Joan Jett Talks About Kristen to She Magazine

Imagine being able to talk to Joan Jett in person. How many questions fly through your mind? Exactly! With her life story on film in The Runaways (out on DVD this month) and a Greatest Hits Collection coming out, she’s back on our radar and opening up about her life. When someone has had Jett’s kind of successful, ground breaking career, you think you know her because of her image: a hard-edged rocker chick with an in-your-face attitude and amazing guitar riffs. Yes, but there’s a lot I didn’t know. In 1982, I may have sung my guts out to “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and thought she was the reason black eyeliner was cool, but this legendary rocker set out with a plan at only 16 years old. She is perfectly aware of the place she’s carved out for women in rock, yet remains humble with a deep and gentle soul. 
 
You were 16 years old when you started The Runaways. Did you have any idea the impact you would have on the punk rock music scene? 
Yeah, even at the onset, when the whole dream of forming an all-girl band first came about, I wanted that to definitely be one of the results. Beyond having fun in a band, I wanted to inspire other girls to do what we were doing because I knew how tough it was going to be. We sure found out how hard it was. It was tough and you didn’t know if you were going to make an impact. But yeah, did I want to? Yeah…yes, definitely. 
Back then, it was such a male dominated era of rock, yet you were touring with The Ramones, Cheap Trick and Tom Petty. You were out there breaking down stereotypes for women. Was that even a thought or was it just about being able to go out there and play? 
It was both, really. I think it’s still really a male dominated arena. I figured rock and roll was such a liberated world, no would have an issue with girls playing rock. But you know, it’s like anything, the glass ceiling is everywhere. Once people realized we were serious about playing in a band and it wasn’t a gimmick, then people started to feel threatened. I don’t really get that. When you own your own sexuality, it’s threatening. People are threatened by that, at least a lot of writers, media...


"You know, the reason I never cared about a movie about my life was that I didn’t want anyone to fu*k it up. I would be so crazy if someone made a Runaways movie that I hated, you know?"
—Joan Jett


Shemag


I unabashedly love Joan Jett.


After all, she is a kick-ass woman, completely open about her sexuality, who has been rocking the world for more than 20 years. She understands her place in the history of rock, especially women in rock. But she still has a modest, soulful demeanor that belies her in-your-face onstage presence.


The Runaways movie introduced a new generation to Jett and her music. The film on DVD comes out this month and a Greatest Hits collection is on the way, giving She magazine the perfect reason to interview her. As if anyone really needed a reason other than the fact that she’s Joan effin’ Jett.


On her involvement with The Runaways movie:


I wanted to be around for the filming. You know, the reason I never cared about a movie about my life was that I didn’t want anyone to f--k it up. I would be so crazy if someone made a Runaways movie that I hated, you know?

On Kristin Stewart playing her in the film:

I was thrilled … I met up with Kristen and we got along really well … she really studied me — she got down my body language, my voice inflections, expressions. We’re actually very similar. We’re a lot alike, in our energy, when we talk about stuff, being all over the map.[Laughs]

She was so committed. I remember asking her, early on, if she was going to cut her hair for the film and she said, "Absolutely." I think that helped her to feel like me, rather than wearing a wig. It was good. She wanted me on the set every day. So that was cool.
Twilightish
xoxo
Carrie