Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released the single that would become a chart-topping anthem of hard rock.
On August 1, 1981, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released their cover of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," originally written and performed by the Arrows. Jett had heard the song years earlier while touring in the UK with The Runaways and was determined to record her own version.
The single's release marked a turning point in Jett's career, showcasing her ability to take a relatively obscure song and transform it into a defining anthem of rock music. Its driving guitar riff and defiant vocal delivery encapsulated the rebellious spirit of rock and roll, while also serving as a powerful statement from a woman fronting a hard rock band—a rarity in the era.
The song would go on to achieve massive commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling singles of the early 1980s and a signature song for Jett. Its release cemented her reputation as a serious force in rock music, not merely as a novelty act or a former member of an all-girl band, but as a genuine hitmaker capable of dominating the charts.
The track's enduring popularity has made it a staple of classic rock radio and popular culture, covered and referenced in countless films, commercials, and other media, securing Jett's legacy as an icon of rock music.