TimesTalks: Joan Jett

Jodi Rudoren, associate managing editor for The New York Times, moderates a conversation with boundary breaking guitarist/singer/songwriter Joan Jett. Jett will discuss her upcoming biopic "Bad Reputation," which traces her historic journey from teenage dreamer to rock and roll rule breaker. Jett may be the coolest person in the room, and an inspiration to anyone who feels like an outsider or misfit, but beneath her tough-as-nails exterior is a musician with depth and versatility. Join Jett as she discusses rising to the top of the patriarchal music industry, bouncing back from disparaging reviews, and how she never compromised her ethics or creative integrity along the way.

[@MegaPerson012345]

Joan Jett is still one of the most gorgeous women on this planet.

[@cosmicthing1]

Agreed

[@stillwaterband]

Joan Jett is so cool and down to earth, great interview!

[@Cyan3031]

She is pure rock-n-roll - when I hear the name Joan Jett I think rock-n-roll in it's purest form!

[@topdogtrucker6036]

Yeah, Oh Yeah, OH YEAH !!!!

[@raquelmartell4771]

I agree with Joan. People are afraid of strong women. And strong women in rock n roll

[@glenbellefonte9620]

Except she participated in the rape of her ex bandmate in the 70s. Strong!

[@storybellz]

@Ann Coulter Is Right - You make some good points. Regarding Glenn's comment, he is basing that on a Huffington Post article that came out the year Joan got into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame (a nice way to try and sabotage her moment), regarding claims made by Joan's former Runaways band-mate, Jackie Fox- stating that she was raped by their then-manager, Kim Fowley, while Joan, Cherie, and other party-goers watched. Yeah, I've read that, but there have been conflicting accounts, so I don't believe it's the whole truth. Also, in the 2000s, Jackie had a blog in which she talked very highly of her time in the Runaways and debunked all the assumptions that Kim Fowley was abusive in any way, stating that she never experienced or saw any abuse while she was a member of the band, and that the reason she quit the band was basically because she just got tired of the grind of band life. It's very possible also that those so-called "witnesses" were either paid very well for a story, so they embellished. And/or, that they were so wasted on drugs, that their memories are playing tricks on them. Pretty much everyone was wasted that night anyway, so for them to suddenly claim clarity all these years later is absurd. In my opinion, Jackie was just trying to mess with Joan and ruin her proud moment. And conveniently waiting until Fowley died to say anything is highly suspicious. It's no wonder women have a hard time being believed, if they're gonna be like that!

[@storybellz]

I don't think men are afraid of strong women, and I'm almost positive Joan doesn't really mean it that way. What she means is that men are afraid of women doing things that men normally do- i.e. going into "male territory". And yes, that can be a little off-putting to men, and if we put ourselves in their shows, it's not hard to see why. It's less to do with competition, and more to do with a fear of us losing that femininity that they are in-love with. Men LOVE women. They were made to LOVE women. So, this so-called "fear" is simply them not wanting us women to forget what makes them love us in the first place. And I can understand that. It has nothing to do with strength or weakness. Because a woman can be a "strong" housewife, she can be a "strong" nurse, she can be a "strong" gardener. There are traditionally feminine "strengths" and there are masculine "strengths". They are both important. But, for some reason, people forget this, and only associate "strong" with masculine attributes. So, men aren't really afraid of strong women at all, but they can be a little territorial about their strengths vs. ours.

[@gusargoan]

People aren't afraid of strong women.

[@richarddaoud578]

Joan jett

[@jamesqualls8125]

Congratulations , I found out that you have been performing with the Blackhearts for almost 40 yrs . That deserves a wow! Keep on rockin Joan , hope you are working on the next album ASAP 👍👍👍❤❤❤😃

[@athenatheshewolf]

Starts at: 6:25

[@kleinthomas8267]

Thank you

[@chriscole6939]

Joan Jett - GREAT music - basically seems like a genuine person who is basically nice. Don't agree with her politics, but that has nothing to do with her music - her music is GREAT, let me say that again - her music is GREAT and she deserves to be in the R&R Hall of fame! Can't wait to see her in concert again. Think she should do a tribute to Chuck Berry in her concerts - Johnny Be Good!!!

[@DOCTOR_SONG]

I LOVE JOAN JETT ROCK N ROLL 4 EVER never gonna change my mind or my heart !!!!

[@paulhemmy8223]

Got to say that in her day she was drop dead BEAUTIFUL. Today she is still beautiful.

[@baddogma]

Thank you! One of my all time favorites.

[@jamesevans7440]

Joan is quite captivating.😎

[@FirstMultitude]

The Nirvana question was the best.

[@judyhansen3426]

thank you for the interview

[@cynthiacarpenter5343]

I love Joan Jett, and really loved and really enjoyed this interview!!! 💗💞🎶🎸I Thank you!!!!😊💗💞🎶

[@randsaad8266]

My favorite video on the internet

[@BeliaLastes]

I wish I had known about this interview held in NYC with Joan Jett would have loved to have seen her live 😊❤

[@talon12020]

Good interview but the audience questions are cringeworthy.

[@scottielambert9312]

Not nearly as bad as the word cringeworthy...just a horrible internet born chodism.

[@slimedog]

Oh, the green haired young lady is my favorite part of the interview- made me tear up!

[@bex82uk]

Fantastic interview what a legend

[@dogcowrph]

I love Joan Jett. She’s cool with a bit of a rough exterior... but once you make it past that she’s ver honest and tender at her core. She does sound as if she’s losing her hearing, in the last ten years or so she slurs her words slightly as if she’s been drinking. If’ve seen her a couple of times including opening for The Police in 1983 and The Who a couple of years ago. I saw her at a club around late 1981 when “I Love Rock N’ Roll” was first played on the radio. She’s always great live even as an opening act in a huge room with 18,000 people who just want to see the headliner. Everyone should get to see her in a hot, oversold club.

[@user-hk6kq7mp1n]

I deff agree I did 6 or 7 times back in 80 - 81.(TOADS PLACE, AGORA BALLROOM NAME A FEW) I really wish she would do a club tour again!! Nothing came close to that.. EVER!!!! LUV YA JOAN!!!! 🎸🎸🎸 💪💪👊👊

[@d-2793]

Great interview.

[@squirrel00713]

"You are one of the reasons I turned vegetarian" - YAZ!!!!!!

[@PierLessThanZero]

Joan is amazing. 😎

[@kleinthomas8267]

Joan Jett is beautiful

[@briangreen550]

Strength Scares People well said.

[@vlagano6230]

Joan Jett is amazing. Ultimate inspiration. Jodi on the other hand not so much. Wish there were more interesting questions asked.. didn't seem like the interviewer was familiar with Joan's personal history or any type of rock/ punk history.

[@xbabybluex]

Mannnn shes still an absolute babe 😍 Am hoping i dont sound like one of those crazy fan girls when i comment things like this 😂 not often i feel the need to comment like this but it needs to be said

[@kleinthomas8267]

My mom went to a Joan Jett concert once.

[@cherrybomb2600]

Only once? She didn't like it?

[@joanjettboy]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@kleinthomas8267]

❤️🖤❤️🖤

[@paulhemmy8223]

What does Joan think about the tell all about the runaways by Jackie Fuchs

[@storybellz]

@Andro mache - Thank you for blocking one of my comments on your comment thread, just because you hate to be proven wrong. Well, that's okay, cause I'll just post it here- outside of your thread, where YOU have no control. You're welcome! What I've said about Joan's appeal is not inaccurate at all, actually. You seem to think I am speaking only for the way I see her, when in actual fact, I am trying to answer your original question, which was regarding why the public at large gives her so much praise. Who Joan is as a person was not your question. Your question was regarding her public- which involves how THEY see her. There is a difference. So, please stop confusing the two when it's convenient for you. Hence, you don't seem to realize that I wasn't describing how I personally see her, but how the world at large does, because that was the basis of your question! You say she's not tough and doesn't have a tough image either, so you thereby assume that I'm making it up. But, I'm not. You want proof that that's how people see her? Well, just look at who some of her most famous fans are, and look at the company she keeps, i.e. law enforcement (including cops), the military, bikers, Mike Tyson, the former president of the NY chapter of Hell's Angel's, Chuck Zito, UFC Heavyweat champ fighter, Rhonda Rousey, the head of the UFC, Dana White, fearless, controversial comic, Roseanne Barr, and others. That a tough enough crowd for ya?! And those are all fans and friends of Joan's! So, there ya go! If THEY think she's tough, then obviously, my assessment is NOT inaccurate, but rather absolutely correct. Period. Joan has always said she had a fighting spirit. She's also said that she is a softy and very easily hurt too. A person can be both, you know. So, just because she's one, doesn't mean she's not the other. That being said, yes, sometimes people can see things in themselves or in others that are far from true. But, your original question was not about who Joan is, but rather, why she is regarded so highly. And the answer is, like I said- because of how she is seen as a tough, warrior type woman. Now you may wonder why, why is she seen like that? Well, it's not just about her clothes (as you seem to think), and it's not just about her pose... it's about her soul. How do we know her soul, you may ask? Well, simple: her lyrics and her musical sound. She reveals that toughness, that rawness, that defiance that I speak of in her songs all the time, and people obviously pick up on it. As I said before, look no further than "Don't Surrender", "A Love Like Mine", "As I Am", "Bad Reputation" and others, to know what I mean. Combine all of those soul-baring songs with her clothes and pose too, and you have the essence of "tough" that I spoke of originally, which has been the key to her acclaim and why she is so beloved. You may not see her that way, but whether you do or don't doesn't change the fact that that's how the world at large sees her, and THAT's the answer to your question. Simple as that. Case closed!

[@jozseflaszlo6222]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHAN JETT

[@supernerd4677]

Joan Jett is my girl. Always had a crush on her. Look forward to seriously dating a girl like her.

[@cosmicthing1]

❤

[@maryemerson8170]

To Joan Jett. I'm sorry if I offended you. I thought I saw your son in your video. So cute.

[@storybellz]

What do you mean? She hasn't got a son.

[@daisydoo1813]

@@storybellz XD

[@YodatheHobbit]

So crazy how legendary producer Clive Davis thought all those songs weren't going to be hits.

[@111Phoenix777]

~14:15 That's very interesting, about Liza Minnelli being an influence. I would never have guessed that. I wonder if she ever met Liza Minnelli.

[@storybellz]

She has. They are friends, actually.

[@theresas740]

35:48 So wonderful to hear Ms Jett say that she has voted in every election since age 18! I feel similarly and hope that perhaps some way this information gets to Ms Jett: I could not vote for Bill Clinton's second term in 1996. As a write-in Candidate I voted for "Joan Jett."

[@storybellz]

Someone is really persnickety about comments here on this video, as I've noticed one of mine and other people's comments have become invisible. So, whoever you are- CUT IT OUT!! Everyone deserves their say. Just wanna put that out there. And on another note- I love you, Joan.

[@storybellz]

@PVPSYCHOS- Thank you for blocking YETANOTHER one of my comments on your thread, just because you hate real answers. But, that's okay, cause I'll just post it outside of your thread, where YOU have no control, YET AGAIN. You're welcome! You are both right and wrong. You are correct that the people who came before Joan should get more credit than they do, and for them to be over-shadowed by Joan does her no favors, but in fact, has a way of robbing her accomplishments of integrity- which is sad, because she is accomplished in her own right too. If only people didn't feel the need to constantly inflate her achievements and just appreciate her actual place in Rock history, her whole career would start to seem more praise-worthy by both critics and non-critic alike. As for your assessment of her song catalog and writing contributions, as you admitted, Wiki pages are not always the best source of fact, and your findings concerning her music proves it. Joan has written quite a few songs on her own- without co-writers. And as for the ones with co-writers, they have been many more than 4. So, the idea that they could just be "courtesy credits" doesn't seem as likely, when you take the following into consideration: Songs written solely by Joan: * Fetish *I Love Playing with Fire *You Drive Me Wild *Love is Pain *You're Too Possessive *Don't Abuse Me *Fragile *My Buddy and Me *Wait for Me *Turn it Around *Reality Mentality *Take it or Leave It *Gotta Get Out Tonight *Don't Go Away *Takeover *C'mon AND as for all the rest of her songs (covers aside), SHE IS A CO-WRITER OF EACH AND EVERY SONG FROM THE BLACKHEARTS, EXCEPT FOR ONLY TWO that I know of! And while The Runaways' songs tended to be a mix of covers and those written by various members of the band (sometimes with or without other songwriters), even then, quite a few of Joan's solo writings come from this period. So, "courtesy credit"? Doubtful.

