Such was the case when Joan Jett and the Blackhearts took the stage at the Chevy Court and absolutely destroyed the place (metaphorically speaking, anyway). Playing two sets after Asleep at the Wheel and The Spinners, Joan and her band ripped away the court’s quiet facade with some head-banging fun that probably blew the ears off quite a few listeners. She even spared the crowd a few grins while she was up on stage, clearly enjoying herself - not to mention the reaction to her performance, which was probably more energetic than she’d expected.

Good stuff, Jett. Blast that guitar, blast that microphone, and have fun doing it. Check out pictures of her performance here.

1.) A symbol on the back of her neck, somewhat resembling Japanese kanji.

2.) An inverted triangle on her left arm, surrounded on both sides by an intertwining bracelet-esque design.

3.) A jet (pretty fitting, that) just below her belly on the left side; not normally visible.

4.) A spiraling tattoo on her left forearm.

5.) And, finally, another sort of inverted triangle situated just above and between her breasts.

Does she have any more? Perhaps so. Will she get more? Time will tell.

The first version of the song was recorded by the Arrows in 1975. First released as a B-side, it was quickly rerecorded as an A-side record when the song’s popularity was discovered. This version did relatively poorly regardless, however, as the band’s label did almost nothing to promote them.

Jett first decided to cover “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1979 alongside two members of the Sex Pistols. But this version was far from a hit, and Jett only hit pay dirt with the 1982 second cover with her own band. It managed to sit at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in a row and saw her album, I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, propelled to the number two album in the United States.

This song has since been ranked as number 484 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

But there’s no definitive way to tell. Why? Because Jett won’t verify it herself. She refuses to discuss her sexual orientation publicly. “But I do it in my music, and I always have,” she said in an interview with The Seattle Times. “If you don’t know who I am from listening to my music, then you’re not going to figure it out from me talking to you, either.”

So it’s open to interpretation. But even by looking at the albums and the lyrics, there’s still no real way to know which way Jett swings. And, to be honest, does it really matter that much? Her music speaks volumes for her on every subject already.

The song is typical Joan Jett fare, and is extremely well known to fans of older rock music. The song is a celebration of Joan Jett’s attitude; it discusses her lack of concern over her bad reputation (hence the name of the song), and she lauds herself with upbeat rock music and memorable (if repetitive) lyrics.

The song’s video features Jett’s difficulties in getting signed with music companies, though by the end those same companies – including everybody else Jett slights in the video – are dancing happily along with her. It’s a nice spin on what would otherwise be a negative theme.

Check out Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation below, with lyrics:

Bad Reputation Lyrics

I dont give a damn bout my reputation
Youre living in the past its a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and thats
What Im gonna do
An I dont give a damn bout my bad reputation

Oh no not me

An I dont give a damn bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An Im only doin good
When Im havin fun
An I dont have to please no one
An I dont give a damn
bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

I dont give a damn
bout my reputation
Ive never been afraid of any deviation
An I dont really care
If ya think Im strange
I aint gonna change
An Im never gonna care
bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

Pedal boys!

An I dont give a damn
bout my reputation
The worlds in trouble
Theres no communication
An everyone can say
What they want to say
It never gets better anyway
So why should I care
bout a bad reputation anyway
Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

I dont give a damn bout my bad reputation
Youre living in the past
Its a new generation
An I only feel good
When I got no pain
An thats how Im gonna stay
An I dont give a damn
bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not
Not me, not me

Or so it was reputed, anyway. Carmen Electra and Joan Jett, member of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and a hardcore rocker, were allegedly caught backstage at one of Jett’s concerts sharing some very intimate kissing. Electra is reported to have been a big fan of Jett since her childhood; apparently that was displayed very aggressively by the superstar.

Electra has since, however, refuted that they were ever dating in the first place. They are, instead, just good friends who like to spend time together. And if that’s not proof enough, Electra is now engaged to be married to Korn guitarist Rob Patterson.

Is her lesbianism refuted or not? You decide.

As part of the New York State Fair Joan Jett will be giving a free performance in Chevy Court on August 23rd. Other performers at The Fair will be Cheap Trick, Journey & Heart, who will perform at the Grandstand. More State Fair concerts are due to be announced.