What I learned about Joan Jett in 2009

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! I’m back from visiting with my in-laws, and now I can devote time to my Jetthead family again.

Did you miss me? 😀

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks combing through Joan’s articles and interviews from 2009 so that I can give you a recap for the year. I thought I’d start by recapping all of the new stuff that I learned about Joan, or from Joan, in 2009.

My definition of “new” is mostly just stuff that I didn’t know before 2009. I’m not arrogant enough to think that no one knew any of this stuff sooner. I’m neck-deep in Joan Jett 24/7, and even I miss things sometimes.

Here we go!

1. How to capture Joan Jett’s guitar tone. Gibson.com got techie for Jettheads who want to sound like Joan Jett at home in this article from last January. If I ever learn how to play my Joan Jett series Gibson Melody Maker, this knowledge will come in handy.

2. How the Joan Jett Gibson Melody Maker is made. This video hit YouTube in January.

3. “Joan Jett on Writing a Song You Can Be Proud Of.” Gibson.com technically published this on 12/26/08, but it was too cool not to include here. I also already knew the story of how “Riddles” was written, but it’s rare that we get to read an entire essay written by Joan on any subject.

I started writing songs when I was 15. Then it was a feeling of ‘I’ve got to write or I’m going to go crazy. I’ve got to get this out. I have to find a way to express myself.’ Even though it was just me, in my bedroom, strumming my guitar and singing a song.

Read the rest HERE.

4. The stories behind some of Joan’s tattoos. The book “Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck” was published in March of 2008, but pictures from it, including Joan’s pictures, were displayed in an exhibit on the Lower East Side of New York in January 2009. Our Jetthead friend Steph attended the exhibit and got us a picture. Thanks Steph! The stories are written in Joan’s own handwriting:

5. Joan Jett’s astrology profile, including the exact time of her birth. Most Jettheads know that Joan is a Virgo, born September 22. But thanks to Brody Dalle’s interview of Joan for The P.i.X in June, we now know that Joan is a “Virgo, with moon in Aquarius and Capricorn rising. Born Sept 22nd at 4pm.” Read the rest HERE. (Now if only Joan will tell us her Chinese zodiac sign. 😉 ) Brody also taught us that Joan’s favorite swear words are “fuck and holy shit.”

6. Joan did not drop out of school to start The Runaways. I’ve known this for a long time, but since it came up in a Jackson Free Press interview back in June, I thought I’d bring it up again for the new fans who might not know this. Joan continued with school during The Runaways until it got too difficult to juggle everything, and then she went for her GED. The rest of this interview is awesome; you can read it HERE.

You joined up with The Runaways pretty young. You dropped out of high school when you were 15, and one of the things I read about you is that you went back to high school when you went to L.A.
No. And first of all, I was older: I was 16. I was in school at the beginning of The Runaways, and I couldn’t (continue traditional classes). The schedule was too crazy, and I was a senior at the time, and I decided to get my GED and get my diploma equivalent and get out early so I could go do all this stuff. I never left school. I actually enjoyed school. I think it’s important.

7. Joan has a pig named after her. One of Farm Sanctuary‘s pigs is named Joan Jett. Joan the person visited Joan the pig at Farm Sanctuary’s New York shelter in June, along with other animals. Joan has supported Farm Sanctuary for a long time. Read more and see pics of Joan with other animals HERE, and read more about Joan’s commitment to Farm Sanctuary (and get some more info on her tattoos) HERE.

8. Fans yell disturbing things at Joan during her concerts. Someone yelled “I want to dry hump you” to Joan at The Orange County Fair this summer. I think the most disturbing thing I’ve ever yelled at a Joan Jett show was “WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” I’ve been known to burst an ear drum or two doing that. Seriously, sometimes I don’t think I’m even human.

9. Joan’s first car can get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as long as Joan’s not in it. Joan’s first car was a 1983 Jaguar XJS, and it went on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio last month. Both The Runaways’ music and Joan Jett’s solo work have been eligible for induction into the Rock Hall for years, but neither have ever been nominated. The only people not upset by this is The Cleveland Browns, who are just relieved that they are not the only thing in Cleveland that sucks monkey balls. (You do know that I’m from Pittsburgh, right? Just checking. :D) There’s a petition to get The Runaways inducted into the Hall. If you think they deserve to be in there, please sign it. But only do it once–duplicate signatures cannot be counted:

There’s a lively discussion going on about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over at the Sinners message board right now.

UPDATE: Here’s the pic of Joan’s Jag as tweeted by @rock_hall:

And here’s a pic of Joan with her car back in 1983, emailed to me by long-time fan Jeff Evans.

10. Joan Jett will autograph anything. And this proves it. Read the story HERE:

11. Joan Jett can still stop traffic. And she did, in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 11.

According to those trying to get into the free concert in Moore Square on Saturday, July 11th, they were told that the park had reached capacity and that they were not allowing any more people in. The park has held over 11,000 people at past concerts. In addition, the Raleigh Police Department closed off the downtown area, as traffic and crowd control became an issue due to the large number of people trying to watch Joan Jett.

Audience members said that Jett put on a great show and the rocker shared an electric energy with the audience that lasted throughout the night. According to a local pub owner, Jett was kind enough to meet with a local chef who was a die-hard Joan Jett fan before the show and took pictures with him backstage.

Read more and see photos HERE. Over 11,000 people? Go Joan!

2010 is going to be awesome, I can feel it! Did you learn anything surprising or new about Joan in 2009? What are you most looking forward to in 2010?