Joan Jett

Fri 17th Dec, 2010 in Features

When Joan Jett’s band The Runaways expired in 1979 Jett had, in the previous four years, headlined shows with Van Halen and Tom Petty; written the classic hit Cherry Bomb; and toured worldwide, imbibing copious amounts of narcotics en route.

As explicitly shown in new film, The Runaways, it was a chaotic time for Jett and her bandmates, but even as frontwoman (we should probably say, frontgirl) Cherie Currie left the group, but Jett pushed on, fulfilling vocal duties herself, essentially keeping the wheels on the operation. When The Runaways disbanded in 1979 Joan Jett was just 19 years old.

Although various Runaways members continued playing — Micki Steele went on to play bass in The Bangles, Lita Ford and Sandy West still play metal guitar; Peggy Foster plays jazz bass — without doubt Joan is the most notably successful performer of The Runaways. Her cover of the The Arrows’ I Love Rock ‘N’Roll is a classic anthem and in 2010 Jett continues to tour heavily, heading to Australia as part of the Falls Festival lineup.

Given the heady days of The Runaways, did being executive producer on the film raise personal concerns about the emotional toll making the film might have on you?
No, my worry wasn’t the emotional stuff. I had a blast with it all. You know, it’s life. You have ups and downs but I loved [working on the film]; it was my baby. I loved it so much, that wasn’t the problem — living it — I just didn’t want ’em to fuck it up, you know what I mean?

I suppose you would have had time to truly consider what it would mean for you. It took Kenny [Laguna – Blackheart guitarist, Jett’s best mate and business partner] years to get someone to transform Cherie’s book into a movie, though didn’t it?
Yeah. And once I said yes I had to be all in it. I had to make sure it was true enough to the spirit of The Runaways, and some of the things that we went through, before I could live with it, for sure. You got to step back and look at it in a different way. That was difficult at first, for sure. Once I got a sense of what to push for and what to leave alone it was easier.

No doubt it was an incredibly exciting time for you [in The Runaways] but given your age when the band broke up, it must have been a bit daunting trying to find your feet in a new band. You must have experienced doubts at some point.
Well, I had belief by the time The Blackhearts formed because Kenny Laguna had belief in me. It’s hard to go out there and fight if you don’t have any support. You know, at least in the Runaways we were in support of each other, on the road you know, we did what we did and…I had a great time.