Happy birthday to the Godmother of Punk, Joan Jett

Welcome to our latest illustrated column, “Babes or Bust,” which focuses on an iconic woman (or women) every Monday by immortalizing them in (illustrated) marble. The more monuments to strong, powerful women there are in the world, the better. (If only I knew how to work an actual, physical chisel.)

Hello world, she’s your wild girl.

Known to some as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, to others as the Godmother of Punk, Joan Jett has long been a female legend in the rock scene since she founded The Runaways. Born in Pennsylvania as Joan Marie Larkin, she allegedly changed her name after her parents’ divorce.

You may know her from the iconic songs “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Cherry Bomb,” “Wild Thing,” or “Bad Reputation,” or you may know her as the frontwoman of her band, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

Either way, Joan was and is a pioneering woman in rock ‘n’ roll, proving that anything rock boys can do, rock girls can do, too.

(Not to mention she’s officially a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)

Her first solo album was rejected by 23 labels in the U.S. before it was self published on Blackheart Records — now how’s that for dedication to your craft? And when Joan Jett wanted to start up a new band after The Runaways, she literally placed an ad in the L.A. Weekly that said she was “looking for three good men!” Is that badass or is that badass?

If there’s anyone you can look to for inspiration on this Monday, take some from Joan Jett. With that, I leave you with this quote from the Godmother herself:

"People don't want to see women doing things they don't think women should do."

Now go be the fox they’ve been waiting for. ?