With Laguna’s invaluable assistance, Jett founded the Blackhearts, a pivotal moment in her career. Laguna vividly recalled the pivotal conversation, “I advised Joanie to forgo assembling a full band and instead rely on the advance money available.
The budget couldn’t support an entire band. However, she was resolute in her decision to have a band, and I firmly believe that the concept of the Blackhearts was what truly defined Joan Jett’s trajectory.”
To find the right members, Jett took an unconventional approach by placing an advertisement in the LA Weekly, explicitly seeking “three talented individuals”. The audition sessions took place at S.I.R. studios in Los Angeles, where John Doe of X temporarily filled in on bass. During these auditions, Doe recommended a local bassist, Gary Ryan, who had recently been crashing at his place. Notably, Ryan adopted the stage name Gary Moss when he joined the Blackhearts in 1979, in part to conceal the fact that he was just 15 years old at the time. Ryan had already made a name for himself within the Los Angeles punk scene, having played bass for local acts like Top Jimmy and Rik L. Rik. His deep admiration for the Runaways and Joan Jett was evident, and his familiarity didn’t go unnoticed. Jett instantly recognized him during the audition, sealing his spot in the band. It was Ryan who also recommended guitarist Eric Ambel, who was concurrently part of Rik L. Rik. Completing the original Blackhearts lineup was drummer Danny “Furious” O’Brien, formerly of the San Francisco-based band, the Avengers. This nascent lineup graced various venues, including the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, California, and the iconic Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood before embarking on their maiden European tour. The tour included an extensive series of shows in the Netherlands and pivotal performances in England, notably at the renowned Marquee in London.
Regrettably, O’Brien’s tenure with the Blackhearts came to an end following the European tour, courtesy of a dismissal by Laguna. Upon returning to the United States, Joan Jett, Gary Ryan, and Eric Ambel relocated to Long Beach, New York. Auditions ensued, ultimately bringing Lee Crystal into the fold as the new drummer. Crystal, previously associated with the Boyfriends and Sylvain Sylvain, proved to be a perfect fit for the band’s evolving sound. The Blackhearts embarked on a rigorous touring schedule across the United States, progressively amassing a devoted fan base. Nevertheless, they encountered financial hardships along the way. Throughout 1980, the band managed to sustain their tours primarily through advances secured from external projects.
In a bold entrepreneurial move, Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna dipped into their personal savings to produce copies of the Joan Jett album and established their distribution network. On occasion, they sold albums directly out of the trunk of Laguna’s Cadillac following each concert. However, the demand for the album soon outstripped their capacity. Fortunately, Neil Bogart, a longtime friend and the founder of Casablanca Records, entered the scene. A joint venture between Laguna and Bogart led to Jett’s signing with Bogart’s new label, Boardwalk Records. The album was subsequently re-released as “Bad Reputation,” marking a turning point in Jett’s career.