Jeremy Porter reviews new documentaries about Suzi Quatro and The Go-Go’s in this week’s Saturday Night Special!
Read MoreJoan Jett / Bad Reputation: Go See This Movie. Now. - by JCE
I went to see Bad Reputation, a new documentary on Joan Jett, on a rainy Wednesday evening recently. When I got home from work, the idea of driving almost an hour to the theater where it was playing wasn’t too appealing, but my wife and I made the trip, as it was a one-night only showing at a cool place called the Violet Crown in Charlottesville, VA. Man, am I ever glad we went. On the drive there, I told my wife that I hoped the movie would not be too Runaways-centric and spend more time on her career with the Blackhearts. I was also kind of hoping to hear a little about her childhood since I knew she lived in Rockville, MD and went to Wheaton High School, not that far from where I grew up.
The movie started straightaway with the Runaways story, so I didn’t get any childhood info, but it continued well into the Blackhearts era, and right up to the present. There was a ton of screen time with Joan (in the present) talking and recounting how things went, and I really liked that—hearing it directly from her. There were also many others on-screen talking about Joan, including some of my rock n roll heroes. Debbie Harry of Blondie was featured. Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) & Kathleen Hannah (Bikini Kill) were also very prominent, and since they are from the DC music scene I grew up in, I greatly enjoyed that. Mike Ness was interviewed. There was also some great footage of both the Runaways and the Blackhearts throughout.
One highlight for me was some footage from the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in which Joan fronted Nirvana. I am sure that is readily found on YouTube, but I had not seen it before. At the end of the film, after the credits rolled and most of the theater was empty, there was some never-before-seen footage of a few Blackhearts songs being played live during a sound check somewhere. We stuck around the extra ten minutes to take that in. I highly recommend that you make an effort to check the film out, if you like rock & roll documentaries. The main takeaway for me was what a pioneer Joan Jett really was. I have always considered her to be important, but I may not have been giving her enough credit for her place in history.
I got to seen Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in Bethesda, MD at a little place called the Psyche Delly right when the first Blackhearts record came out. There was Joan and the band, clad entirely in black leather, blasting out “Bad Reputation” about ten feet from me. I count myself very lucky to have witnessed that show. I have since seen her in larger venues, but it was never as good as it was that night.
For an entirely superfluous (but somewhat related) live review of Joan Jett from 2012, check out Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Live at the Obetz Zucchini Festival from Ricki C’s old blog.
Ricki C. and JCE (John, to his friends & family) first bonded over their shared mutual love of Boston's Finest Sons - The Neighborhoods - and everything extended out from that rock & roll ripple. JCE lives in Culpeper, Virginia with his wife & daughter, and thinks a long-rumored new Neighborhoods record being released in 2018 would make this a perfect year.
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Return To Columbus - by Scott Carr
Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joan Jett brings her band The Blackhearts back to Columbus for a concert at Express Live Monday May 7th.
Jett last performed in Columbus openiing for The Who in 2015 at Nationwide Arena.
Joan Jett is best known for her hits with The Blackhearts including "I Love Rock 'N Roll," "Bad Reputation," "Do You Wanna Touch (Oh Yeah)," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," "Crimson and Clover," "Light Of Day" and many more.
Joan got her start with the groundbreaking all-female 70's rock/glam/punk band The Runaways, formed in Los Angeles, California when Joan was just fifteen years old. The Runaways signed to Mercury records and released four albums. The band is best known for their song "Cherry Bomb" which Joan would later cover on her Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth album in 1984.
The Runaways never achieved mainstream success in the U.S. but were very popular in Japan and other areas of the world. The band broke up in the spring of 1979 and Joan quickly began a solo career.
Joan independently released her self-titled debut album in May of 1980, after having the album rejected by several major labels. Eventually Neil Bogart of Casablanca Records fame signed Joan to his new label Boardwalk Records and re-released her debut album as Bad Reputation in 1981. The album gained moderate success thanks to the singles "Bad Reputation" and "Do You Wanna Touch (Oh Yeah)."
In 1981 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts would make their commercial breakthrough with their second album I Love Rock 'N Roll. The title track became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard singles chart and the album went platinum and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200. The albums second single "Crimson and Clover" also became a top ten hit.
More records followed but none would reach the success of I Love Rock 'N Roll until the release of 1988's Up Your Alley. That album went top twenty and sold over a million copies. The album's first single "I Hate Myself For Loving You" peaked at No. 8 and its video was a staple on MTV.
Over the years Joan has dabbled in acting and also producing other artists, but where she really shines is on the concert stage. She and The Blackhearts are constantly out on the road bringing the rock 'n roll to the people. Sometimes she's an opening act, sometimes she's the headliner, but either way she always delivers a a high-energy rock show.
In 2014 Joan fronted the surviving members of Nirvana when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and then the next year Joan herself was inducted.
Joan will be hitting the road this summer with Styx and Tesla but Monday night Columbus will get a full dose of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Don't miss it!
The show is on the Express Live outdoor stage (rain or shine). Tickets are $25.00 and on sale now. Doors @ 7pm.
Make sure to check out the cool clips of Joan below......
www.promoweslive.com
www.joanjett.com
Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH bands Radio Tramps andReturning April. Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.