Shortly after that, with Kenny's assistance, Joan formed the backing group "The Blackhearts" with three obscure New York area musicians: Gary Ryan on bass, Eric Ambel (replaced shortly thereafter by Rick Byrd) on guitar and Lee Crystal on drums. After almost a year of touring, Joan's first album with The Blackhearts, entitled I Love Rock'N'Roll came out in December of 1981. The album included a version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the pre-Christmas editions. The album's impact on the music scene was immediate with the LP reaching the Top Five, while the single "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit the very top of the Billboard's Charts on March 20, 1982 and stayed #1 for 7 weeks. Joan Jett had come back from nowhere.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the second American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain, the first one being Blood, Sweat & Tears in Romania in 1969. She was among the first English-speaking rock acts to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Forced label changes in the 80's led to a decline in popularity. Despite the follow-up albums "Album" and "Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth" being praised by her devout fans, neither got the attention or radio play the first two albums received.
After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. They were soon replaced by the powerful rhythm section of Thommy Price and Kasim Sulton. Later that year, Jett released "Good Music", which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and singer Darlene Love. The album only spawned two minor singles which received little airplay. This label decided the band had to either take in outside help or they would lose their contract.
And so they did. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by "The Hit List", which was an international hit. Popular songwriter/producer Desmond Child was brought in, resulting in the release of album "Up Your Alley". This album brought the band a resurgence in popularity, with top 10 singles "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Little Liar".
This return to the spotlight would be short-lived, however. Follow-up album "The Hit List", an all-cover songs release, spawned only a minor hit with Jett's version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever.
1991 and 1994 had two more releases, "Notorious" and "Pure & Simple". But radio had started looking to grunge by this time, and neither album got the attention they deserved.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released "Flashback", a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, "Notorious" (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
While a slew of hits packages, some with an occasional new or previously unreleased track were released following this, it would be 10 years before a new studio album would appear.
This would be 2004's "Naked", and thus far has been a Japan-only release. The album sees Jett returning to a more raw and experimental sound, closer to that of her first 4 releases than the polished material that began with "Good Music".
Failing to get "Naked" released in other markets, Jett released on a more international level "Sinner" in June 2006, on Blackheart Records, her own label.. This album featured many remixed tracks from "Naked", and a complete rewrite of "Stuck in the Middle" to new version "Riddles". Lead-off single and video was a cover of "A.C.D.C." by Sweet.
To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour, and embarked on a Fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal.
After a long break from recording, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released a 6-song EP of new material, "Mindsets," in June 2023.
Wynnewood
Rebel Rebel
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair's alright
Hey babe, let's go out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo [Repeat: x2]
You've got your mother in a whirl 'cause she's
Not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair's alright
Hey babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they're playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo [Repeat: x4]
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
You've torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can't get enough, but enough ain't the test
You've got your transmission and your live wire
You got your cue line and a handful of lubes
You want to be there when they count up the dues
I said I love your dress
You're a juvenile success
Oh how could they know?
Oh how could they know?
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’s hit song Rebel Rebel is an energetic rock ‘n’ roll anthem that celebrates the power of rebellion and self-expression. The lyrics describe a protagonist, referred to as “hot tramp,” who challenges traditional gender norms and pushes back against societal expectations. The song opens with the catchy chorus, “Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress, Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess, Rebel Rebel how could they know? Hot tramp, I love you so!” The lines suggest a sense of admiration for the individuality and non-conformity of the character being described.
The second verse continues to express this unconventional love story between the singer and the rebel, while the third verse adds an additional layer of rebellion through the mention of “transmission” and “live wires.” These lines imply a desire to break free from the limitations of societal norms and explore the full extent of human potential. The lyrics are accompanied by a driving beat, heavy guitar riffs, and powerful vocals that create an infectious atmosphere of freedom and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo [Repeat: x4]
Instrumental intro
You've got your mother in a whirl
Your behavior is confusing and overwhelming to your parent
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Your gender expression is ambiguous to your parent
Hey babe, your hair's alright
I appreciate your hair
Hey babe, let's go out tonight
Let's go out together tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We have mutual attraction and enjoy various activities together
We like dancing and we look divine
We enjoy dancing and always look great doing it
You love bands when they're playing hard
You appreciate music that is played with intensity and energy
You want more and you want it fast
You desire excitement and instant gratification
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
Others criticize you and blame me for your behavior
You tacky thing, you put them on
You don't care about their negative opinions and dress in a way that they disapprove of
Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Your clothing is torn, representing a rebellious attitude
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Your makeup is smudged or your face is unkept, showing your defiance
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Others cannot understand your desire for rebellion and independence
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Despite your rebellious behavior, I am deeply in love with you
You can't get enough, but enough ain't the test
You crave more excitement and rebellion, but that is not a true measure of success
You've got your transmission and your live wire
You have energy and passion in your actions and words
You got your cue line and a handful of lubes
You have the right tools and confidence for your rebellious behavior
You want to be there when they count up the dues
You want to defy authority and face the consequences, whatever they may be
I said I love your dress
I appreciate your unique sense of style
You're a juvenile success
You are young, but have already achieved a certain level of success in rebellious behavior
Oh how could they know?
Others cannot understand the true depth of our love or rebellious spirit
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID BOWIE, JORGE SUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind