How “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” Became Joan Jett’s Defining Anthem

Year “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” was originally written and recorded by British glam rock group The Arrows. It was first released as a B-side and gained only modest attention before Joan Jett heard it while touring England in the mid-1970s as a member of The Runaways.

Age at which Joan Jett had formed the Runaways, already carving out a place for women in rock and building the musical identity that would later help her recognize the song’s potential.

Year Joan Jett recorded an early version of the song after the Runaways split, though it still had not yet taken the definitive form that would eventually make it a cultural landmark.

Year Joan Jett teamed up with the Blackhearts and the song finally found its definitive form. She later recalled recording during the week and touring on weekends, a nonstop pace that helped sharpen the band’s sound into the gritty, no-frills version that audiences embraced.

Year the song took over the charts and became Joan Jett’s only No. 1 single, turning an overlooked track into one of the most recognizable rock songs of all time. By March, it was everywhere, and its success cemented her place in rock history.

Length of time the song spent at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, dominating the chart despite early resistance from radio programmers who were unsure whether it was too punk, too rock, or unsuited for adult contemporary formats.

U.S. sales threshold the song crossed on its way to platinum certification, helping secure its status as one of the biggest hits of the year and an enduring rock anthem later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.