How to Hire JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS For Your Event!
aka: Joan Marie Larkin, Joan Larkin
Based in: New York
Based in: Long Beach
Hire: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Joan Jett was one of the most successful U.S. female singers to emerge from the rock scene of the ’70s. She spent most of her childhood in the Baltimore, Maryland, area, where she learned guitar as a child, playing along to favorite rock ‘n’ roll records. In 1972, her family relocated to Los Angeles, where she became enamored with artists including David Bowie, Suzi Quatro, T. Rex and Gary Glitter.
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At the age of 15, she began infiltrating the Los Angeles rock scene and formed her first band. Producer Kim Fowley took the band under his wing and named it The Runaways, procuring a record contract with Mercury Records.
They recorded three punk-tinged hard rock albums that were unsuccessful in the USA but were hits in Japan, where they recorded a live album. Also successful in England, they recorded their swansong, “And Now … The Runaways,” in that country in 1979.
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After the dissolution of the Runaways, Joan Jett moved to New York and teamed up with producer Kenny Laguna, who became her manager. Laguna had previously been involved with a number of ’60s bubblegum hits. He produced Jett’s first solo album, which was released on the European Ariola label.
When no US label picked it up, they issued it on their own Blackheart Records and the album sold well, becoming one of the bestselling US independent releases of that era. This led to a contract with Neil Bogart’s Boardwalk Records, who reissued it as Bad Reputation (a title inspired by the less than enthusiastic industry response to Jett after the Runaways), and saw it reach number 51 in the US charts.
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In November 2007, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts appeared with Motörhead and Alice Cooper in a UK arena tour; Jett opened eight American shows on Aerosmith‘s 2007 World Tour.
In June 2010, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts opened for Green Day on their UK tour alongside acts such as Frank Turner and Paramore. The band was the opening act for Aerosmith‘s September 2010 Canadian tour.
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Jett, along with the Blackhearts, was scheduled to join Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on the 2020 The Stadium Tour as an opening act, along with Poison. However, the tour was postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With her band The Blackhearts (guitarist Ricky Byrd, bass player Gary Ryan and drummer Lee Crystal), Joan Jett recorded “I Love Rock-N-Roll“ in late 1981, produced by Laguna and Ritchie Cordell. The title track, originally an obscure b-side for UK band, the Arrows, became a major hit, largely owing to a big push from MTV, and spent seven weeks at number 1 in the USA in early 1982 (it also reached the UK Top 5).
The follow-up single, a cover version of Tommy James And The Shondells‘ “Crimson And Clover,” was itself a US Top 10 hit, reaching number 7 in 1982. Also, on the album was an update of a Jett song from the Runaways era, “You’re Too Possessive.”
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With Neil Bogart’s death, the band signed to MCA Records, which then distributed Blackheart Records. However, subsequent outings on that label were not nearly as successful as the Boardwalk releases. “Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth” again retreated to Jett’s past with the Runaways, this time on a revision of “Cherry Bomb.”
“Good Music” saw some intriguing collaborations, with members of the Beach Boys and Darlene Love guesting, and an unlikely rap duet with Scorpio of Melle Mel And The Furious 5. The album also saw the departure of Lee Crystal and Gary Ryan, the former permanently replaced by Thommy Price.
Meanwhile, Joan Jett found time to make a second movie appearance (following “We’re All Crazy Now”), playing Michael J. Fox’s sister in “Light Of Day” and also singing the Bruce Springsteen-penned theme.
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“Up Your Alley” brought another US Top 10 hit with “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” before 1990’s “The Hit List,” an album of cover versions, which included a duet with Ray Davies on “Celluloid Heroes.” “Notorious” saw her collaborate with Paul Westerberg of the Replacements on the co-written “Backlash,” but by the advent of “Pure and Simple,” Byrd was no longer a permanent member of the band.
This set saw a guest appearance from L7 on a track entitled “Activity Grrrl,” emphasizing Jett’s influence on a new generation of female rockers (by this time, Jett had also produced Bikini Kill, in addition to late ’70s L.A. punk band The Germs).
The following year, Joan Jett recorded a live album with the Seattle punk band The Gits. She revived the Blackhearts name for 1999’s “Fetish,” a collection of previously released material, new songs and live tracks.
Her discography includes 44 singles and 12 studio albums.
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