Joan Jett’s favourite 1980s album: “The way it touched me”
Before the riot grrrl movement and the new wave of feminism that spread throughout the 1990s and beyond, there were figures like Joan Jett. During the 1980s, Jett emerged as a force of defiance, captivating attention on stage and in the studio with her unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll edge. During a time when the space was intensely male-dominated, Jett proved that women could occupy the spotlight in the face of scrutiny.
Jett also caught the attention of her peers quite early on, with many borrowing several facets of her artistry and showmanship in their own work. Others, like Tom Petty and part of the Sex Pistols team, kept her in close proximity, working on material or having her accompany them in the studio on tour to continue celebrating her position as an industry-leading trailblazer.
However, her unique position made her even more susceptible to the worst manifestations of industry sexism, with many—including some of her contemporaries—choosing to criticise her craft in ways that came from deeply problematic places. That said, Jett wasn’t one to sit back and take it and often bit back when she knew her haters weren’t appearing from anywhere but typically misogynist spaces.
German metal group Scorpions was one who directly delivered insulting remarks, but she knew that her talent held more timeless appeal than their did, and even called out their comments as sexist. “Scorpions were mad because they were a German band and we were bigger in Germany than they were,” she said, adding that “people just don’t want to see girls doing things they don’t think girls should do.”
Like anybody else, however, Jett first became turned on to music and its ability to move and inspire from a young age, soon picking up a guitar to teach herself the ropes. “I got turned on to music because there was something about the way it touched me,” she reflected, “Listening to the guitar really took over and made me feel great.” As she studied the greats, like rock ‘n’ roll legends like The Rolling Stones, she learned the nature of her own talent, allowing herself to be guided by those who captivated her attention.
During the ’80s, Jett had many influences to choose from, some pioneering the more traditional rock sounds while others revolutionised new dark wave, blending elements of old-style rock ‘n’ roll with new electronic elements, yet still with a hefty amount of bite. One of Jett’s favourite albums, and favourite from the decade, was Let It Be by The Replacements, a record that saw the band take on a more considered approach without neglecting the rebellious nature of their earlier work.
While this spirit, alongside raw musical authenticity, are characteristics Jett admires and injects into her own work, it’s likely that she also became endeared to Let It Be because it presented an artist transitioning their sound without deviating from what made them popular in the first place. As a musician, she is always aspiring to grow and develop, which is exactly what that record signified.
