Working For Joan Jett 

A few commenters have asked “what happened” or “why were you kicked out of the Blackhearts”? Looking at Otis’s title for this segment “Working for Joan Jett” the answer to your questions becomes very easy. I never thought I was “working for Joan Jett”. I thought I was in a band with Joan Jett. If you’ve ever been in a real band, a band of partners, you know the difference.

My daughter has been battling Metastatic Neuroblastoma (Cancer ) She told Make a Wish she wanted to me somebody as cool and tough as her. That's when my 7 year old said she wanted to meet Joan Jett. This was in September of this year. We were told we would have tickets in the front row, but couldn't guarantee we were meeting Joan. To our surprise we were requested on the tour bus. Joan hugged our little girl and spent almost 40 minutes with her. Joan asked my little girl what her favorite song is of Joan's. My little girl told her she loves I hate myself for loving you. Joan looked at Kenny the keyboard player and said we are playing that tonight.. Joan advises us we are not in the front row. She tells us she wants us on stage for the whole show. At the end of the show Joan starts playing my daughter's favorite song and calls her to the front of the stage and dedicated it to her. Seeing Joan smiling, while watching my daughter jump up and down was priceless. I will never forget Joan's face when my daughter told her she had a surprise to tell Joan. Joan said what is it? My little girl tells Joan I had 28 spots of cancer and now I have 0. Joan is by far the greatest human being I have ever met.

Joan is literally the nicest celebrity I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. She was so down to earth and humble…Her shows are always awesome!

The Blackhearts members don't get talked about enough. Really great players over the years.

the original drummer was my math tutor in NYC back innthe day i was a punk rebel- he asked me you ever heard of joan jett n black hearts? i said no.

I saw Joan when Roscoe was tearing that guitar up. But what I remember most about Joan is the "kid phenomena". I was a confirmed batchelor, but a lot of my friends were married, and had children. Every time Joan's song "I Love Rock and Roll", the kids would freak out. All the kids my friends had, from about 2 to 5/6 years old, just loved that song. No matter who's kid, when that song came on they would stop whatever they were doing and jam out. LOL! They especially loved the part when she sang "me, yeah me". A lot of them would point to themselves with their thumbs.....It was great.

My best friend used to do her website. He loved working for her. Andy passed away. I really miss him. He was my best friend.

Joan Jett is awesome! She was filming Light of Day in our neighborhood in Chicago with Michael J. Fox and Michael McKean. They hung out with all the neighbors in the street talking, taking photos,signing autographs till like 3 o'clock in the morning ! Great memories for us !

*There were so many great women singer's, but none of them could do rock and punk like Joan Jett. She's one of a kind..*

Her cover of Crimson and Clover is a guilty pleasure of mine. I love that song.

Met this dude at Ardent Studios when I worked there in the late 90's-2000's. He was producing a Bottle Rockets record. Super nice guy.

Funny to hear you mention Axe In Hand. I remember when Joan Jett played Dekalb’s Corn Fest.

any time the phrase "hey johnny gimme yer knife." is uttered you know shit's about to get real.

I remember meeting you in Brisbane Australia at the bar after the Joan Jett show. Good to see you're still rocking.

Many years ago I was up at Mohegan Sun Casino in CT and I find out that Joan Jett is doing a concert in the Wolf Den. That is a free venue! Needless to say, I was there for the entire show. Always been a huge fan.

When you're in a band, it's like a marriage; if the chemistry ain't right, it just won't work, but when it's right, believe me, you'll know!! Great interview!!!

What an incredibly articulate, well spoken storyteller. I could listen to his tales of yesteryear for hours. Great watch! 🤘🇨🇦

I saw you guys play in a barn in the middle of nowhere in Kansas once and it was a killer gig. We heard about the show while playing pool in a bar in Topeka and everybody poured out of the bar and hauled ass to that gig.

These memories are PURE GOLD. Nothing like hearing it "from the horse's mouth", so to speak. Thanks!

