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
Star Star
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way back to New York City
Where you do belong
Honey, I missed your two-tone kisses
Legs wrapped around me tight
If I ever get back to Fun City, girl
I'm gonna make you scream all night
Honey, honey, call me on the telephone
With your can of tasty foam
All those beat up friends of mine
Got to get you in their books
And lead guitars and movie stars
Get their tongues beneath your hood
Yeah! You're a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
Yeah, a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
A star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker star
Yeah, I heard about you Polaroid's
Now that's what I call obscene
Your tricks with fruit was kind a cute
I bet you keep your pussy clean
Honey, I miss your two tone kisses
Legs wrapped around me tight
If I ever get back to New York, girl
Gonna make you scream all night
Yeah! You're a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
Yeah, a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
A star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker star
Yeah, Ali McGraw got mad with you
For givin' head to Steve McQueen
Yeah, and me we made a pretty pair
Fallin' through the Silver Screen
Honey, I'm open to anything
I don't know where to draw the line
Yeah, I'll make bets that you're gonna get
John Wayne before he dies
Yeah! You're a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
Yeah, a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
A star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker star
Yes you are
A star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker star
The song "Star Star" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is a fast-paced rock number which has lyrics that can be considered offensive by some. The song talks about a woman who is promiscuous in nature and is attracted to famous men. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about his time with the woman when they were together, and now that she has gone back to New York City, he cannot stop thinking about her. He misses the woman's "two-tone kisses" and "legs wrapped around him tight."
The song talks about the woman's exploits with different men and her dream to become famous herself, represented by her move to Hollywood. The songwriters use the term "star fucker" to describe the woman, which is a derogatory term used to refer to someone who is romantically interested in famous people to get ahead in life. One line in the song mentions that the woman had performed oral sex on Steve McQueen, which had caused Ali McGraw to be angry with her. The singer also says that he is ready to do anything, and he bets that even John Wayne would fall under the woman's charms before he dies.
Overall, "Star Star" is a catchy, upbeat rocker, with lyrics portraying a woman who is sometimes seen negatively for her promiscuity and pursuit of fame.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, I've been so sad since you've been gone
I have been extremely sad since you left
Way back to New York City, Where you do belong
You belong in New York City
Honey, I missed your two-tone kisses
I miss the way you used to kiss me
Legs wrapped around me tight
Your legs wrapped tightly around me during our time together
If I ever get back to Fun City, girl, I'm gonna make you scream all night
If we ever reunite in New York City, I am going to give you a night to remember
Honey, honey, call me on the telephone, I know you're movin' out to Hollywood, With your can of tasty foam
Call me on the phone, I know you are moving to Hollywood with your belongings
All those beat up friends of mine, Got to get you in their books, And lead guitars and movie stars, Get their tongues beneath your hood
All my acquaintances want to include you in their lives due to the fame and attention you attract
Yeah! You're a star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star
You chase after famous people
Yeah, I heard about you Polaroid's, Now that's what I call obscene, Your tricks with fruit was kind a cute, I bet you keep your pussy clean
I heard about your obscene Polaroid pictures and that you do some unique things with fruit. I assume you are cleanly.
Yeah, Ali McGraw got mad with you, For givin' head to Steve McQueen, Yeah, and me we made a pretty pair, Fallin' through the Silver Screen
Ali McGraw was angry with you for giving oral sex to Steve McQueen, and I thought that we would look great together on the big screen
Honey, I'm open to anything, I don't know where to draw the line, Yeah, I'll make bets that you're gonna get, John Wayne before he dies
I am open to anything and do not know where to stop. I will bet that you will have sex with John Wayne before he passes away
Yes you are, A star fucker, star fucker, star fucker, star fucker star
You are a person obsessed with famous people
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, LESCANO MAURICIO, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben Culture
I had the uncensored cassette since I was eleven. I practically memorized it. Joan sounds exactly like the studio version. She is absolutely the real thing. Unlike certain other rock celebrities who clearly should face mandatory retirement (see my previous comment).
jennifersman
I had that too, glad she included it on the CD reissue
Ben Culture
I've been wanting to listen to "Album" in the car, but I never had the CD, just the uncensored cassette, and my cassettes are all jammed into one box with a huge pile of books on top. So I figured, no way in hell am I ever gonna find that. Then, this morning, I decided to actually look for it, and it was RIGHT THE FUCK THERE, on top of the whole damn pile! I love it when shit like that happens! I was dying to hear "Handyman" and all the other songs in running order.
>"You come around / I can take it
>When you're here / Don't have to fake it
>I'm in your spell / I'm stark naked
>Come as fast as you can
>I need my handyman . . . ."
... Mmm! Yes ma'am! Right away, ma'am!"
radio mindchatter
Very cool hearing Joan singing those lyrics!
Stones Rock n Roll Music
Joan Jett rocks, awesome Star Star!
rockguy
Nothing wrong with Joan covering the Stones! I love the Stones too but they have done even more covers than Joan!
junko libertines
It’s just Joan magic! Joan made my day 💙
Shannon Schaerer
Joan Just Made MY Day - Approx 1Yr Later!! Best LIVE version of this Song I've heard from Her - She Kicks STILL KICKS ASS!! THANK THE UNIVERSE 4Giving US Joan Jett - Cause YES - She IS - A TRUE R'n'R GODDESS!!
Ashley Williams
Awesome song rocked hard by the goddess of rock!
El Kabong
The incomparable, the one, the only, Joan Jett!