Former member of 'The Runaway's', Joan Jett found greater success by forming 'The Blackhearts' in Los Angeles by placing an ad in the L.A.Times paper looking for "three good men".

'The Runaway's' found more acceptance of popularity abroad than the U.S would give them, in after they broke-up Joan moved to England were she pursued a solo career.

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Joan Marie Larkin was born in September of 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, eventually moved to Rockville, Maryland before finding her musical roots in West Covina, California.

She started guitar lessons at age 13, but ended up quitting because she didn't like the musical direction the lessons were taking her.

A big part of her career was after meeting Suzi Quatro who was a big inspiration and a key to her future in the music business. The hits "Crimson and Clover", "I Hate Myself for Loving You", "Do You Want to Touch Me", "Light of Day", "Love Is All Around", "Bad Reputation" and not to mention the cover of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100  are

erick M. Brown, Getty Images
erick M. Brown, Getty Images
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proof in the pudding.

The song,"I Love Rock-N-Roll" ( written by Alan Merrill and guitarist Jake Hooker) was an original back in 1975 by a group called ,'The Arrows' a three man band from the UK. Might add that song has lasted over 30 years and covered by many including Britney Spears. The song was released on the "B" side of ,'The Arrows' record, "Broken Down Heart".

Oddly enough Jett was touring England as a member of 'The Runaways' when she came across the song. She wanted The Runaways to record it but they didn't like it and that was a big mistake as we now all know. Joan recorded it in 1979 with Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols. In 1981, Joan recorded the song with her band The Blackhearts, resulting in a killer hit.

Joan has been named the "Hottest Woman in Rock" by Blender, she was named to the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame in 2006, 100 of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone.


 

 

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