This is just SO cool. Big Fan. Thankyou from Australia

Of course X and Johnny Doe are at the at the root of a great tale!! Thank you again Mr. Gibbs and to you Mr. Roscoe

Cool story. My favorite show was at BDR "Wings Cafe" a small restaurant club next to my work at the airport. It's great to be.a fan!! I love Joan Jett and the Blackheart's 💕

I saw Eric with Steve Earle and the Dukes - his live guitar sounds (Tele Custom with a neck humbucker) was one of the best I have ever heard.

Eric is an absolute treasure. One of the Good Guys!

The fact that these stories are all fond recollections, and there's no bad blood says alot about the players involved. Joan is, and alway will be awesome. Anything she did always had integrity, and trueness to it. We love you Joan!🤘🏻

I spent a lot of time in that upstairs VIP area at The Starwood. I danced next to, but not with Joan, at some sparsely attended punk show in Hollywood one night, and was on the periphery of X's friends and acquaintances. I have An Eric Ambel and Roscoe's gang CD, I'm going to have to play today. We both patronized Mojo Guitars in NYC.

Otis, I always love your interviews and learn from them. For personal reasons, I look forward to this one with great anticipation. Eric is one of the most honest and kind souls I have met in my 45+ years in our world. He has given his all to help others in the NYC music scene over the last few decades. I could continue with an unbroken line of personal tales and accolades testifying to his credit; they could easily string on for days, but that would only embarrass his Midwestern self. I'll leave it at this: I have never heard Eric compromise his humility, humanity, or humor when speaking of anyone, friend or foe. I have witnessed firsthand - and benefitted from - his willingness to put his own money on the line, all to offer other NYC musicians a place to play, develop an audience, gain their chops, find a voice, and feel at home. I suspect that might have been at great cost to himself and his family. True to form, we'll never know. Eric is a deeply soulful gent, a master musician, and a true embodiment of the old adage that says, "a rising tide lifts all boats." I consider it an honor to be in his orbit, and have always found him worthy of my utmost respect. He's proven himself a true friend, but would most likely hate that I am being this effusive-so I close with this at the risk of embarrassing him: I love the guy. Thanks for putting his voice out there, Otis.

Gerat stories~I Love Joan Jet~all the Blackhearts too!!!

Roscoe Ambel is a great storyteller and is always respectful of other artists. A class act . I, like millions of other young guys in the 80's, was in love with Joan Jett's music and Joan Jett the woman...

I saw that band on the I Love Rock and Roll tour. Loud, heavy and tight as hell. Tremendous.

Back in my first year of college (1980-81), I saw Joan Jett and the Blackhearts open for the Bus Boys in Knoxville, TN. Great show! Jump ahead to 2013, and I saw the Del Lords in Lexington KY and got to meet and chat with the band after the show. I mentioned to Eric that I'd first seen him in Knoxville in 1980 or '81 with Joan Jett, and he immediately said, "With the Bus Boys!" I laughed and said, "You remember that show?" He answered, "Yes, that's the only show we played with them." I always thought they were on tour together, but apparently not...their paths just met that one night. So, I got to see a unique "once in a lifetime" show that night!

Saw the Blackhearts with Joan Jett at the Boathouse in Norfolk Virginia in 1991 while in the Navy and it was show that knocked me out of my Vasque mountaneering boots!! 🥾😁🎸

Been a HUGE fan of Eric's playing for years. His work on the Rik L Rik stuff influenced me a lot. He's a legend as far as I'm concerned. Never got to meet him,but a few mutual friends have told me what a humble,cool guy he is. One of the greats.

I drove you guys to a gig one time many years ago. I was just telling a friend last week how cool you guys were lol. Peace.

One of the few who gets a job because he’s a nice guy.

I love The Coasters, so I was happy to hear Roscoe mention them. Here's the song he talked about. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZGn9TNsXECQ.html

I was driving a truck on Deep Purple's House of Blue Light tour about 1986 or 7. Joan opened for us in the Northeast but was replaced by Iggy. She rocked, we rolled.

This was a delightful interview! I talked with Joan a couple of times backstage @ the Whiskey back in the 70’s when I played lead guitar for a band I was in, Bates Motel. How did we not cross paths back then? She saw that I used an Ampeg VT 40 and she played thru an Ampeg as well. I enjoyed talking with her. In the early 70s I played a Fender Twin Reverb as my brother John Beland did who played for Linda Ronstadt and we both had our gear serviced by Red Rhodes. (I have a great story about Red.) I fucking LOVED the stories about playing with the Coasters! Those recordings are Godhead. This was a very enjoyable interview.

Great reminiscences

Love this interview.

Really liked the stories Very cool to not hear someone ripping on old band mates Can feel the joy you had 🎸

Gary lives near me and he is the most ultimate nicest guy,I could listen to his stories all day…so cool

A girl I dated back in 80s lived with Joan Jett She was the nanny for Meryl and Kenny Laguna

Love these channel and these great stories Otis! My old band had a gig opening for the Blackhearts in Racine at a fest back in the aughts and after our set one of her roadies comes up and asks if he can buy my boss tuner for a hundred bucks which a the time went for a just a bit more than that. When I told the dude he said man, pleeease, this humidity is killing Joan's tuner - if it fucks up on stage she'll kick my ass. There's was something about the tone of his voice that made me believe he wasn't joking and I couldn't leave a brother (or sister) hanging. When they hit the stage they killed and it was very clear who the law was by the eye contact on stage so I felt good about taking one for the team - and even though the planet waves tuner I got to replace it for a hundred bucks sucked and left me stranded on more than one occasion it turned out to be a pretty good story!🤣😎😋

The original bassist Gary Ryan is teaching my daughter in POCONO PA ♥

I have a 1967 Ampeg V4 Rig! Never knew Joan did, too. I thought only Leslie West from Mountain had one, as far as popular rock bands go. Great story on Eric "Roscoe" Ambel's part.

I was a singer in the 80s and 90s, CANT COUNT the number of times people asked me if I was her.

Awesome interview! Really enjoyed it, thank you!

So cool to hear of Eric's time with Joan, and his name check of the late Larry (Henrickson) of Ax-in-Hand in DeKalb, Illinois. Definitely true that Larry was among the very first handful of vintage dealers. In 1982 or '83 I bought from him my 1963 blonde 2x10 Fender Tremolux and I still have it today! Visits to his store back then, when vintage fever was starting to really ramp up, were so much fun.

great interview thx for doing it Otis. you're capturing history!

awesome interview...thank youi sir

Love the "no pedals, no tuner..."... As well as all the other stories.. Thanks for sharing these!!.. Myself it has been a huge temptation over the years to use effects, layer and such but I still always strive for just doing it

Thanks for putting this out!!! Super cool biopic

Great story teller...I didn't want it to end.

Thanks, guys, for the great stories.😊

Love hearing stories like these

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

What a great storyteller. Really enjoying these videos.

Awesome interview, I spent a lot of time in Dekalb in the late 70s. Mickey Baker was that man!!

What a life Rosco had from this and all his other stories, so kool ! Thanks for sharing. ✌🏻

Thanks Roscoe. Cool stories. Big fan of your work.

Thank you Roscoe for sharing this and thank you Otis for making it happen.

Hey Otis, I just wanted to send some love your way and thank you for your posts. Thank you man.

My ears perked up - Dekalb illinois- I’m in Springfield always loved JJ music

Golden stuff right here. Great vid

Man what a great interview! I can relate to the Hollywood era and I had both versions of that Music Man 130 amp, the 2-12” speaker and 4-10” speaker versions. Love it!

One of the things that is great abut Otis Gibbs' RU-vid channel is that you could you put the videos on a random selection machine, and they are all amazing.

Super interview and yes I love Rock And Roll! thanks Blackhearts and Joan.

Great story to start the day off. Thanks

Man Eric was in the band in it’s coolest phase of evolution!! I really dig the story about rehearsing with the Coasters and also all the deets on the modded pickups in the melody maker. So cool!

Most enjoyable and delightful video I ever watched on the topic of Joan Jett.

Cool stories, come on Joan give him his amp back!

Man, I love you’re doing these. As an East Nash musician since 03’ , I Really love hearing the passions, and love for the art they created and create. 👍👏👏👏 cheers Mate!

Wow, a great listen, thanks!

Great stuff. Otis , really miss your podcast. Even with musicians I hadn't heard of.

