Crimson & Clover

The Zoo Crew is spinning the psychedelic vibes of Crimson & Clover by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, a cover of the 1968 Tommy James and The Shondells classic, featured on their 1981 album I Love Rock 'n Roll. This track, released as a single in 1982, climbed to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their second-highest charting hit in the U.S. It also hit #4 in Canada and #6 in Australia, resonating with Zoo Freaks worldwide. A cool tidbit: Joan Jett kept the original pronouns in the lyrics, making it one of the rare love songs by a male vocalist covered by a female artist without changes, preserving its raw, universal appeal. The song’s music video, directed by David Mallet, shows Jett singing in a stairwell and rocking out on stage, capturing her gritty energy. Fans on Reddit have noted how Jett’s version feels like a nod to Tommy James, with some saying her take “made the song her own” through its punk-infused edge.

Another fun story comes from Jett’s 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, where she performed Crimson & Clover alongside Tommy James, Miley Cyrus, and Dave Grohl. The performance was a powerful moment, bridging generations of rock fans and showing the song’s timeless pull. Jett’s longtime producer, Kenny Laguna, shared in an interview that the song was a natural fit for her, given her love for reinterpreting classics with her fierce style. On X, Jett herself posted in 2018 about the song’s chart success, celebrating its peak at #7 on June 19, 1982. The track also got a fresh spin in 2022 with the band’s first acoustic album, Changeup, featuring a stripped-down version of Crimson & Clover that Zoo Freaks might dig for its chill, retro vibe.

Joan Jett, born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, kicked off her career as a teenage rebel with a guitar. Growing up near Philadelphia and later in Rockville, Maryland, she was drawn to rock’s raw energy. At 16, she co-founded The Runaways, an all-female punk band, releasing four albums from 1975 to 1979. After the band split, Jett moved to New York and launched a solo career, but faced rejection from 23 major labels. Undeterred, she teamed up with producer Kenny Laguna to form Blackheart Records, funded partly by Laguna’s daughter’s college savings. They sold records out of his car at shows and indie stores, building a grassroots following. In 1979, Jett formed The Blackhearts with Laguna’s help, and their 1981 album I Love Rock 'n Roll skyrocketed her to fame, with the title track hitting #1 for seven weeks.

Jett’s white Melody Maker guitar, bought from Eric Carmen of The Raspberries, became her signature instrument, used on hits like Crimson & Clover and I Love Rock 'n Roll. She’s also a trailblazer beyond music, producing bands like The Germs and starring in the 1987 film Light of Day. Her activism and unapologetic style earned her a spot on Rolling Stone’s greatest guitarists list and a 2015 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Zoo Freaks can connect with her on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather at sites like Last.fm and Reddit’s music community, while Facebook groups like Joan Jett and The Blackhearts Fans keep the love alive with discussions and throwback pics.