Joan Jett with Laurie McAllister
wiki:
Joan Marie Larkin, aka Joan Jett (b. 9/22/58) was born at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, to James and Dorothy Larkin. She is the oldest of three children. Her father was an insurance salesman and her mother was a secretary. In 1967, Jett’s family moved to Rockville, MD, where she attended Randolph Junior High School and Wheaton High School. Joan got her first guitar at the age of 13. She took some guitar lessons, but soon quit because the instructor kept trying to teach her folk songs. Her family then moved to West Covina, CA, in Los Angeles County, providing Jett with the opportunity to pursue her musical interests. Shortly after the move, her parents divorced and she changed her name to Joan Jett, because she thought it had more of a rock star sound than her birth name.
Joan is often referred to as the “Godmother of Punk” and the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and is regarded as a rock icon and an influential figure in popular rock music. She co-founded and performed with the Runaways from 1975 to 1979, releasing four albums with them. After their dissolution, she formed the independent record label, Blackheart Records with producer Kenny Laguna. In 1979, she founded Joan Jett and the Blackhearts as her backup band and released her solo debut album. With the Blackhearts, Jett has released twelve albums, three of which have been certified platinum or gold. Eleven of their singles have appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jett was included on Rolling Stone’s 2003 and 2023 lists of the greatest guitarists of all time. In 2015, she and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Outside of music, she headlined the film Light of Day in 1987 and has appeared in several television series. She is also recognized for her activism.
There is a wealth of information about Joan Jett’s musical career on wikipedia and elsewhere, way more than most of the other members of The Runaways has.
Official website of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts here
Tao Talk 
Joan was always a force to be reckoned with. What a powerful role model for women unwilling to accept the traditional roles of the day. Love her.
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Well said, Violet!
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She is brilliant!!
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Yes she is! <3
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Her influence is so vast it’s impossible to measure I think. Here in Canada we can thank her for laying the groundwork for Alanis Morrisette and Avril Lavigne. Dozens upon dozens site those two as inspiration. So that’s generations of women in rock/name your sub genre that Joan Jett has inspired.
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<3 Thanks for sharing that, Randy.
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I wish there were more Joan Jett types… just rock out the joint. Love the live cut with The Foo Fighters. She has had a great career and in turn shined a lot of light on the Runaways.
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There will be, Max. Give it time. I love the Foo Fighters clip also, and Dave Grohl in particular. Time and time again I find him in places where he shines light on others.
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Grohl is great at that. He cares about the history of it all.
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I like her work, good stuff.
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She’s been a rebel for awhile. Glad you like her, Paul :)
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I loved Joan Jett, too!
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Thanks, Colleen. She’s still going strong!
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Joan did her level best to try and keep The Runaways going.
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With dipsh*t messing with the other band members, it worked against them. I bet if he would have tried anything with her she would have punched him in the face and maybe other places.
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She’s fabulous! Love her.
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Yes she is, Eugi. A real badass with talent!
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Unlike most other former members of The Runaways, at least I had some awareness of Joan Jett. The first song by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts I recall hearing on the radio back in Germany perhaps not surprisingly is “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.” I’ve always liked that song and figured out how to play the chords on the electric – another one my dear parents had to endure! :-)
Joan is still loving rock & roll and practicing it. I saw her once in May 2015 open for The Who at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. She sounded really great. Granted, it’s been 10 years, but she still appears to be bringing it. This one’s from last year! :-)
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I love what she says at the beginning of the song! Is it just me or is she starting to look like Keith Richards? ;)
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🤣
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Still rockin…(K)
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She’s one tough mama. I love her!
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Yes!
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Joan Jett, man — what can I say but ROCK N ROLL !!! :-):-)
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:)
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