“It started out as a necessity, because no one would sign me,” admits Blackheart Records owner (and main artist), the rock ‘n’ roll visionary known as Joan Jett. “We had no recourse back then, so we had no choice but to do it ourselves.” Jett is the true definition of a self-starter. When the industry slammed the door in her face, she took the bull by the horns and blew open her own damn doors, on her terms.

Jett continues, “At the time, there were very few indie labels, and we knew it was possible to do this. It gave us a lot of artistic freedom, although we didn’t have the sort of money that you have with a major, but we always had our creative freedom. As the years progressed, we were able to bring other bands into the fold, and that’s been a lot of fun.”

And there you have it: the 30-second bio about why the inimitable Miss Jett went out on a limb and launched Blackheart Records in 1979, and why the label is a thriving entity nearly 30 years later.

While Blackheart enjoyed distribution and promotional support through majors like Boardwalk, Epic, and MCA throughout its history, the label is 100 percent independent today, something that is nearly unheard of in the currently shaky industry. “The last major
we were with was Warner Bros., and that was over 10 years ago. Now, everything is independent. We do direct deals with record stores,” Jett says.

As to why Blackheart has been able to keep on keeping on in a volatile music business landscape, label VP/GM/wearer-of-many-hats Carianne Laguna says, “I think we have a secret weapon in having an icon who started the label. Joan obviously brings a lot of credibility. But even more than that, I think we’re always evolving and adjusting. We’re able to be adaptable because we are so self-contained.”

While Jett isn’t heavily involved in Blackheart’s day-to-day operations, she is the company’s creative director, so to speak. She produced the Vacancies’ A Beat Missing or a Silence Added album, and bands don’t get inked to a Blackheart deal without Jett’s
final approval.

Blackheart band the Dollyrots gave Jett a record while on Warped Tour with her, and
she passed it to Laguna, who loved the band. “The one key element to signing a band is that we really believe in them and love their music,” Laguna admits. “Otherwise, it’s difficult to muster the passion that is necessary to work as hard as you need to in order
to have an album be successful.”

Jett believes the label can function effectively for the bands signed to it in a flexible, easy way. She says, “This is a place where bands that can’t find a chance someplace else can come and get their music released, and to have that opportunity to be heard.”

Jett affirms that bands have her blessing to graduate to bigger labels or to stay at Blackheart. “This experience can be whatever they want it to be,” she adds. Jett says that while she may retire from rock music one day – hopefully much later than sooner –
she believes Blackheart Records will continue to exist.

“When I ask myself, ‘Am I going to do this in 20 years?’ I’d say, ‘No way!’ But I also said that when the Runaways ended, so I guess I’ll just say, ‘Maybe no way.’ But the label will exist regardless of me.”

Other bands currently signed to Blackheart Records include the Eyeliners and Girl in a Coma.