Philadelphia-born Joan Jett was raised in Maryland, but in 1971, at the impressionable age of 13, her parents moved the family to Los Angeles. In 1975, Jett founded the all-girl rock group, The Runaways, and they became an international sensation with such hits as “Cherry Bomb.” 

Joan was lead vocalist, played rhythm guitar and wrote or co-wrote most of the band’s songs.  With The Runaways, Jett recorded 5 albums and toured the world with opening bands such as Cheap Trick, Van Halen, and Tom Petty.  While the band found great success abroad, the States were not ready to take a band of teenage girls seriously.  In the spring of 1979, the group disbanded.
In 1979, Joan Jett launched a rocky solo career after The Runaways, first in England, then New York and finally back in Los Angeles, where she met producer Kenny Laguna.  Laguna helped Jett put together a self-titled album that was rejected by more than 20 major record labels.  Undeterred, Jett started Blackheart Records and thus became the first woman to own her own label.

Joan Jett formed her next band, the Blackhearts, with the help of Laguna.  The group played several gigs in local California venues before hitting the road on a European tour, including the Netherlands and the Marqee in London.  Upon return to the states, the group started touring within the U.S. and developed quite a following, particularly in New York.  Laguna and Jett decided to press some albums and sold them out of the trunk of their cars after each concert.  Soon, demand was overwhelming and it was time to find a new label.
Casablanca Records signed Joan and re-released her album as Bad Reputation.  Joan Jett and the Blackhearts continued to tour and record and released the album I Love Rock and Roll for Casablanca.  The title track single reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1982 and stayed there for seven weeks. 

Joan Jett had become a hot commodity, with several Top 40 hits and sold out shows with The Police, Queen and Aerosmith.  In addition, Jett was selected in 1987 out to appear opposite Michael J. Fox in the movie, Light of Day, in which she received critical acclaim.  She has also appeared in indie films and television, including a guest appearance on the sitcom, Ellen.  In 2000, she appeared in the Broadway production of The Rocky Horror Show.

In the late 1980’s, the Blackhearts went on to release Flashback, a compilation of her career, on their own label. In the 90’s, Joan started producing bands, such as Circus Lupus and Bikini Kill.  She also worked with the punk band, The Gits.  In 2005, Joan discovered The Vacancies, a group that opened for headliners Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at the label’s 25th anniversary show.
Jett released a new album, Sinner, on her own label in 2006.  Joan and the Blackhearts continue to perform nationwide, including opening eight shows for Aerosmith in 2007.
Jett’s music became popular fodder for movies and television as well.  Bad Reputation was used as the theme song for the TV series, Freaks and Geeks and American Chopper, and in such movies as Shrek and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Jett’s hit single, I Love Rock n Roll, is now #28 on Billboard’s list of songs of all time.  It has been a playable track of the video game, Guitar Hero.  The Microsoft Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II features an achievement called the "Joan & Lita Award" in tribute to Joan and Lita Ford.