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Joan Jett launched her music career as a teenager, helping ignite a movement that challenged long-standing gender expectations in rock and roll. Born in Pennsylvania and later raised in California, she became serious about music at an early age. In the mid-1970s, she co-founded the Runaways, an all-female hard rock band whose aggressive sound and uncompromising image found especially strong support in Japan, even as much of the American music industry remained reluctant to accept women in those roles.
The Runaways released four studio albums during their brief but influential career, beginning with The Runaways in 1976 and Queens of Noise in 1977. Their music was loud, defiant, and unapologetically raw. Internal tensions, lineup changes, and limited commercial support in the United States contributed to the band’s breakup in 1979. Jett then traveled to England, where she recorded with Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook before returning to the United States to build the next stage of her career.
After receiving rejections from 23 record labels, Jett and producer Kenny Laguna financed and independently released her solo debut, Joan Jett, in 1980. They established Blackheart Records, giving Jett lasting control over her recordings and career. The label became an enduring example of independent rock entrepreneurship and later provided a home for other artists working outside conventional industry channels.
The album was reissued as Bad Reputation in 1981 and gained momentum through touring, grassroots promotion, and Jett’s refusal to accept the industry’s rejection. The title track became a defining statement of independence and one of the recordings most closely associated with her career. She then assembled the Blackhearts and recorded I Love Rock ‘n Roll, the album that transformed her into an international star.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ recording of “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and remained there for seven weeks. The album also produced the Top 10 single “Crimson and Clover.” Other early hits included “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” “Bad Reputation,” and “I Love Playing with Fire,” each reinforcing Jett’s combination of punk directness, glam-rock hooks, and driving guitar.
Throughout the 1980s, Jett released a series of albums including Album in 1983, Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth in 1984, Good Music in 1986, and Up Your Alley in 1988. “I Hate Myself for Loving You” reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and later supplied the musical foundation for “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the long-running opening theme associated with NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Jett continued recording throughout the 1990s with The Hit List, Notorious, and Pure and Simple. Although her mainstream chart visibility declined, her influence expanded through collaborations, acting work, constant touring, and her support for younger punk musicians. Artists associated with the riot grrrl movement, including Bikini Kill, recognized her as an important predecessor, while Blackheart Records became a platform for bands operating outside the major-label system.
Naked appeared in 2004, followed by the 2006 album Sinner, her first widely distributed American studio release in more than a decade. The album combined new material with songs that had appeared on Naked and reflected Jett’s continued interest in politics, identity, freedom, and resistance. Her live schedule remained demanding, with appearances on the Warped Tour and at festivals throughout North America and Europe.
The 2010 film The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, introduced the band’s history to a younger audience. Jett served as an executive producer on the film. Three years later, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released Unvarnished, an album that addressed mortality, loss, survival, and the effects of Hurricane Sandy while confirming that Jett remained committed to creating new music.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, with Miley Cyrus delivering the induction speech. The honor recognized Jett’s work as a performer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, and independent-label founder, as well as the Blackhearts’ role in carrying her sound from clubs and small theaters to international stages.
Jett has also aligned herself with causes she believes in, including animal rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and broader efforts supporting women and marginalized artists. Her advocacy has remained consistent with the independence expressed throughout her music and business career.
Blackheart Records continues operating as an independent label and remains central to Jett’s professional identity. Founded after the major-label system repeatedly rejected her, the company became a practical extension of the same self-determination expressed in songs including “Bad Reputation” and “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.”
In 2022, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released Changeup, their first acoustic album, reworking familiar songs in stripped-down arrangements. The six-song Mindsets EP followed in 2023 with entirely new original material, including “If You’re Blue,” “Whiskey Goes Good,” “Shooting Into Space,” and “Before the Dawn.” The EP remains the band’s most recent collection of newly written studio songs.
Jett’s catalog spans solo releases, Blackhearts albums, acoustic reinventions, EPs, live recordings, and compilations. Her songs continue to appear in films, television programs, sports broadcasts, and advertising without losing the directness that made them powerful in the first place. Her voice, both musical and social, has remained tough, clear, and immediately recognizable.
Her influence can be heard across punk, glam, hard rock, alternative music, and pop. Artists from Kathleen Hanna to Miley Cyrus have acknowledged the example Jett set by controlling her image, owning her work, and refusing to change her identity to satisfy industry expectations. Her career demonstrated that women could command the stage, lead a hard rock band, and control the business behind the music.
