convention's main stage. But speculation has run rampant on two stars in particular: Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

With no major performer announced, fans of both Beyonce and Swift are hopeful that the women - who both endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 - will show up in Chicago.

By Caleb Paulson




A night of rock legends unfolded at Ball Arena as two of the genre's most groundbreaking women, Alanis Morissette and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, joined forces for the Triple Moon Tour. The arena reverberated with the raw energy of angst and headbanging, a hallmark of this iconic tour that promised to deliver. With a rich catalog of hits that have shaped music history, both artists captivated a dedicated audience that spans decades. For fans, it was an unforgettable celebration of rock's legacy, delivered with the unyielding spirit that has defined both Morissette and Jett throughout their storied careers.

The night roared to life with the iconic JOAN JETT, who, draped in her signature all-black attire and rocking her famous 80s hairstyle, commanded the stage with a formidable presence. At 65, the queen of rock still delivered every note with the same power and defiance that has inspired generations. With a guitar slung low, she stood steadfast at the front, her demeanor reminiscent of a commanding ship captain, while her band supported her with relentless energy. The driving guitar of "Cherry Bomb" instantly transported the audience back to their youth while igniting a fire in the older generation and rekindling the rebellious spirit they once had. As they sang along to The RUNAWAYS' infectious chorus, "Ch ch ch ch cherry bomb," the bright red faces of the passionate crowd were a vivid testament to the song's impact.

Watching JOAN JETT shred on guitar was the epitome of rock greatness, affirming that she remains one of the most badass women in the genre. The crowd's reaction to "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was a sight to behold, as they went wild, the arena vibrating with their energy. The iconic guitar riff soared while fans screamed every lyric. At one electrifying moment, the music cut out, and the arena was filled with the powerful roar of the audience harmonizing with Joan, who pumped her fist in a triumphant rhythm.

The energy took a brief dip as Joan's voice effortlessly glided through "Crimson and Clover," showcasing her velvet versatility. This track emerged as a highlight of the night, highlighting the legends' skill in engaging the audience. Once again, Joan broke from the music and invited the crowd to act as a choir, their sweet rendition of the chorus underscoring the unifying power of music. Moments like these reveal why music serves as such a profound connector, transporting listeners back to their first encounter with the song and filling them with the same hope and love they felt then. If you weren't out of your seat dancing by this point, you were definitely in the minority.

With smoky eyes and clad in leather jackets, JOAN JETT's set reached its pinnacle with the legendary "Bad Reputation." This track, deeply embedded in American culture, commands awe with its impact. As an anthem of defiance and self-empowerment, it still fires with attitude and intensity. As images from her storied career flashed across the screens, it felt like living through a piece of rock history. JOAN JETT's performance hardly needs any further endorsement, but seeing her live is an absolute must. Her passion remains undiminished, and she continues to deliver a kickass, no-holds-barred show. The certified queen of cool remains as iconic as ever.

Jett's set was followed then by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. Bursting onto the music scene in the mid-'90s with her iconic album Jagged Little Pill, Alanis has built a legacy on deeply personal and incisive lyrics that helped define a musical subculture. Before Morissette took the stage, a montage video highlighted her journey, featuring tributes from many well-known female artists who celebrated her influence.