Few artists have had a greater impact on rock music than Joan Jett. With her signature black leather, shag haircut, snarling vocals, and relentless guitar riffs, she helped redefine what a rock star could be. Over a career spanning five decades, Jett has become a symbol of independence, resilience, and unapologetic attitude, inspiring generations of musicians with her refusal to compromise.
B
orn Joan Marie Larkin in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, in 1958, she developed an interest in music at an early age after receiving a guitar as a teenager. In 1975, at just 16 years old, she co-founded The Runaways, one of the first commercially successful all-female rock bands. Alongside singer Cherie Currie, guitarist Lita Ford, bassist Jackie Fox, and drummer Sandy West, the band delivered hard-edged rock that challenged the male-dominated music industry. While The Runaways struggled for mainstream success in the United States, they became international stars, particularly in Japan, and left a lasting influence on punk, hard rock, and heavy metal.
After The Runaways disbanded in 1979, Jett faced rejection from numerous record labels that believed female rock musicians couldn’t sell records. Rather than giving up, she teamed with songwriter and producer Kenny Laguna to form Blackheart Records, one of the first independently owned record labels founded by a female artist. The move gave Jett complete creative control over her career and established a blueprint that countless independent musicians would later follow.
Her breakthrough came in 1981 with I Love Rock ‘n Roll, an album that became a worldwide phenomenon. The title track—a cover of the Arrows’ 1975 song—spent seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining rock anthems of the decade. Backed by The Blackhearts, Jett followed with a string of hits including Crimson and Clover, Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah), Bad Reputation, Fake Friends, Little Liar, and I Hate Myself for Loving You, the latter later becoming the basis for the theme song to Sunday Night Football.
Beyond her commercial success, Joan Jett became a cultural icon by refusing to fit traditional expectations of women in rock. She mixed punk’s rebellious spirit with hard rock’s power and pop’s infectious hooks, influencing artists across genres from grunge and riot grrrl to alternative rock and modern punk. Bands and performers such as Bikini Kill, The Donnas, Green Day, Foo Fighters, and countless others have cited her as an inspiration.
Jett has also enjoyed a successful acting career, produced music for other artists, and remained an outspoken advocate for animal rights and social causes. In 2015, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside The Blackhearts, cementing her place among rock’s all-time greats.
Today, Joan Jett remains one of rock and roll’s most enduring performers. Whether playing sold-out arenas or championing new talent through Blackheart Records, she continues to embody the rebellious spirit that first made her a star. Her career proves that determination, authenticity, and a great guitar riff never go out of style, ensuring her legacy as one of the most influential women in the history of rock music.
