[109], Joan Jett and the Blackhearts performing in. The title track, a cover of an Arrows song that Joan had performed live for years, became one of the best-selling singles of all time, topped the Billboard charts for seven weeks, and was the third most popular song of 1982. Joan Jett shredded her way through rock and roll's glass ceiling from the 1970s on. After the brief tenure of singer and bass guitarist Micki Steele, Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie soon joined to complete the band, creating the classic lineup. Joan, a singer who was 63 years old at the time, did not suffer a heart attack. Bret Michaels Hospitalized Ahead of Nashville Show With Poison, Def Leppard, Joan Jett. Ill still do any special things that I can, If Im called on. [35] It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. For about two and a half or three years, Ive been in and out of hospitals. I'm not gonna participate in a Jerry Springer fest, bottom line. There was enough for her but not for a band. Now, when I call somebody for an appointment, regardless of what time they can see me, I go, Ill be there. Its always been, Well, Ill have to let you know., I guess his was worse because he didnt get to the hospital in time. Its first time in a long time that Ive written songs. [74], Jett is a sports fan and has remained actively involved in the sports world. From 2000 to 2003, Jett hosted a showcase of new film and video shorts, Independent Eye,[88] for Maryland Public Television. But I was still working at that point, when I could. Ambel was replaced by local guitarist Ricky Byrd during the recording. But I can't really speak to what they're saying. Despite her love of and pride in the Runaways, Joan Jett didn't appear in Vickie Blue's 2004 documentary Edgeplay: A Film About the Runawayswith the rest of the band and refused to let them use any songs she had written, which was a good portion of their catalog. It would be hard on me to go to all these places I had been all my life. Thats what Im trying to figure out. In Bad Reputation,shestates, "How did I personally deal with the crumbling of the Runaways? My audiences have been, for several years now, mainly young people, twenties and thirties. I knew it was coming, and it probably may have been easier for me this way, because I just had to do it. Joan Jett is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who has a net worth of $7 million. Im wanting them to go ahead and put out an EP, but they dont want to do that, so we just got to find the time when we can get together and get the tracks made. Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958)[1] is an American singer, guitarist, record producer and actress. In 1993, Jett and Laguna released Flashback, a compilation of various songs on their own Blackheart Records. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts headlined the Albuquerque, New Mexico Freedom Fourth celebration on July 4, 2007, with an estimated crowd of 65,000 in attendance at the annual outdoor event. Joan is best known for her role as a founding member of the all-female American adolescent rock group The Runaways. [26] Ryan was part of the Los Angeles punk scene and had played bass with local artists Top Jimmy and Rik L. Rik. In the Blackhearts' Hall of Fame essay, writer Jaan Uhelszki called her "the last American rock star, persuing her considerable craft for the right reasons: a devotion to the true spirit of the music. Wanda Jackson: 10 Essential Songs US $45.00. Last week, however, Jackson. So I don't know where people are getting that from. I never have written with other people, so that was a new experience, but I really see the advantage of doing that. I had a knee replacement and then wound up catching that superbug, MRSA. I didn't know what it was. [50], Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were part of the lineup for the Falls Music & Arts Festival, December 29 through January 1, 2010, in Australia.[51]. [46][47], In 2005, Jett and Laguna celebrated the 25th anniversary of Blackheart Records with a sellout show at Manhattan's Webster Hall.[48]. [73] For Valentine's Day 2022, PETA created a (Black)Heart-Shaped Pizza as a limited-time collaboration with a Los Angeles pizza shop, PIZZANISTA! Jett has appeared as Columbia in the Broadway production of "The Rocky Horror Show". Recorded just before she announced her retirement from touring in 2019 at the age of 81, Jackson's 32nd and likely last album the Queen of Rockabilly said she isn't planning to make another was released over the summer via their Blackheart Records and Big Machine Records. There are precious few American entertainers who have been touring longer than Wanda Jackson. [71], Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released Changeup on March 25, 2022, the first acoustic album ever recorded by the band, featuring "Bad Reputation" and "Crimson and Clover". Following the Dave Clark Five's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, on March 10, 2008, Jett, as part of the ceremony, closed the program with a performance of the Dave Clark Five's 1964 hit "Bits and Pieces". Laguna remembers, "We couldn't think of anything else to do but print up records ourselves. In June 2010, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts opened for Green Day on their UK tour alongside acts such as Frank Turner and Paramore. It was very hard on me. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. But I was still working at that point, when I could. Travel these days is so complicated and hard. I knew it was coming, and it probably may have been easier for me this way, because I just had to do it. I never have wanted to have these last touring dates, where you announce it and then go on a long tour. Within a week I was back with double pneumonia. Her cover of "I Love Rock and Roll" was a number one hit in 1982; "Crimson and Clover" was another hit for her. However, there are no reputable news reports available to support this claim. With Joan Jett, David Bowie, Evelyn McDonnell, Don Bolles. teacher inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts", "Joan Jett and the Blackhearts An Open Forum with Joan Jett! Web. The rest of them have passed on., Jerry Lee Lewis also recently suffered a stroke. She was named West Hollywood's Rock Legend. So Ive just been out of commission. Auditions were set up, and Lee Crystal, formerly of the Boyfriends and Sylvain Sylvain, became the new drummer. Whats the status of that? Various other bands such as Antigone Rising, Valient Thorr, the Vacancies, Throw Rag and Riverboat Gamblers were to have joined the tour for a handful of dates each. But none of this stopped her. My husband used to travel with me, my father before him, so we got to do all these wonderful things together. Last week, however, Jackson called a halt to her touring career, announcing that she would be retiring from performing due to health and safety.. And she remains committed to trying to make the occasional one-off performance, health permitting. Jett's first appearance on film is in the 1981 live concert film Urgh! And I wear this one every day. When living in that kind of environment, it is important for Joan Jett to keep her appearance to the maximum. Singing and entertaining and travel were the things I loved most in the world. In a similar vein, it was reported that the singer was diagnosed with a severe heart infection; however, this information has not yet been validated by an official source. Its just been a totally different life from anybody else. To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour and on a fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal. My audiences have been, for several years now, mainly young people, twenties and thirties. ", Despite these not exactly subtle or shy remarks, in 2018,an interviewer for TheNew York Timestold Joan that some had questioned the documentary Bad Reputation playing at the Outfest festival, as Joan had never officially come out. Instead, she was taken to the hospital after becoming ill and beginning to sweat heavily one night. Charles Carmine Zito Jr. (born March 1, 1953), is an American actor, amateur boxer, martial artist, celebrity bodyguard, stuntman, former boxing trainer and former president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels. What Is Mothers Against Greg Abbott Viral Ad Video About? [Holding up her necklace] What the [expletive] is that? Things like that. 306 following. I went in with pneumonia, they sent me home after a week, and I did rehab. She went on to perform with L7 at a Rock for Choice show, fronted the punk band the Gits after the murder of their lead singer Mia Zapata while leading a successful effort to find Mia's killer, and collaborated with Kathleen Hanna, producing singles for Hanna's band Bikini Kill while Hanna wrote songs for Joan's 1994 albumPure and Simple. Edgeplayrecounts his tendency to call the band members names like "Dog sh*t," keep them on drugs and without money of their own, and encourage Cherie Curie to wear underwear onstage and pose for scantily clad photographs. The Riot Grrrl movement started in the early 1990s, with Bikini Kill as a representative band, and many of these women credited Jett as a role model and inspiration. After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. [49] She opened for Def Leppard in August. During this time, Jett co-wrote the song "House of Fire", which appeared on Alice Cooper's 1989 album Trash. Feb 29, 2016, 02:04 PM EST | Updated Mar 1, 2016 When guitarist Lita Ford first joined The Runaways in the mid-'70s at the age of just 16, she knew nothing about homosexuality, she told HuffPost Live last week. [27] The band then toured throughout the US, slowly building a fan base, but struggling to remain financially afloat. Jett recorded a tribute to a woman she had never met to raise the profile of her unsolved rape and murder. Last summer it was reported that you were working on an album with Joan Jett. I have it in a closet and I take it out occasionally to record. You cited your health as the reason for your retirement. Jett bought her first Melody Maker from Eric Carmen, following the breakup of the Raspberries. [83], The comic strip Bloom County included a character named Tess Turbo; her band was the Blackheads.[84]. Laguna's friend Neil Bogart re-released Joan Jett as Bad Reputation on his new Boardwalk Records label. Fowley introduced them to other musicians, seemingly with the intention of putting together a band of teenage girls, although he claimedinEdgeplay: A Film About the Runaways:"I didn't put the Runaways together, I had an idea, they had ideas, we all met, there was combustion, and out of five different versions of that group came the five girls who were the ones that people liked. In April 2019, Jett performed "Bad Reputation" at WWE's WrestleMania 35 as Rousey was making her entrance. Jett provided the voice for the character Sunshine Justice in an episode of Steven Universe. I was so freaked out that I quit the band. I'm actually kind of afraid to bring out the original. But Joan has never addressed the topic of her sexuality, and she has consistently sidestepped the question of whether she identifies as a lesbian or a bisexual. [1] Her family was Protestant, attended church, and went to Sunday school, but were not strict in their religious beliefs. Fun fact: Joan Jett was the first American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain and also the first English speaking rock band to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic. An advertisement announcing that she was looking for "a few good men" led to the formation of the Blackhearts. You cant hardly separate those, of course. [44] The program moved from Sirius 25 (Underground Garage)[45] to Sirius 28 shortly before being canceled in June 2008. The only difference I can tell would be that I have a little bit of difficulty thinking of the right word sometimes, looking for it, to describe something. [citation needed], The band toured around the world and became an opening act for Cheap Trick, Ramones, Van Halen, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The cause of death was not immediately known. Verified. My husband told them, She cant get up there. So they cleaned out some managers little bitty, postage-stamp size room, but thats all I needed. [25] John Doe of X sat in on bass for the auditions held at S.I.R. [90], Jett was the subject of a documentary, Bad Reputation, which was released in theaters and streaming on September 28, 2018.[91]. We didn't stop working.". In 2015, she was honored with the rest of the Blackhearts and Kenny Laguna with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, when I call somebody for an appointment, regardless of what time they can see me, I go, Ill be there. Its always been, Well, Ill have to let you know., Related I heard from one of our road crew that Eric Carmen from the Raspberries was selling a Melody Maker, so I ended up buying it. The album's lead single, also called "Bad Reputation," remains iconic to this day it was named the 29th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 in 2009 and serves as an answer song to Joan's critics and naysayers. In 2008, Jett made a cameo appearance in Darren Lynn Bousman's rock opera/file Repo! There has been no announcement made in a formal capacity, but lets investigate this further. In a similar vein, a user on Twitter claimed that Jett was forced to postpone her performances for a number of months and that she suffered a stroke in the interim because it appeared as though she was speaking from the side of her mouth. Joan Jett covered Tossin' and Turnin', I Can't Control Myself, A.C.D.C., Bring It on Home and other songs. I talked to his sister a few days ago. I feel sorry for him, but hes coming along OK. I realised that if I wanted to do that, there were probably other girls like me who probably wanted to do it too. So Ive just been out of commission. In 1997, Jett was featured on the We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute album. A number of people are currently looking for the singer Joan Jett after hearing the news that she recently suffered a stroke and is in critical condition at the moment. Being out onstage with my audience, the ones that love me and know my songs, and sing along with me. For one thing, it would be too sad. The press touted Jett as the "Godmother of Punk"[37] and the "Original Riot Grrrl". Jett's signature guitar is a white Gibson Melody Maker, which she has played on all her hits since 1977. [7], Jett lives in Long Beach, New York, and has been a New York resident since the late 1970s. All Rights reserved. Born Janet Gertrude Trevor Steer in Calcutta, India, 3rd July 1863, she was the youngest daughter of Charles Steer (1811-1888) who served in the Indian Civil Service, and his Irish-born second wife Janet Ann Wetherall (1820-1889). 1,028 posts. joanjett. Anybody would love that. Jett is a guest artist on Marky Ramone and the Intruders' 1999 album The Answer to Your Problems? She has three albums certified Platinum or Gold by the IRA. Later that year, Jett released Good Music, which featured appearances by the Beach Boys, the Sugarhill Gang, and singer Darlene Love. Joan Jett has earned her place as a legend of Rock and Roll. Rolling Stone'sreviewof Album stated that it"doesn't make a very strong argument for Jett as a major talent.". [60][61] In April 2014, Jett fronted the remaining members of Nirvana for a performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I think he would have been afraid to." A Music War, performing "Bad Reputation" with the Blackhearts at the Ritz in New York City. Byrd recalled in an interview with Guitarhoo!, "One day I went to a studio to jam around a bit with Jett and everything clicked". Ive had to have women live in and work and take care of my home and my children. By Chris Morris. Things like that. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the LuntFontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out. Still, she is shocked that the road will, for the first time since she was a child, no longer be a part of her life again. In May 2021 it was announced that tour was again postponed and will now happen in the summer of 2022. Jett and longtime producer Kenny Laguna talk about leaving a rock legacy and the new documentary Bad Reputation. For one thing, it would be too sad. So all of this has just fit together beautifully. One thing and then another. A separation from Epic Records in 1992 might have proved devastating, but because she and Kenny Laguna had kept Blackheart Records going all along, they had the opportunity to once again release and control music as they saw fit. Joan held up her necklace and responded angrily: "What the [expletive] is that? But it hasnt been too bad. According to a Twitter user, Jett had to cancel months of her shows and appeared speaking from the side of her mouth as if she had a stroke in between. Ive got fans all over the world, and Im still in good enough health that I can enjoy those things. Stewart played Jett in the film. It is officially verified and has a following of more than 502 thousand people, in addition to having 950 or more posts. focused on their youth, gender, and looks instead of their music, andKim Fowley seemingly encouraged this sleazy treatment. The film, based on Stephen King's novella of the same name, premiered on Lifetime on October 18, 2014. In 2004, Jett narrated a short film, Godly Boyish, about two teenagers who share suicidal fantasies. Ill still do any special things that I can, If Im called on. On November 19, 2009, Mattel released a Joan Jett Barbie doll. [97][98], Jett has been a vegetarian since the late 1980s and supports animal rights. Laguna fired O'Brien at the end of the tour,[24] and upon returning to the States, Jett, Ryan, and Ambel moved to Long Beach, New York. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Her condition was considered serious at the time. [22], Jett and Laguna entered the Who's Ramport Studios with the latter at the helm, and Jett's self-titled solo debut was released by Ariola Records in Europe on May 17, 1980. Im hoping to get that finished sometime this year. 2012 Nanci Alexander Activist Award for her work on behalf of animal welfare. And then I played it on "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", "Crimson and Clover", "Do You Want to Touch Me", "Bad Reputation" all those early records. Ive got fans all over the world, and Im still in good enough health that I can enjoy those things. Ive never had time to have a garden, or even cooking. He was 74. After not singing for a while, its hard to get your breath and your singing worked out. of the sequels New Moon and Eclipse). Kerslake asserted that Jetts ability to live was entirely dependent on luck. That same year, Jett appeared on Walker, Texas Ranger as an ex-CIA agent turned assassin hired to kill Walker and Alex. I talked to his sister a few days ago. Theres a lot that goes into it. An early reviewer described the two in 1886 . Her acting received mixed reviewsfrom critics such as Robert Ebert, with Variety calling her line readings "childish and silly." 2013 named and awarded West Hollywood's Rock Legend. This was followed by The Hit List, which was an album consisting of cover songs. It's beautiful, and I still have it, but it's heavy as shit. They found success abroad, especially in Japan. [95] There is now also a "Blackheart" version of this guitar introduced in 2010. This song dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a total of seven weeks and was the number one song overall. She also sang the national anthem at the final game played at Memorial Stadium. 1988 also saw a Runaways reunion of sorts, as well as a rekindling of the members' rivalry, at least on the music charts. Album's first single, "Fake Friends" was a commercial disappointment, and a cover of "Everyday People" did better, though nothing like "I Love Rock and Roll." Ive never had time to have a garden, or even cooking. Its going to be. He will just be a while.. 56 song of all time[31] and has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. Jett supplied theme songs for the ESPN X Games premiere and has contributed music to all their games since. While Currie initially fronted the band, Jett shared some lead vocals, played rhythm guitar, and wrote or co-wrote some of the band's material along with Ford, West, and Currie. It was like a honeymoon, year-round. February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california No Comments . Fox in the Paul Schrader film Light of Day. And I wear this one every day. I had a stroke. In a 1994 interview with Out magazine she said, "I'm not saying no, I'm not saying yes, I'm saying believe what you want. The album was relatively well-reviewed and set Joan up to record a new album for Boardwalk with her new band. 1. But it hasnt been too bad. Im doing pretty well, but its pretty up and down these days. Joan Jett wrote Cherry Bomb, Wait for Me and You're Too Possessive. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and performing with the Runaways, which recorded and released the hit song "Cherry Bomb". One thing and then another. Throughout 1980, the band was able to keep touring solely due to Laguna drawing on advances from outside projects. It's white, has no stickers on it, and there are cracks in the paint and yellowing from age or club cigarettes. In 2002, Jett appeared in the film By Hook or by Crook in the role of News Interviewee. [55][56] August 1 was declared Joan Jett day in West Hollywood. [24] Jett and Laguna used their personal savings to press copies of the Joan Jett album and set up their own system of distribution, sometimes selling the albums out of the trunk of Laguna's Cadillac at the end of each concert. In theNew York Timesinterview from 2018, when asked about Kim Fowley, Joan replied "I never felt threatened by Kim. "[101] In 2006, she responded to an interviewer who had asked her when she had "come out" as a lesbian by saying, "I never made any kind of statement about my personal life on any level. If I ever find a hobby or something, Ill let you know. A stroke occurs when there is a disruption in the normal flow of blood to an area of the brain. It's a guitar full of hits. Its first time in a long time that Ive written songs. Her body of work contains many songs which strongly allude to her having a sexual interest in both women and men. Within a week I was back with double pneumonia. ", The '90s were a decidedly mixed bag for Joan. It was speculated that the famous musician had suffered a stroke, but no credible sources have come forward with information to support this theory. [54] It included songs dealing with the death of her parents and other people. Her Instagram account can be found under the username @joanjett. It didnt leave any physical damage, because I got to the hospital in time. Ive always toured. When Kenny Laguna's daughter Carianne Brinkman joined Blackheart Records in 2002, she brought a younger sensibility to the label and has been a particular champion of Joan, from encouraging her to join the Warped Tour in 2006 to conceptualizing and producing the documentaryBad Reputation. US $50.00. In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well-received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Babes in Toyland's Kat Bjelland, L7's Donita Sparks and Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna. She will be her personal assistant. [3] She has three albums that have been certified platinum or gold. It consists of jackets, shirts, pants, and a sweater.[63]. ", She met drummer Sandy West at Rodney Bingenheimer's via producer Kim Fowley. It must be such a strange thing to get used to. With The Blackhearts, Jett is known for her rendition of the song "I Love Rock 'n Roll" which was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 1982. Joan Jett has worked. Her cover of "I Love Rock and Roll" was a number one hit in 1982; "Crimson and Clover" was another hit for her. What are you going to miss the most about touring? Her name and likeness was used with her permission. [2], In 2010, The Runaways, a movie about Jett's band, was released, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as Currie. Despite her decreasing health, Jackson is vibrant, energized and excited about her future endeavors, which include an album of original material produced by Joan