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You know Joan Jett loves rock and roll, but did you know she also loves the Baltimore Orioles?
Turns out, Jett is one heck of a sports fan.
On Tuesday, Jett will release her first studio album in more than a decade. She and the Blackhearts will perform on the Vans Warped Tour in support of the CD, titled "Sinner." They will be in Washington July 15 when the tour stops at the Gorge in George.
But don't think it's all guitars and amps for the original riot grrrl. It's also baseball, basketball, football and extreme sports.
Just days after shooting the video for the CD's first single, "A.C.D.C.," with Carmen Electra, Jett settled in to talk sports with Sports2Day.
Q: Before we get into the sports talk, tell us about what you and the band have been up to.
Jett: Well, we have this new cd that's coming out on June 13th, well, the sixth officially, but it's called "Sinner." It's the first new CD in10 years or something like that. It's been a long, frustrating process, but we finally made the record. Beyond that, we've just been on the road. We just shot a video for one of the songs and we're in New York screening it. We'll be on the Warped Tour and just all over this summer.
Q: You're a regular at New York Liberty WNBA games. Are you a WNBA fan?
Jett: To start with, I'm a sports fan. A big fan. I've always been supportive of women doing whatever they want to do, whether it's play basketball, be a musician, a doctor or a stay-at-home mom - that's work, too. But I bought season tickets without thinking anything about it, before I really knew anything about the WNBA, just to be supportive. But I've turned into a huge Liberty fan. I still have season tickets and go whenever I can.
Q: Did you play sports as a kid?
Jett: I did play sports when I was a kid, but I don't remember my school ever having girls teams. I would think if they did, I would've been all over it. But I played in every pick-up game there was in the neighborhood - everything from dodge ball to baseball in the street.
Q: Where did you grow up?
Jett: Well, I was born in Philadelphia, but I lived in Pittsburgh, Erie (Pa.) for a bit. I was in Maryland for my formative years, like from 8 to 13. Then I lived in L.A. until I was 19. We were all over the place. But the teams I root for don't all have to do with where I lived.
Q: Who are your favorite teams?
Jett: The Baltimore Orioles. My dad took me to a game in Baltimore when I was 9. It was against the Yankees. It was my first game and I'll never forget it. It was Jim Palmer (pitching) against Catfish Hunter. Palmer threw a no-hitter. How's that for your first game? I'm still an Orioles freak.
I also like the Green Bay Packers. I didn't live there, but they had the dynasty going when I was a kid, and they always got muddy -- I liked that.
Q: Outside of Palmer's no-hitter, what's the most fun sporting event you've ever attended?
Jett: Wow, I've had a lot of them ... a lot of the things with the Orioles and Cal Ripken Jr., him tying the record -- Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record -- and him going ahead of Gehrig. I sang the anthem at the Orioles games like six or seven times. I wouldn't do that with anything other than Orioles.
I went to Orioles Fantasy Camp in 1992. I went down there and played! If you're a baseball fan, it's one of the greatest things you can do. I went for two weeks. There were 105 people, and, with me, five women altogether. You play two games a day, you're coached by the real coaches, Major League and Minor League coaches. So I was really getting coached. I played second base. I couldn't believe how big the field was. Holy (crap), it's like a football field. I also started pitching. I was taught how to throw a screwball by Mike Cuellar. I screwed up my rotator cuff, though. No one said, "Joan, you're not really in the majors." Yeah, I was a little overexuberant.
Q: Who's the most athletic in your band?
Jett: Me. Definitely. The boys in the band could care less about sports. They don't know anything.
Q: Now, your music is played on X Games coverage. How did that come about?
Jett: Honestly, I don't know. They came to us and asked us. I was completely into it. I love to watch the X Games. They are such energetic sports and they're doing crazy things, but I don't know how it actually came about. Maybe someone who was choosing the music was a fan, but we've been in it for a while now.
Q: So if you go to Liberty and Orioles games, you must be familiar with the Seattle Storm and the Mariners then?
Jett: Oh yeah, and the Sonics and the Seahawks!
The Storm, I'm very familiar with them. Last year in a game (in New York) Lauren Jackson even made a comment to me from the court. She said something about my music and she was a fan. That was really cool of her. I root for the Liberty, but I like her and I root for all the players. You never know when someone might actually be a player with the Liberty. I just want to see good games. That was really cool.
And the Mariners team ... I'm fairly knowledgeable because I'm a fan. I couldn't name all your players, but I follow it all.
Q: Joan, thanks so much for your time. Good luck with the CD and we'll see you July 15 on the Warped Tour.
Jett: Thank you. It's great to talk sports.
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