Joan Jett

By Todd Oldham

Book Overview

"While it's a look into the life of a rock and roll goddess, it's simultaneously a celebration of women, and not in that Indigo-girls-drum-circle, revolutionize-your-life-by-abandoning-crucial-habits-of-personal-hygiene kind of way." --Juxtapoz Magazine

Rock-and-roll goddess Joan Jett holds a beloved place in the world of music. She started her first band, The Runaways, at age fifteen and has blazed a trail that has inspired and thrilled her fans to this day. AMMO Books is proud to release this authorized, loving tribute conceived and authored by designer Todd Oldham. The book chronicles all aspects of her career and passions through images--from forming The Runaways to her years of touring with her band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Joan Jett features many never-before-seen photos, ephemera, and excerpts from thirty years worth of interviews, carefully curated with Joan herself, covering the multi-decade career of a real rock-and-roll icon. A thoughtful introduction written by renowned indie rocker and Riot Grrrl Kathleen Hanna brings context to this exciting title.

Joan Jett is a revered songwriter, musician, and American icon. In keeping with her pioneering spirit, she went on to be the first woman to start her own independent rock label, Blackheart Records. The Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Greatest Hits compilation was released in March 2010, and a film based on The Runaways starring Dakota Fanning, and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett was released on DVD in July 2010.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934429589
• ISBN13: 9781934429587
• Release Date: November 2010
• Publisher: Ammo Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.2" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

joan jett photobook

I'm a fan of Joan since 1978 and I thought I already knew a lot of pictures of her. This book shows lots of nice, new pictures in good quality.

A "Must Read" for fans of Rock & Roll.

This is a GREAT book for those interested in Joan Jett & the Runaways. The book takes you back to the roots of the group and the efforts of Joan to start a rock band. She gives many insights into the "LA" club scene & how a group of teenage girls changed Rock & Roll. Joan gives an honest account of the of her efforts to form the group and what it took to keep them together. After the Runaways break up in 1978, she takes you into to her world where she was selling her albums out of a back of a car and was rejected by almost every record company. While reading this book, you really get to know the author. She is extremely talented but very humble at the same time. You sense that she REALLY cares about her fans and she always stays true to her music. I respect her because no matter how bad things got, she never potrayed herself as a victim. Of special interest is her relationship with Cherie Currie. With the release of the "Runaways" movie, this book, along with Cherie's "NEON ANGEL" gives a rich history of music in the 70"s & 80"s. Added to the story, there are many great photos of Joan & friends from the 70"s to the present. This is definitely a book that any fan would want to have in their collection. A big "thank you" to Joan for sharing her world with us!

Exquisite execution

This book is more beautiful than I had imagined. What a work of art, the photo's were mostly from earlier in her career. A lot of photo's from her time with The Runaways and an adorable photo of baby Joan in a bath with a rubber ducky, priceless. I was quite surprised to see so many family photo's, Joan usually lives a very private life. The cover it beautiful, and the paper quality is superb, to say the least. This is a treasure for any Jetthead to have, it will sit on my coffee table for all to enjoy. I can't wait to get it signed, it has a perfect bright yellow blank page opposite a beautiful photo of Joan for signing. Lot's of live shots, quite a few from the 1989 5 night stand of sold out shows on Broadway March 1-5 with Joan leaning into a dazed crowd while performing "I Wanna Be Your Dog". Great live photo's of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts playing to huge stadium crowds. There is a lot of commentary given by Joan, her memories of The Runaways. Awsome chapter titled "Whoa what was that" Kenny on Joan and an incredible introduction by Kathleen Hanna in which she refers to Joan as a total wierdo. It is the perfect gift for any Joan Jett fan. Well done! I love it!

An inside look that leaves a nice touch of mystery.

This lovingly packaged autobiography/photo-essay combines a wealth of rare photos (emphasizing Joan's early days, extending through her 1980's chart-hits peak and 1990's "Riot Grrl" revival) with short, sharp bursts of commentary, as well as recollections from special guests Kathleen Hanna, Kenny Laguna, and others. Joan's writing wisely leaves much to the imagination, while managing to be revealing and disarmingly personable. Don't purchase this book expecting a juicy rock n' roll confessional: "Joan Jett" keeps it tabloid-trash free, while focusing on Joan's earliest (and enduring) personal passions and her closely-held beliefs on life, music, and the entertainment industry. Think of it as a high-fashion scrapbook memoir of one of rock's uniquely (and often unintentionally) influential figures - who incidentally happens to be a woman.

ALL THE JOAN JETT I WAS CRAVING!

I won this book in a blog giveaway, and I can't even believe how amazing it is. After seeing "The Runaways," this weekend, I was craving some more info about kick-ass rocker Joan Jett, and this book is all that and more. The photos are amazing, and I love reading all about Joan from her own perspective and in her own words. If you love Joan, The Runaways band or "The Runaways" movie, you have to check out this book. You won't be disappointed!