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Friday, August 2, 2013

SSMF honored Joan Jett with the "Elmer Valentine Award"


West Hollywood CA (West Hollywood Today) 8/2/2013

Photos & story by Karen Ostlund

 

Multi-platinum selling,  rock-icon JOAN JETT was selected as the 3-days Sunset Strip Music Festival honoree this year.
Joan Jett holding up the Elmer Valentine Award
 

The festival kicked off yesterday in West Hollywood at the House of Blues, which awarded Jett with the “Elmer Valentine Award” and the City of West Hollywood honored JETT by officially proclaiming Thursday, August 1 as “Joan Jett Day”.
Immediately following the tribute ceremony, attendees enjoyed a full live performance
by JOAN JETT & the Blackhearts.

Since co-founding the pioneering all-girl punk quintet The Runaways at age 15, Jett has continued to be an originator, innovator, visionary--and a pivotal figure in the
history of The Sunset Strip.

 

“ I was actually rejected by 23 record companies before I signed with old friend and founder of Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart, and his new label, Boardwalk Records”, said Joan on stage before singing “I love Rock’n Roll”. “The rock-band T-Rex was then my influence, and still is”, she continued.

Bogart  re-released the Joan Jett album as Bad Reputation. After a year of touring and recording, “The Blackhearts” recorded a new album entitled I Love Rock 'n' Roll for the label. Ambel was replaced by local guitarist Ricky Byrd during that recording -
With Byrd on guitar, “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts” recorded their hit album.
The City of West Hollywood honored Joan Jett with a Joan Jett Day


The new single was a re-recording of the title track, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" originally written and recorded by Arrows, which in the first half of 1982 was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks in a row. It is now Billboard’s No. 56 song of all time.  
Boardwalk Records’ Neil Bogart passed away before “I Love Rock 'n' Roll" hit number one.

 

 

“I  lived on the Strip, right across the street from The Whisky,” said Joan.
“The Sunset Strip is a piece of rock ‘n roll history. I never thought all of those insane times would turn into an award, but I’m very honored, and inspired to keep making music.”

 “It is my honor and pleasure to take part in inducting the first female music superstar, Joan Jett, to
the exclusive group of Sunset Strip icons to receive the coveted ‘Elmer Valentine Award,’”
said SSMF Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. “We are delighted to celebrate Joan Jett,
who has so much influenced the history of the legendary boulevard.”
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts performed live at HOB


As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts, Jett has had eight platinum and gold
albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock 'n'
Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover."

 

 

She rose to fame in the late ‘70s, performing on The Sunset Strip as part of the all-girl band The Runaways . Jett was recently able to see her story told in the movie “The Runaways”,  released 2010, a film based on (lead singer of The Runaways) Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel and starring Kristen Stewart as Jett, and Dakota Fanning as Currie. Jett worked close to the project, and served as an Executive Producer.
The story is about the, all-girl rock band, THE RUNAWAYS. They fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley (played by Michael Shannon, Pearl Harbor), who turns the rebellious Southern California kids into a rock group with outrageous success. With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself and so do its two leads: Joan is the band's pure rock n' roll heart, while Cherie, with her Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten in this film.
Joan Jett holding Tsipi Mani's guitar art "Unvarnished" in the same
pose as on the guitar painting. (Gibson guitar)

Today Jett sits at the head of her own independent label, Blackheart Records, and produces various music projects for others, and has acted in movies and television, including 1987's Light Of Day, and in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show.
She has appeared on television shows as “Oprah” (the last season) and “Law and Order.”
The upcoming album, Unvarnished, will be released on October 1st. It will be Jett’s  14th studio album with the Blackhearts, and will also feature Dave Grohl and Laura Jane Grace.
www.JoanJett.com  

 
2013 marks the 6th installment of the award ceremony and the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC Festival,
which celebrates the music and icons that have made an impact on the legacy of The Strip.
The event debuted in 2008 with the recognition of Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine, founders of cornerstone Sunset Strip venues The Roxy Theatre, Rainbow Bar & Grill and Whisky A Go-Go.
 In 2009, Ozzy Osbourne received the “Elmer Valentine Award,” which was named after the passing of original honoree Valentine.
 
The 2010 award went to Slash, and in 2011 Mötley Crüe was recognized, and in 2012 The Doors were celebrated.

 

Today , August 2nd Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey & Swing House Studios will present the SSMF Free Kickoff Party concert , in the lot across the street from The Roxy, 8950 Sunset blvd. 7-11pm.
This outdoor showcase will feature live performances by Franky Perez & The Truth, Jessica Childress Family Wagon,Great White Buffalo,  Exist Elsewhere and plus The Independent FM, DJs. Food trucks will be provided by the Grilled Cheese Truck, Border Grill and Joe’s Pizza.

As in past years for the Saturday event, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard will be transformed into a premier concert destination with two outdoor stages, beer gardens, an artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge,

VIP Lounge at On The Rox, food trucks, a live art guitar painting by street artist Gregory Siff and Ethos Gallery and interactive experiences.

This year also features the Viper Room’s Guitar Center outdoor stage and an “Oasis lounge” outside of The Roxy.

The Saturday performances on the two outdoor stages in the middle of Sunset Blvd. begins at 2:30 p.m. and ends with Linkin Park’s headlining set from 9:30 to 11:00 PM. 
Bands will also be performing throughout the day and night at The Roxy, Whisky and the new outdoor Viper Room stage.
 
 
Tickets for the Saturday, August 3rd SSMF 2013 street festival:
 A significant portion of this year’s ticket sales will benefit Music For Relief, a nonprofit organization to support disaster relief, provide aid to survivors of natural disasters and support the prevention of such disasters via environmental programs.
 SSMF thanks its supporters including Jack Daniel’s, Gibson Guitar, Hornburg Land Rover/Jaguar,
Bud Light. Monster Energy, 98.7 fm, KTLA, Eventbrite, City of West Hollywood and Visit West Hollywood.
 

 
 

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