Pure Punk Picks
Bad Reputation – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
“The worlds in trouble, there’s no communication and everyone can say what they want to say. It never gets any better any way.”
Joan Jett has a good reputation. That everyone should have or her. But I do know for sure, that with the young, female musicians that play some form of rock- she is a huge inspiration.
And how do I know this?
Talking to young, male musicians over the last eight years of Thrash N Bang, they have told me a wide array of musicians who first made them want to make music. (And, yes, their answers have always been male musicians).
But with the young, female musicians that I ask the same question- (And you should take into account that anyone under forty is considered young, by me), they overwhelmingly site Joan Jett.
She showed them that girls could do it as good as boys, maybe even better. That you didn’t have to be relegated to being the pretty, hot chick singer who sang songs, most likely written by a guy. Or the female bass player that path was set by Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads.
Sure, Joan did a lot of covers but she was, obviously, the leader of her band. Just as it was Buddy Holly & The Crickets, it was Joan Jett & The lackhearts.
She is very worthy of her “good reputation.”
“I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation. You’re living in the past it’s a new generation.” Perhaps a nod to the new punk/new wave music at the time? “A girl can do what she wants to do and that’s what I’m gonna do.” And that’s ’bout empowerment. She wanted to tell women that they can be whoever they want to be, without any societal, masculine constraints.
“And I don’t have to please no one…I’ve never been afraid of any deviation and I don’t really care if you think I’m strange. I ain’t gonna change.”
This song blares out with a Ramones/Buzzcocks eight note intensity, like a lit stick of dynamite ready to explode that demolishes all that stands in its’ way- all the tired, old conservative male ways.
Maybe a bit of glam rock in the music and Eddy Cochrane rock’n’roll in the rhythm, but the vocals are pure, punk spit and fury.
This is great punk’n’roll at its finest.
I’m a big supporter of women playing music and not just because it’s the right thing to do. Of course, I believe any gender, any gender identification, any race or sexual identity should be welcomed into the punk scene, which it is.
And I’m most proud that this has always been the way- going back over forty years now.
But women, now and then, have to try a little harder existing in the music world that has always been male dominated.
When I taught guitar, I would tell my students- “I can teach you everything on the guitar, but I can’t teach you what you really need to become a musician. Which is- desire, dedication and diligence. You need to really want it, want to do it, put in the effort to succeed.”
And I think the women who get into or form bands usually, have a little more desire and passion to make music than the guys.
When Andy and I started the website, I realized that most of my favorite bands had women musicians. For several years, Damn Broads- an all female hardcore band from Connecticut was my favorite band. After that, it was Bad Movies led by Linn Svedka, the lead singer/songwriter of that band.
Now, The Grommets which is two-thirds women is one of my faves, and another band I really like, The Knock Ups, whose new recording is reviewed this week, is an all female trio.
And for me, nineties riot grrl is the closet music to match my favorite music, that of the early punk scenes.
So why do I think this is true?
I think women musicians have always had to try a little harder, then and now.
And I think the women who actually, get in a band, want it a bit more than the boys- they have more passion and desire and that’s something that most often leads to great music. And that’s why female rock musicians are most often great.
And I think Joan Jett is great.
And her band, The Runaways, certainly knocked down doors, as well.
Maybe you’d classify her music more as hard rock or pop, not punk- but “No, No, No, No, No, No, No- Not Me!”
We could debate forever if her music is punk, but the snarl in her voice is punk as hell. Her position is rock music is punk as hell, too. Knocking down doors is a sure sign that the spirit of punk is pushing it, is behind it and is also, punk as hell.
The future is female, better get used to it guys and Joan Jett helped inspire so many women punk, metal and hardcore musicians that make music today.
“And I don’t really care if you think I’m strange. I ain’t gonna change.”
I think I’m pretty fucking strange and I’m not gonna change either- Oh, no! Not me!
And I believe Joan Jett is punk as hell, too.
(Slimedog)
