Joan Jett turned “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” into a national anthem—and her career into a leather-clad, guitar-slinging, middle finger to the gatekeepers (including Rolling Stone Magazine) who said women couldn’t rock.
There’s a reason McCartney, Yoko and other huger rockers showed up to her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and gave her a standing ovation.
“Bad Reputation” will surely be in the top 5 of Rock and Roll Women documentaries when I get to that article! 🙂
Trailer for “Bad Reputation”
Watch “Bad Reputation”
You can watch “Bad Reputation” for free on Hoopla with a library/university card.
Or it’s also available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV et all.
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bad-reputation-2018
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 83/100 (Users); 78/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note — Kevin Kerslake directed this 92-minute doc. He’s known for music-heavy, pop-culture-saturated films like “As I Am: The Life and Times of DJ AM”, “Bob Marley: Reimagining”, “Electric Daisy Carnival Experience” (which I rank #11 in my “Best EDM Documentaries”. He also did the “Soundbreaking” series.
Kerslake has a strong visual style rooted in music video culture, and he’s no stranger to stories of fame, addiction, and self-reinvention.
Release Date: September 28, 2015 (premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a limited theatrical release and then a broader release via streaming platforms)
My Review of “Bad Reputation”
The Setup
“Bad Reputation” is a punk rock love letter to Joan Jett — the guitar-smashing, leather-jacket-wearing icon who fought her way into the boys’ club of rock ‘n’ roll.
It’s a full-frontal, unapologetic chronicle of Jett’s decades-long mission to kick down doors, from her teenage Runaways days to her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Joan Jett’s first band, The Runaways, got booed off the stage in Japan… until they became rock gods there.
- Every major label rejected “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.” So Jett and her manager Kenny Laguna pressed it themselves… and it hit #1.
- A record exec once told Jett that “girls don’t sell records playing electric guitar.” She sold over 10 million.
More Highlights from the Doc
- At one point, her gigs were so sparse that she played bowling alleys and roller rinks to keep going.
- Her partnership with Kenny Laguna (who started in bubblegum pop) is a core of the story — both creative and business.
- Footage of The Runaways being treated like a novelty act in the U.S. while being mobbed like The Beatles in Japan.
- The making of her biggest hits: “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Bad Reputation.”
- Her fierce advocacy for other women in music, especially punk and indie scenes.
- The rise of Blackheart Records — one of the first female-run independent labels in rock.
Cameos
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) raves about Jett’s influence on punk and DIY music.
- Debbie Harry (Blondie) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill) reflect on Jett’s role as a pioneer.
- Iggy Pop, Miley Cyrus, Dave Grohl, and Michael J. Fox (!) also make appearances — all worshipping at the Church of Joan.
- Kristen Stewart, who played Jett in “The Runaways” biopic, pops up briefly.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Joan Jett took karate to defend herself during the early Runaways years when fans (and sometimes roadies) got too aggressive.
- She produced the Germs’ only studio album — a foundational record in hardcore punk.
- For a period in the ’90s, she went almost entirely behind the scenes, producing bands like Circus Lupus and Bikini Kill.
- She’s been a vegan and outspoken animal rights advocate since the early 2000s.
- After 9/11, she played free shows for first responders around NYC — often without press coverage.
Wrap Up
“Bad Reputation” does more than trace Joan Jett’s career — it celebrates her refusal to be dismissed, sexualized, or sidelined.
If you think punk rock was all boys and bravado, this doc sets the record straight.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc