I love Joan Jett...and rock n roll.

I have the upmost respect for anyone who is ahead of their time, and someone who pushes the envelope and changes whatever the blueprints are for their respective career.  One of those people very high on my list is Joan Jett.

What Joan Jett did in the 1970s for rock n roll and more importantly women in rock n roll is still not entirely given the credit it deserves.  It is crazy to think that it wasn't until the mid-70's that the world saw its FIRST all girl rock n roll band.  That was in no small part thanks to Joan Jett, who at 14 taught herself how to play guitar and never looked back.  She spent the rest of that decade creating riffs and rock songs that are truly just as rock n roll as any other rock band put out in those 10 years.  Seriously check out this live performance.  But the great thing about Joan Jett is that when her band fell apart, and she was left on her own, she chose that time to really shine.

The Runaways

It would take a lot of work but Joan Jett would turn herself into one of the biggest stars of the 80s with classic such as the immortal I Love Rock N Roll, Crimson and Clover, Bad Reputation, Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah), and I Hate Myself For Loving You...to name a few.  Joan is a fighter and it took the rejection of 23 record labels for her to decided to start one herself.  That's right a newly 20 something Joan created her own record label, and created her own legend from then on.  She wasn't and still isn't taking shit from anyone.

I hope that Joan realizes that she's inspired more then just women to pick up the guitar (which is important enough), but that she has inspired EVERYONE to fight for what they want in life.  She recently said on Oprah that she has learned to "push back the push back", and that brilliantly sums up the fight Joan Jett has fought for her 35 plus years in the music industry.  A truly self made rocker who will forever be linked to rock n roll.

Here is a recent performance proving Joan hasn't lost a step...Joan Jett on Oprah 4/14