Joan Jett ’s "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is more than just a 1982 chart-topper; it is the definitive anthem of female empowerment in rock music. While most associate the song entirely with Jett, its journey to becoming a global phenomenon involved a six-year gestation and a determined fight against industry rejection. 1. The Song's Surprising Origins
The track was not an original Jett composition. It was written in 1975 by and Jake Hooker for their UK-based glam rock band, The Arrows . Merrill wrote it as a "knee-jerk response" to the Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)," feeling that the Stones' title was too dismissive of the genre. joan_jett_i_love_rock_n_roll