Although we know rock stars for their general acceptance and the fame that goes with them…
However, the roots of events are, almost always, invisible and dirty.
The esteem of a musician is for most “common people”, rather negative.
The image of a man with a guitar on his back does not particularly fascinate the majority.
Maybe, if it is a man, this image may have some effect on some young girls …
But if it is a woman then it will probably be considered a “threat” to the male population.
Even nowadays anyone starting to deal with Rock is hard to accept, 30-40 years back things were even darker.
All-female bands even today are a rare phenomenon throughout the Rock N ‘Roll range.
The Runaways were a set of personalities that could hardly be affected by social stereotypes.
One of them was the Rock N ‘Roll definition of a female figure… This being, of course, Joan Jett.
Her personal debut album “Bad Reputation” in 1980, shows that punk rock is not a male affair!
The creation
The greatest proof, its homonymous song, was her composition along with Ritchie Cordell, Kenny Laguna, and Marty Joe Kupersmith.
The epitome of a rock ‘n’ roll girl, Joan Jett didn’t have the best of reputations.
The characterization of the “bitch” that they give her seems to flatter her rather than offend her.
Her attempts to find a record company have been in vain with the most common response being: “No, she’s too crazy, like punks and nazis.”
The singer had a very bad reputation and no luck.
Kenny Laguna, after an unspeakable act for common people, tried, as an older person, to make her see reason.
The response he got was: “Look, I don’t care about my bad reputation”.
Along with that answer, the idea for the song was born!
A fast-paced Punk Rock track, created on the Jerry Lee Lewis tempo.
All the guitars had to be played by herself and with an addition of drums the song was ready.
As the manager had collaborated with The Who, with whom he was also a friend, the entire album was recorded with their own money.
It was originally released by German Ariola Records, but disagreed with the release of the song as the first single.
Laguna then re-acquired the rights to the album, creating his own company, Blackheart Records.
The verse, “I Don’t Give a Damn About My Reputation, It’s a New Generation”, in addition to the artist’s autobiography, essentially gave a new perspective to the female audience.
The idea of a girl doing what she wanted, no matter what others would say, was radical at the time.
That fact alone fascinated many people, not just women.
It basically paved the way for her next big hit, which made her a real rock star.
The song has been heard in several films, including Shrek. The most popular cover is that of Avril Lavigne in 2012.
And somehow that bad reputation … created a new era!