“Joan Jett; Yeah, Oh Yeah”
Dr. Rox Remember When Article #140
October 2022
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
She was born Joan Marie Larkin on the 22 September 1958 in Wynnewood, PA. she formed ‘The Runaways’ in 1975 she was with this band until April 1979, whne Joan went solo, The Runaways released: 5 Albums and 3 Singles from 1976 to 1978.
I first heard about Joan Jett in the Rock Magazines of the late 70s, like, Rock Scene, Circus, Creem, of those I liked Rock Scene the best, I didn’t get the humor aspect of Creem at the time being a young teenager, I get it now, and really like Creem’s sense of humor, I think Circus had the best photos though.
I would buy these magazines for the photos of KISS, to hang on my wall. Today’s youth will have no connection to this practice as they have everything stored in their CellPhones, and will not collect paper. When it came to The Runaways, I had a real thing for Lita Ford. I remember my Mom always going to Woolco. There was a girl who worked in the fabric department that bore a striking resemblance to Lita Ford, I fell in love, I would go with my Mom whenever I could just so I could get a look at her, I have since forgotten her name …
I remember hearing ‘The Runaways’ as well as Joan Jett solo in ‘Uncle John’ record store on the westside of Sioux City in the early 80s, I was completely unimpressed with The Runaways. I probably liked “I Love Rock N Roll” the 1st 1000 times I heard it, but what grabbed me was I really liked “Do You Wanna Touch Me” by Joan, but then why wouldn’t I, I already liked ‘Gary Glitter’ I am pretty sure I bought her 1st album ‘Bad Reputation’ in late 1982 also at ‘Uncle John’
In 1983 when I lived in Des Moines, Joan released a video for “Everyday People” I saw this on MTV, well again I already loved the song by ‘Sly And The Family Stone” so I went to RecordShop (#67) and bought a copy, I have to admit, I thought the album was a little weak, my favorite being “French Song” but I was intrigued by her. I always loved her really dark brown eyes, and she played this funny little white Gibson ‘Melody Maker’ (once owned by Eric Carmen: Raspberries). I always wondered why this guitar, well later I found out, it is a small guitar for a very small person.
While working at RecordShop (#67) in 1986 after talking about how much I like Joan’s new album ‘Good Music’ my 1st boss in, Marc, told me how he met Joan in the early 80s. A couple years later in 1988, I met a young lady who was the spitting image of Joan, unfortunately, she had absolutely NO interest in me.
I did like the song “Light Of Day” even though it was a Springsteen song (sorry, I never liked the Boss). And in 1988, I like everyone else had a girlfriend (or boyfriend) that “I hated myself for loving” But I really liked: “I Wanna Be Your Dog” off of that album. Funny thing, I saw Peter Tork of The Monkees, solo in Chicago in Aug 1988 and he performed “Tulane” (also on Joan’s CD at the time) in his set, probably because his backing band was Danny Solazzi and The Characters, who had just come off of the recent Joan Jett Tour. I loved her 1990 “Hit List” CD (and Cassette, NO Vinyls after 1987). But her stand out to me was her 1994 ‘Pure And Simple’ as there were NO Covers on the CD! all Originals and they are great!
However my very best Joan Jett story happened at Mr. Zer0’s 55113, in Aug 2014, a male customer came into Mr. Zer0’s, he was quiet and really would not answer when I tried to help him. A couple days later he came back, but this time he “Tried” to answer when I asked him what he was looking for. It helped that I am familiar with the Russian accent, in his broken, limited English, I figured out he was looking for ‘The Runaways and Joan Jett’ vinyl, I had to tell him “Sorry, very few of those 2 artists ever come in on vinyl, as The Runaways did not sell a lot of records back then and Joan sold a 100 times more units on Cassette than Vinyl” I then asked him “Did you move here or are you just visiting?” he responded he was “Just visiting”, so I then asked “So did you go see Joan at the MN. State Fair last night?” (Sept 2014) he looked at me confused, I then explained “Joan Jett played the MN. State Fair last night about 2 miles from here” he was devastated, he was here in America for a few weeks, looking for Joan Jett records and she played a concert near where he was staying and He Missed It!
I have seen Joan in concert 3 times, (she canceled a 4th).
April 2001 in Maplewood at ‘The Rock” I met her and got my ‘1983 Album’ signed, when she walked by me she was so tiny I thought it was a little kid snuck into the club.
To the best of my knowledge, this was the Setlist for this show (I have the recording for this show)
Bad Reputation
Fetish
Light of Day
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)
Androgynous
Long Time
Love Is Pain
Love Is All Around
Baby Blue
Cherry Bomb
Road Runner
I Wanna Be Your Dog
I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
Crimson & Clover
I Hate Myself for Loving You
Science Fiction, Double Feature
Everyday People
I remember after these songs, Joan said:
“Do You Wanna Touch Me” a guy in the crowd touched her wrist, and Joan freaked out yelling at him, then stopped and said on the Mic “Wait, you know what, it’s my fault, I should not have put my arm out there into the crowd, I’m sorry”
“Androgynous” Joan said “I did this some with a guy I think he’s from around here isn’t he?” Paul Westerberg: Replacements
“Love Is All Around” The crowd went nuts, and Joan said “You like that one huh?, oh yea, I forgot where I was” (near MPLS)
She was sporting her blonde crew cut them and Thommy Price busted his snare drum head. Joan stopped the show and said “We need to change the snare head, cuz Thommy’s so strong” I did meet Thommy in passing that night.
The other times I saw Joan:
Sep 2002 in MPLS at Hennepin Block Party
June 2003 in Apple Valley, MN. at the Zoo: She Canceled Day Of Show
Oct 2019 in St. Paul at Xcel Center
In Joan’s Solo Career she has Released:
16 Albums /CDs
Jett having co-written about 70 songs on these releases
42 Singles: Vinyl /CD/ Cassingles
12 Songs on the BillBoard Charts
Her Top 3 being;
“I Love Rock N Roll” “Crimson And Clover” “I Hate Myself For Lovin You”
31 Music Videos
And appeared on 6 Soundtracks
I am always asked what are my favorite songs by Joan, so in no certain order “Fetish” “Do You Wanna Touch Me” “French Song” “Eye To Eye” “Consumed” “Talkin ‘Bout My Baby” “Got Me Floatin” “Light Of Day” “I Love Playing With Fire” “I Can’t Control Myself” “I Wanna Be Your Dog” “Time Has Come Today” Celluloid Heroes” “Dirty Deeds””
Mr. Zer0’s “Origins” Radio Show: Episode #235 Oct 2022
I played the original recordings of some of the more famous songs of the over 60 cover songs that Joan has recorded in her career. I found this quite interesting, as Joan has covered songs as far back as Cole Porter in 1928, however most of her covers are from the mid to late 60s, as her mentor Kenny Laguna wrote, played and performed many of those songs originally as the Keyboard Player in ‘Tommy James And The Shondells’
You can here “Joan Jett: Origins” at:
www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast: Episode #235
Tune in to Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show on Radio WDGY from Hudson, WIS. and St. Paul, MN.
7:30am Sundays: 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1
You find MrZerr0’s other Radio Shows “Evolation” and “Hits And History”
at www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros- Evolation
Until our next installment … MrZerr0 has left the building
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