What Would Joan Jett Do?

Posted January 11th, 2007 in Milagros News

I don’t know if it is just the effect of getting older but for whatever reason I have been a little nostalgic lately. So what did I want for Christmas this year? A best of Joan Jett CD. Why? Because Joan Jett rocks! Even now at as she approaches 5-0 she is still rocking hard – and it doesn’t hurt that she looks fantastic doing it.

My discovery of Joan was during the waning days of disco and when the so-called “new wave” was just beginning to hit. I listened to “Bad Reputation” and her breakthrough “I Love Rock N’ Roll” albums so much that those cassettes become unlistenable (why oh why didn’t I buy vinyl? well…because of the walkman…curse you Sony Co!) And yes I did see “Light of Day” many more times than necessary.

Even though my greatest desire at the time was to be the frontman of an iconic rock group, I spent many hours at Stephen Foster Junior High clandestinely listening to Joan Jett and imagining myself as merely a “member” of The Blackhearts. Singing back-up vocals and pulling off an occasional guitar lead riff but NEVER stealing the spotlight from my dear Joan. That is how deep my love and admiration for her was – my prepubescent ego was willing to play second fiddle to her.

Can you really blame me? She has penned some seminal rock songs – “Bad Reputation,” ” I Love Rock N Roll,” “Do You Wanna Touch Me,” and – when she was only 15! – the greatest teen rock anthem of all time: “Cherry Bomb.”

She founded her own label – Blackheart Records – more than 25 years ago because she couldn’t land a record deal after her first band, The Runaways, dissolved. How is that for perseverence and believing in yourself? It is no wonder that she can still command the main stage on the Warp Tour.

Needless to say, Joan Jett is in heavy rotation at the store and Mila can often be heard singing “Ch Ch Ch Cherry Bomb!” I don’t find myself dreaming of stardom as Joan’s right hand man anymore but I am still loving the music. Rock on!