I Hate Myself for Loving You

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about "I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts from their 1988 album Up Your Alley, spinning now on THE ZOO! This hard-rocking anthem, which hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, was originally penned by Jett in 1986 with a cheeky working title, "I Hate Myself Because I Can’t Get Laid." Producer Kenny Laguna saw mainstream potential and paired Jett with hit-songwriter Desmond Child, known for crafting smashes like Bon Jovi’s "Livin’ on a Prayer." Together, they reworked the song into the gritty, lovelorn banger we know today, with its iconic guitar solo courtesy of former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. Taylor, who jammed with Jett’s guitarist Ricky Byrd before the session, called his minimalist solo a surprising fan favorite in a Jazzed interview. The track’s staying power is unreal—it became a football anthem as the basis for NBC’s Sunday Night Football theme, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," performed by artists like Carrie Underwood, who even joined Jett for a killer 2019 Country Music Awards performance blending both versions.

Another juicy tidbit: the song’s radio journey wasn’t easy. Laguna told Songfacts that by the late '80s, Jett’s punk-rock edge and gender made her a tough sell for stations obsessed with bands like Journey. But Zoo Freaks-like fans bombarded radio with requests, pushing the song to #1 requested status and keeping it on the charts for 26 weeks—six weeks longer than her chart-topping "I Love Rock ’n’ Roll." The track also snagged a Grammy nod for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989, though it lost to U2’s "Desire." Fun fact: one of the backing vocalists on Up Your Alley was Louie Merlino, who later founded the band Beggars & Thieves. Jett herself revisited the song’s legacy in a 2020 Rolling Stone "In My Room" performance, proving its raw energy still resonates. Oh, and did you know Jett and Dolly Parton teamed up for a fresh take on the song for Parton’s 2023 rock album Rockstar? Talk about a legendary collab!

Now, let’s rewind to how Joan Jett, the Godmother of Punk, kicked off her epic career. Born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, she picked up her first guitar at 13 and never looked back. At 15, she co-founded the all-girl punk band The Runaways in Los Angeles after meeting drummer Sandy West at Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco. With Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, and Cherie Currie, The Runaways dropped four albums, including the hit "Cherry Bomb," but faced sexism and media backlash. After the band split in 1979, Jett moved to New York, determined to go solo. Rejected by 23 labels, she teamed up with producer Kenny Laguna to form Blackheart Records, making her the first woman to own an independent label. Her debut solo album, Bad Reputation, was a gritty statement of defiance. In 1979, she formed Joan Jett and the Blackhearts by placing an ad in LA Weekly for bandmates, landing Gary Ryan, Eric Ambel, and Danny "Furious" O’Brien (later replaced by Lee Crystal). Their 1981 album I Love Rock ’n’ Roll exploded with the #1 hit title track, cementing Jett as a rock icon.

Want to keep up with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts? Check out their official website for tour dates, merch, and news. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates, like their 2020 post celebrating the song’s #8 peak or their 2023 Mindsets EP release. Fans, or shall we say Zoo Freaks, can dive into the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Bad Reputation Nation fan site for discographies, interviews, and galleries. Join the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Fan Club on Facebook to connect with fellow devotees sharing stories and rare pics. Keep rocking, Zoo Crew, and let’s keep the Joan Jett love loud and proud!