An Open Letter To Rolling Stone (Joan Jett is PISSED and I don't blame her!)

JoanJett.com ^ | Joan Jett

[Lancey Howard]

The letter is right on. Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, Melissa Ethridge, Linda Perry (4 Non-Blondes), Belly, Heart, Grace Slick, and that's just the beginning - - there are plenty of examples of real women rock 'n rollers. But that is no longer what Rolling Stone is about.

And frankly, that's the only thing about this letter that disappoints me. Rolling Stone is such a washed-up has-been of a "counter-culture" publication that I hate to see anybody take it seriously. I mean, Britney Spears is right down their alley these days, LOFL!! The publication is now like a weird National Lampoon parody of itself.

[sneakypete]

And I don't think she really qualifies as a rocker, but Natalie Merchant

I do. She has a very powerful voice.

[hoppity]

Maria Mckee and Lone Justice were about 13 years ahead of their time. Too bad. I don't think there's a song of theirs that I don't like. I hear a lot of her influence in today's music.

And Maria's first two solo albums were unbelievable.

Saw her in Ventura, CA about 10 years ago. David Grey opened for her. Great discovery he was for me.

[sneakypete]

Damn,but she is looking FINE in that photo!

[Skooz]

what was the guitarists name? Johhny Lightning or something?

Billy Zoom

[Physicist]

I haven't heard Britney botch Joan yet, but if Spears' cover of the Stones' legendary "Satisfaction" is any indication of what her version of "...Rock N Roll" sounds like, Joan has reason to be angry.

Ouch. That was unlistenable.

While I can't stand Britney Spears (except as a sex object; she's the queen of the mute button), at some level it actually does succeed as a cover.

Too many covers sound as if the artist is trying to sound as close to the original as possible. To me, that's the sign of someone who had nothing to add, and shouldn't have bothered. The goal for the artist should be to make the song his own. As an example, I give you Devo's cover of "Satisfaction"; they took the song and turned it into a Devo song.

It seems from the clip that Britney Spears has likewise turned it into a Britney Spears song, and I can respect the effort. The only problem is that a Britney Spears song intrinsically sucks.

[sneakypete]

She is also a woman who gave her time and put herself in considerable danger to entertain our troops when they needed it most.

While we're at it,let's give Robin Williams a little credit,too. He went over there and entertained the troops,and didn't do it for the publicity. I've heard him speak about since he's been back,and he sounds VERY respectful of the troops he visited with.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

That's funny - I always liked the Steve Miller song: "Big 'ol Jed Left the Light on!"

Honestly, for the longest time, I thought he was singing "Big 'ol Chad in a Lineup!" 8^)

[sneakypete]

Annie Lennox

One of the most powerful voices in the business,but I always feel like she's holding back.

Bonnie Raitt

Some of the sweetest slide guitar in the known solar system.

Let's not forget Pat Benetar,either.

[sneakypete]

Read my post about Robin Williams going to Afaghanistan.

[Physicist]

And here's a good word for Siouxsie Sioux.

[sneakypete]

Brit's vandalism of "I Love Rock n' Roll" is perhaps the worst cover of all time.

Four words. Lorne Greene,William Shatner.

[Physicist]

The underappreciated Lene Lovich:

[I_Love_My_Husband]

come back to the thread...I'm having a great time!

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Natalie Merchant definitely has the sultriest voice I can think of outside of soul(Anita Baker is the tops on that level). "MTV's 10,000 Maniacs Unplugged" is one of my 5 favorite CD's.

[Physicist]

Lots of great women in rock.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I love that song "I Saved The World Today"...it was done by the Eurythmics in 1999...fantastic.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

"Running Up that hill"

"Wuthering Heights"....

I'm getting chills here...LOVE those songs!

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Linda Perry...I actually met her several times!!!

You know what? She was nice. She wore the same exact kind of clothes then that she did in that video. She has an amazing voice. I saw her live several times (for FREE!), plus I would chat with her while she waited for the BUS on Market Street!

Much nicer than Exene, who was a TOTAL SNOT!

[Skooz]

Discovered, promoted and produced by David Gilmour. He also played on her first album.