Complete List Of Joan Jett Songs From A to Z
- “A.C.D.C.” – Sinner – 2006
- “Activity Grrrl” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Androgynous” – Naked – 2004
- “Any Weather” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “As I Am” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Ashes in the Wind” – Notorious – 1991
- “Baby Blue” – Naked – 2004
- “Back It Up” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Backlash” – Notorious – 1991
- “Bad as We Can Be” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Bad Reputation” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Bad Time” – Naked – 2004
- “Be Straight” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Before the Dawn” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Bird Dog” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Bits and Pieces” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Black Leather” – Good Music – 1986
- “Bombs Away” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Brighter Day” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Call Me Lightning” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Can’t Live Without You” – Naked – 2004
- “Celluloid Heroes” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Change the World” – Sinner – 2006
- “Cherry Bomb” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Coney Island Whitefish” – Album – 1983
- “Consumed” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Contact” – Good Music – 1986
- “Crimson and Clover” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Desire” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Different” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Dirty Deeds” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Doing Alright with the Boys” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Don’t Abuse Me” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Don’t Surrender” – Notorious – 1991
- “Everybody Needs a Hero” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Everyday People” – Album – 1983
- “Everyone Knows” – Naked – 2004
- “Eye to Eye” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Fake Friends” – Album – 1983
- “Fetish” – Naked – 2004
- “Five” – Naked – 2004
- “Fragile” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “The French Song” – Album – 1983
- “Frustrated” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Fun, Fun, Fun” – Good Music – 1986
- “Go Home” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Good Music” – Good Music – 1986
- “Goodbye” – Notorious – 1991
- “Had Enough” – Album – 1983
- “Handyman” – Album – 1983
- “Hanky Panky” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Hard to Grow Up” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Here to Stay” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Hide and Seek” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Hold Me” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Hostility” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “A Hundred Feet Away” – Album – 1983
- “I Can’t Control Myself” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “I Got No Answers” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “I Hate Myself for Loving You” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “I Know What I Know” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “I Love Playing with Fire” – Album – 1983
- “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “I Love You Love Me Love” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “I Need Someone” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “I Still Dream About You” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “I Wanna Be Your Dog” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “I Want You” – Notorious – 1991
- “(I’m Gonna) Run Away” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “If Ya Want My Luv” – Good Music – 1986
- “If You’re Blue” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Insecure” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Jezebel” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Just Like in the Movies” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Just Lust” – Good Music – 1986
- “Kiss on the Lips” – Naked – 2004
- “Let It Bleed” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Let Me Go” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Lie to Me” – Notorious – 1991
- “Light of Day” – Changeup – 2022
- “Little Drummer Boy” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Little Liar” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Locked Groove” – Album – 1983
- “Long Time” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Louie Louie” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Love Hurts” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Love Is Pain” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Love Like Mine” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Love Me Two Times” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Machismo” – Notorious – 1991
- “Make Believe” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Make It Back” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “(Make the Music Go) Boom” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Misunderstood” – Notorious – 1991
- “Nag” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Naked” – Naked – 2004
- “New Orleans” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Nitetime” – Album – 1983
- “Oh Woe Is Me” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “The Only Good Thing (You Ever Said Was Goodbye)” – Notorious – 1991
- “Outlaw” – Good Music – 1986
- “Play That Song Again” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Pretty Vacant” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Push and Stomp” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Reality Mentality” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Rear View Mirror” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Riddles” – Sinner – 2006
- “Ridin’ with James Dean” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Right in the Middle” – Naked – 2004
- “Roadrunner” – Good Music – 1986
- “Roadrunner USA” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Rubber & Glue” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature” – Naked – 2004
- “Scratch My Back” – Album – 1983
- “Season of the Witch” – Naked – 2004
- “Secret Love” – Album – 1983
- “Seriously” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Shooting Into Space” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Shout” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Someday” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “Soulmates to Strangers” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Spinster” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Star Star” – Album – 1983
- “Summertime Blues” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Talkin’ ‘Bout My Baby” – Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – 1984
- “This Means War” – Good Music – 1986
- “Time Has Come Today” – The Hit List – 1990
- “TMI” – Unvarnished – 2013
- “Too Bad on Your Birthday” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Torture” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Tossin’ and Turnin'” – Album – 1983
- “Treadin’ Water” – Notorious – 1991
- “Tube Talkin'” – Naked – 2004
- “Tulane” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “Turn It Around” – Naked – 2004
- “Tush” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Up from the Skies” – The Hit List – 1990
- “Victim of Circumstance” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “Wait for Me” – Album – 1983
- “Wait for Me” – Notorious – 1991
- “Watersign” – Naked – 2004
- “What Can I Do for You?” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “Whiskey Goes Good” – Mindsets – 2023
- “Who Can You Trust” – Album – 1983
- “Why Can’t We Be Happy” – Album – 1983
- “Wonderin'” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “Wooly Bully” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “World of Denial” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
- “You Don’t Own Me” – Bad Reputation – 1980
- “You Got a Problem” – Pure and Simple – 1994
- “You Got Me Floatin'” – Good Music – 1986
- “You Want In, I Want Out” – Up Your Alley – 1988
- “You’re Too Possessive” – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 1981
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Albums and EPs
Bad Reputation (1980)
I Love Rock ‘n Roll (1981)
Album (1983)
Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth (1984)
Good Music (1986)
Up Your Alley (1988)
The Hit List (1990)
Notorious (1991)
Pure and Simple (1994)
Naked (2004)
Sinner (2006)
Unvarnished (2013)
Changeup (2022)
Mindsets (2023)
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Updated July 26, 2026.
Complete List Of Joan Jett Songs From A to Z article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
