Joan Jett Credits Nirvana Performance on Getting into the Rock Hall
One of the best performances at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in recent years was when Joan Jett fronted Nirvana when they were inducted in 2014. Interestingly, Jett credits that performance for leading to her own induction the following year.
Jett recently spoke with WMMR’s Pierre Robert where she recalled what it was like to be asked to perform with the surviving members of Nirvana and which band member sounded off about Jett not being inducted into the Rock Hall at that point:
Jett: “Getting a call was one of those things where you had both emotions — it was, like, ‘Oh my God! I’m scared shitless. The reason I’m scared shitless is ’cause I know I have to say yes. I have to do this.’ I mean, how, as a rock and roll fan, could you say no? As a Nirvana fan? So, that was not a possibility — saying no. Being asked was such an honor. I didn’t wanna read into it too much and think about it too much, so I just practiced and got it together. And luckily, we had some chances to go through the song before we had to actually play it that night… But, it was an amazing, amazing experience to play and sing with them. I remember turning around and looking at Dave [Grohl] and just seeing his hair flying and thinking about, ‘Wow! It must be really cool to play these songs.’ And Pat Smear I’ve known since he was in The Germs, ’cause I produced that band many, many years ago — in like 1980, or whatever it was. And so he is in Nirvana. And I look at him, and he’s grinning ear to ear.”
Robert: “And Krist Novoselic on the bass.”
Jett: “Yes! He was so funny. I think he’s the one that got me into the Hall Of Fame. ‘Cause he was bitching afterwards, saying, ‘Can you believe she’s not in the Hall of Fame?’ So I think they guilted ’em into it.”
The interview can be heard in its entirety below.
Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