[@kleinthomas8267]

I like her raspy voice

[@badskater2657]

I’m sorry only 3hundred likes ?

[@claucara-joanjettfan3984]

There’s only 583 and 86

[@PVPSYCHOS]

1) seeing this convinced me to save my $$ & wait until the film hits a streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, Quello, etc) that I already pay for I was disappointed at how little Joan actually had to say 2) "trailblazer" ?? Joan's act is basically a combination of Gary Glitter & the Ohio Express (with power chords)

[@cocopops4974]

If she said too much it would spoil the movie... u idiot Joan is original dont insult her

[@PVPSYCHOS]

Why am I not surprised that a NYT responder would resort to personal invective as an instrument of rebuttal ?? Joan didn't need to discuss the movie-the "quality of response" to the questions posed by the interviewer form the basis of my opinion. In my opinion, Joan was far less articulate than expected (and I AM a fan of her music). Now: lets look at the "Joan is original" statement....out of the numerous songs in the Joan Jett discography, a Google search leads to a Wikipedia page (granted, not always the most reliable source) that lists a total of FOUR songs co-written by Joan Larkin a/k/a Joan Jett-none of the songs listed are written solely by Joan. All four songs have a professional co-writer (Kim Fowley or Desmond Child) For all we know, the songwriting credits may have been a professional courtesy. There are a number of all female rock bands that pre-date The Runaways: Goldie & The Gingerbreads started in 1962 & became the 1st all female rock band to be signed to a major label (their lead singer became better known as Genya Raven "Morning Much Better") Fanny had a hit single ("Charity Ball") long before The Runaways "got off the ground". Joan also cited Suzi Quatro as an influence-her 1st album pre-dates The Runaways (AND her older sister was a member of Fanny). The Shaggs had some influence as well Image: while perusing Runaways photos on-line (not a bad way to pass some time !), we see little photographic evidence of of a "black leather clad" Joan Jett pre-Ramones.. Almost all of Joan's hits were either "covers" or songs written with professional, industry based co-writers. In my view, this does not qualify Joan as an "original"....

[@cocopops4974]

@@storybellz facts and her song good music... Bad reputation... Outlaw are Joan jett originals 🔥

[@PVPSYCHOS]

I found another site that listed songwriting credits for all of Joan's studio albums in far greater detail than the website initially reviewed. Joan has a fair amount of co-writing credits on these albums. I like quite a few of these songs (however, most of them were not hits). I bought the 1st 3 Runaway albums back in the day (IMO, they should've put Joan "front & center", got a different lead guitarist who was more "in line" with Joan's artistic vision) & left Cherie Curie out). Out of all of the "bona-fide" hit singles, only "I Hate Myself For Loving You" is co-written by Joan (and the 1st side of "Up Your Alley" remains some of Joan's best work, IMO). Again: I AM a Joan Jett fan (I especially admired the set she did about 8 years ago in Kuwait for our troops-its' on KZbin).

[@cocopops4974]

@@PVPSYCHOS what abpu bad reputation And " you don't know what you've got"....joan wrote these songs with her partner... And also "French song" "Jezebel"...maybe just "bad reputation" was a hit I'm probably not sticking to the point 😇

[@jozseflaszlo6222]

MADE IN HUNGÁRIA

[@jozseflaszlo6222]

Elöbb tanultam beszélni mint járni a tanáraim Angyalkának hívtak meg a közösség..PEACE freedom stop rasszizmus meg a bába mondott valamit ANGYALKÁNAK HÍVOTT MÁSRÓL NEM AKAROK BESZÉLNI A SZÜEIMRŐL MEG A NEVELŐSZÜLÖKRŐL..

[@MrMethadrine]

Wtf with the nose of the interviewer?Its getting bigger and bigger as time passes.

[@dianam9028]

cruel comment

[@theresas740]

((---))-bait much? She's horrid but it's questions from her mouth, nothing to do with her nose. Cheap shot.

[@rienpost3145]

55:28 Yep, punk is dead.