West Hollywood CA (West Hollywood Today) 8/2/2013
Photos & story by Karen Ostlund
Multi-platinum selling, rock-icon JOAN JETT was selected as the 3-days
Sunset Strip Music Festival honoree this year.
 |
| Joan Jett holding up the Elmer Valentine Award |
The festival kicked off yesterday in West
Hollywood at the House of Blues, which awarded Jett with the “Elmer Valentine
Award” and the City of West Hollywood honored JETT by officially proclaiming
Thursday, August 1 as “Joan Jett Day”.
Immediately following the tribute ceremony,
attendees enjoyed a full live performanceby JOAN JETT & the Blackhearts.
Since co-founding the pioneering all-girl punk
quintet The Runaways at age 15, Jett has continued to be an originator,
innovator, visionary--and a pivotal figure in the
history of The Sunset Strip.
“ I was actually rejected by 23 record companies before I
signed with old friend and founder of Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart, and his
new label, Boardwalk Records”, said Joan on stage before singing “I love Rock’n
Roll”. “The rock-band T-Rex was then my influence, and still is”, she continued.
Bogart re-released
the Joan Jett album as Bad Reputation. After a year of touring
and recording, “The Blackhearts” recorded a new album entitled I Love Rock
'n' Roll for the label. Ambel was replaced by local guitarist Ricky Byrd
during that recording -
With Byrd on guitar, “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts”
recorded their hit album.  |
| The City of West Hollywood honored Joan Jett with a Joan Jett Day |
The new single was a re-recording of the title track,
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" originally written and recorded by Arrows,
which in the first half of 1982 was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7
weeks in a row. It is now Billboard’s No. 56 song of all time.
Boardwalk Records’ Neil Bogart passed away before “I Love Rock 'n' Roll" hit number one.
Boardwalk Records’ Neil Bogart passed away before “I Love Rock 'n' Roll" hit number one.
“I lived
on the Strip, right across the street from The Whisky,” said Joan.
“The Sunset Strip is a piece of rock ‘n roll
history. I never thought all of those insane times would turn into an award, but I’m very honored, and
inspired to keep making music.”said SSMF Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. “We are delighted to celebrate Joan Jett,
who has so much influenced the history of the legendary boulevard.”
 |
| Joan Jett & The Blackhearts performed live at HOB |
As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts,
Jett has had eight platinum and gold
albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the
classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock 'n'Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover."
She rose to fame in the late ‘70s, performing
on The Sunset Strip as part of the all-girl band The Runaways . Jett was recently able to see her story told in
the movie “The Runaways”, released 2010,
a film based on (lead
singer of The Runaways) Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel and starring Kristen
Stewart as Jett, and Dakota Fanning as Currie. Jett worked close to the
project, and served as an Executive Producer.
The story is about the, all-girl rock band, THE RUNAWAYS.
They fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley
(played by Michael Shannon, Pearl Harbor), who turns the rebellious Southern
California kids into a rock group with outrageous success. With its tough-chick
image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself and so do its
two leads: Joan is the band's pure rock n' roll heart, while Cherie, with her
Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten in this film. |
| Joan Jett holding Tsipi Mani's guitar art "Unvarnished" in the same pose as on the guitar painting. (Gibson guitar) |
Today Jett sits at the head
of her own independent label, Blackheart Records, and produces various music projects for
others, and has acted in movies and television, including 1987's Light Of Day, and in the
Tony-nominated Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show.
She has appeared on
television shows as “Oprah” (the last season) and “Law and Order.”The upcoming album, Unvarnished, will be released on October 1st. It will be Jett’s 14th studio album with the Blackhearts, and will also feature Dave Grohl and Laura Jane Grace.
www.JoanJett.com
which celebrates the music and icons that have made an impact on the legacy of The Strip.
In 2009, Ozzy Osbourne received the “Elmer Valentine Award,” which was named after the passing of original honoree Valentine.
The 2010 award went to Slash, and in 2011 Mötley Crüe was recognized, and in 2012 The Doors were celebrated.
Today , August 2nd
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey & Swing House Studios will present the SSMF
Free Kickoff Party concert , in the lot across the street from The Roxy, 8950
Sunset blvd. 7-11pm.
This outdoor showcase will
feature live performances by Franky Perez & The Truth, Jessica Childress
Family Wagon,Great White Buffalo, Exist
Elsewhere and plus The Independent FM, DJs. Food trucks will be provided by the
Grilled Cheese Truck, Border Grill and Joe’s Pizza.
As in past years for
the Saturday event, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to
traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard will
be transformed into a premier concert destination with two outdoor stages, beer
gardens, an artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge,
VIP Lounge at On The Rox,
food trucks, a live art guitar painting by street artist Gregory Siff and Ethos
Gallery and interactive experiences.
This year also features the
Viper Room’s Guitar Center outdoor stage and an “Oasis lounge” outside of The
Roxy.
The Saturday performances on the two outdoor stages in the middle of Sunset Blvd. begins at 2:30 p.m. and ends with Linkin Park’s headlining set from 9:30 to 11:00 PM.
Bands will also be performing throughout the
day and night at The Roxy, Whisky and the new outdoor Viper Room stage.The Saturday performances on the two outdoor stages in the middle of Sunset Blvd. begins at 2:30 p.m. and ends with Linkin Park’s headlining set from 9:30 to 11:00 PM.
Bud Light. Monster Energy, 98.7 fm, KTLA, Eventbrite,
City of West Hollywood and Visit West Hollywood.
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