Great interview! I always love hearing what Roscoe has to say. He's a sharp, knowledgeable person who is so generous with his advice. All around good dude!

I met Joan through a mutual friend in Baltimore she's a gem 💎

This is pure gold...Thanks to you both for sharing this. I love the story about the white melody maker... Eric Carman.. and the pick up mods.... wow. Fantastic!! I'm a gear nerd so this is all cool info. I've done a lot of rental backline (SIR Miami) gigs with Joan, and it's always a cool work day. Her manager Kenny Laguna plays keys, and always took the time to say thanks. I know all about the Musician Man amp and the Vox AC30. The AC 30 is in the backline rider (UK made models only, blue speakers prefered) which she uses as just the speaker cab for the Music Man amp. I've helped repair that amp on a couple of South Florida fly dates when it didn't do so well on the flight. If I remember, the power supply would come loose in transit which is never a good thing Band and crew always very nice to work with, and her manager used to give out copies of her Greatest Hits CD to the the local crew folks like me after the gig as away of saying thanks.

Eric, great stuff. Musician stories are always unbelievable but usually 100% true! Love it! BTW I had the chance to meet Joan and the Runaways in '76 'before' their first lp came out. I was visiting California with Gary Sperrazza! and who knew Greg Shaw (Bomp Magazine - a really nice guy) We hooked up with Kim (I'm Bad) Foley and we went to the studio to hear rough cuts of the forth-coming lp. We also went to a home party where they played and to a high school where they were going to play. The days of Rodney Bingenheimer. By the time I was there in '76, my party days were way behind me and LA was much too fast for the 'new' me. (and I'm sure you know what I mean) For me, a great place to visit but I did not want to live there -lol! OTI, thanks for posting!

HE'LL YA...I SAW YOU PLAY...SUCH A RAUNCHY GROUP OF MISCONTENTS..AND WE LOVED IT....THANK YOU...

When I Love Rock n Roll came out in early 82 on Mtv,Me and all the guys in our little band,Loved playing that song and Crimsom and Clover.Good times Always.Take care Otis and guests,every cool music story feautures, Keepin the Good Times Alive!Thanks,It means A Lot nah!Jcsx

Captured by his stories. I am familiar with his tunes, but don’t know anything about him, yet he seems so familiar. Great music. Great to take a break & listen. Thank you.

What great insight on a band I grew up on! When they played I Love Rock and Roll in 1979, that was it...I have had a crush on Joan Jett ever since. 🤘🤘🤘

wow always cool stuff Otis comes up with.. back stories are soo good.

What a great story! I grew up listening in that era, I was such a ROCK head...now I have this well-rounded appreciation of all music genres! Getting old isn't all that bad! Joan, Amy from Evanescence and so many others, GIRLS just ROCK in ROCK n' ROLL! Blessings

Otis, this is priceless interview: That thing about the Audition. Amazing that 35 years later the gift of Humility arrives. Eric if you are reading, thank you for sharing.

Roscoe rules. That Music Man backline must have been loud! So cool... love the history on this channel. Thanks Big O!

This is a great Rock n Roll story from a great time to be in it. I would like to hear more from Eric.

I love the part of the story where everybody had Music Man amplifiers. It reminds me of my old Rock band and both me and the other guitarist had Music Man amps back in the day. They were just THE next thing with Leo Fender attached to them.

I am lucky enough to own one of those Musicman HD 130 410 amps. Great amp, loud and clean, great for pedals, sings when you push it. Mine is a mid 70's and has the solid state front end!!!🖤🖤🖤

Awesome storytelling! Love this!

Here's Roscoe telling a great Neil Young story. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j0_-Fw32uAc.html

That modded white Melody Maker is beyond iconic !

I did the same thing with my adopted brother rest in Peace Angel.

I like your inter peace with music and people over yourself. I wish I could find that.

Great band and tone. Joan Jett every boys dream back then.

Thanks Otis

Eric Ambel is super cool! He worked with Joan, was a member of The Del Lords, and I have seen him live, recently playing with Sarah Borges a few times in Kansas City. He is a Rock & Roll VIP!

Please do a video of Eric telling Del-Lords stories! Thanks

I've never heard this back story before. Very cool.