Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Joan Jett celebrates ‘Bad Reputation’ with documentary, new song

“Bad Reputation,” a documentary about Joan Jett’s life and career opens in theaters and on demand Sept. 28. (Blackheart Records)

Since making waves with the Runaways as a teen, rock royalty Joan Jett has done things her way.

She says as much when recounting the story of her first guitar lesson in the trailer for “Bad Reputation,” a documentary about her life and career opening in theaters and on demand Sept. 28.

“The guy said ‘Girls don’t play rock ‘n’ roll,’ ” she said. “And I said ‘Bull.’ ”

That teacher has likely eaten his words everyday since then, as Jett has blazed a trail for women in rock music, first with the Runaways and later with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Three years after Jett and the Blackhearts played Northern Quest with Blondie and Melissa Etheridge, the band will return to the casino on Tuesday, this time with Cheap Trick.

The band’s entire discography was recently released on streaming services for the first time, and earlier this week, Jett and the Blackhearts released “Fresh Start,” which was written exclusively for the Kevin Kerslake-directed “Bad Reputation.”

“Sometimes you need to say to yourself, ‘Am I still enjoying what I’m doing? I need to find the fire again,’ ” Jett told Entertainment Weekly’s Dan Reilly about the song. “Part of it was just thinking about rock in general. It’s always been a young person’s game, writing about sex, love and partying. As rock and rollers get older, what do they write about? I’m not sure there’s an answer, but we’re looking for it.”

Jett may still be looking for it, but you can guarantee she’s looking on her own terms and won’t let anyone get in the way of her search.

“You tell me I can’t do something, you know I’m gonna be doing it,” Jett said in the “Bad Reputation” trailer.