Most people know Joan Jett from her red leather-clad MTV hit “I Love Rock n Roll”. But director Kevin Kerslake’s new film, Bad Reputation, shows everything from her first guitar, to forming The Runaways, all the way up to her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Inspired by the likes of David Bowie and Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, the 14-year-old Joan’s passion for rock music led her to found the Runaways with drummer Sandy West.
Under the management of Kim Fowley (described by Iggy Pop as “Frankenstein, if Frankenstein was on crack”), the Runaways soon grew to six members and were touring internationally.
Although the 1970s were full of hope and promise for social change, Jett and the band ran into massive amounts of sexism and opposition. They had ribs broken, were spat on, and stemming from the belief that girls shouldn’t play guitars.
Fast forward to 1979. After a long series of conflicts within the band, the Runaways broke up, leaving Joan with fame but no fortune to go with it. She recalls having to ask for cash to get an ice cream on the road.
After finding producer Kenny Laguna, a music producer with a bubblegum pop background, Joan got a solo record deal, had a massive hit (1981’s Bad Reputation), and, by the mid-80s, found herself performing for massive crowds with big celebrities watching from the sidelines. Overall, Bad Reputation does a fantastic job of showing Jett’s experience outside of what you see on MTV, and is a great window into the punk scene in the 70s/80s.
Fun with intergenerational appeal, Bad Reputation will have your mum digging out her old leather pants.
Bill (13)
Bad Reputation
Melbourne International Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival