Joan Jett - Punk Ambassador

Jett Idol, originally uploaded by Theresa K.

This photo got a lot of play in rock magazines around the world, thanks to Pleasant, who even back then, knew how to make a scene.

Joan Jett let us all party in her apartment right off the Sunset Strip the week Billy Idol was in LA promoting the second Generation X album.
Pleasant is the one who Billy is talking to in this pic! Next to Pleasant is Wendy Burns. Her big sister, Kathy, was my roommate. I was still going to UCLA when this pic was taken!

Anyway - I call Joan Jett the Punk Ambassador because she did a lot to promote LA Punk music around the world. She is still one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Nice and sweet despite her singing that she "don't give a damn about my bad reputation," or that jet-black hair (all shaved off now) and her kohl-lined eyes. Musicians and fans alike loved Joan.

So, when the Runaways were on tour in all the far-flung places in the world, Joan was establishing LA's reputation as a nice and friendly place.

Here's a nice pic of Joan backstage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with Nigel Harrison of Blondie.



I don't think there will ever be a time like the 70s again. As Rodney Bingenheimer always says, "It's all happening."

And it was.