Jett, as well as a follow-up memoir shes currently writing. [2][20], In 1979, Jett was in England pursuing a solo career. "It was more or less Joan's idea to do it ourselves." [77], Though Jett supported Howard Dean in the 2004 election because of his opposition to the Iraq War,[78][79] I went through a phase where I didn't really give a crap because they were gigs I felt like we shouldn't be doing." My husband used to travel with me, my father before him, so we got to do all these wonderful things together. In 1955, 64 years ago, the pioneering country-rockabilly singer was on the road with Elvis Presley, who encouraged the then 18-year-old to move toward rock & roll. In 1993, the raped, beaten, and strangled body of 27-year-old Gits lead. At Cal Ripken Jr.'s request she sang the U.S. national anthem at the Baltimore Orioles game in which he tied[76] Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. I don't know how much more you can declare. US $75.00. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Net Worth And Personal Life Explored, Joe Lycett Sister Beth Lycett Make Clothes For His TV Appearances, Nany Gonzalez Before And After Veneers Transformation Is Astonishing, What Is Bling Empires Blake Abbie Family Net Worth 2023, Michael Chernus And Wife Emily Simoness Made Their Best Decisions In 2015. I wanted to work right up until the point that I couldnt. He had been a fan of the Runaways and Jett for years. She recorded three songs there with the Sex Pistols' Paul Cook and Steve Jones, one of which was an early version of Arrows' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll". Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and performing with the Runaways, which recorded and released the hit song "Cherry Bomb". That same year, she was recruited by Steven Van Zandt to host her own radio show on Van Zandt's Underground Garage radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. The music that falls under the categories of hard rock and punk rock has been nominated for a variety of music awards and has even taken home a few of these honors. [2] Jett's other notable songs include "Bad Reputation", "Light of Day", "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and her covers of "Crimson and Clover", "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" and "Dirty Deeds". I have five songs recorded. In an interview, Stewart revealed that she hoped to be able to sing some songs in the film. [21] Later that year, she returned to Los Angeles, where she began fulfilling an obligation of the Runaways to complete a film that was loosely based on the band's career entitled We're All Crazee Now! Joan Jett does not seem to have suffered a stroke recently. The band was the opening act for Aerosmith's September 2010 Canadian tour. - IMDb Mini Biography By: dsurprise. The Blackhearts followed up this video with a meta one for "Bad Reputation," depicting the rise to stardom that resulted from "I Love Rock and Roll." In 1997, she appeared on the sitcom Ellen,[86] in the episode "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah", performing the title song. She performed a cover of the Johnny O'Keefe song "Wild One" (or "Real Wild Child"). [15], In Los Angeles, Jett's favorite night spot was Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco,[16] a venue that provided the glam rock style she loved. I just need to get my voice back. Kathleen Kennedy described the song in Women's History Reviewas"a defiant reply to what she understood as different codes of conduct applied to make and female rock performers," with lyrics like "a girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do" and "I don't really care if you think I'm strange, I ain't gonna change." The popular disc jockey, who was an AM and FM star for nearly 50 years in the country's biggest radio market, suffered a stroke in January. She will be her personal assistant. Ive always said that I have a revolving door installed in my house, because Ive just been in and out so much. On July 4, 2015, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were part of the Foo Fighters' 20th anniversary show at the RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. [62] Former bandmates Cherie Currie and Lita Ford supported her. I never made any proclamations. It turned out great. But it had to be done. The entertainer suffered an undisclosed stroke in 2018 and has been struggling with a series of physical ailments over the past several years. Joan and Kim Fowley wrote most of the Runaways' songs, including the famous "Cherry Bomb." Joan Jett's sexuality has been a subject of discussion and conjecture throughout her career. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts appeared on several dates of the True Colors tour in the summer of 2008. Three actresses stood in for the departed band members, including Rainbeaux Smith, who was also a rock drummer.