By Melissa Gill
Photographer: Courtney Ware
If there’s one thing Joan Jett and The Dollheads have in common, it’s a deep love of rock ‘n’ roll.
The Dollheads, an all-sibling pop-punk band, collaborated with Fat Mike of NOFX to pay tribute to the “The Godmother of Punk,” Joan Jett, in their electric anthem, “Teenage Runaway.” In the Las Vegas-based trio’s energetic number, an emo pop melody and punk rock history lesson emerge from magnetic musicians. With Angela’s gritty lead vocals and catchy guitar riffs, Samantha’s punchy bass and back-up vocals, and Austin’s swift percussion style, the Vegas band captures the spirit of the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The fast-paced song also references punk rock cultural influences such as the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, and the Germs in the lyrics. Each line lays the groundwork for Joan Jett’s explosive rise to prominence in the rock music industry.
We can thank the TV series “Freaks and Geeks” theme song, Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation,” which inspired The Dollheads during the pandemic to write music and venture into early punk. It would be remiss of me not to add that Fat Mike of NOFX—owner of the Fat Wreck Chords label and co-founder of The Punk Rock Museum—makes a cameo in the music video. In the video, Angela enters a music room where Fat Mike is unleashing a riff. She asks, “Could I play that guitar?” “Fine,” he says, handing it over. As she strums the guitar, music fans are transported to a packed concert with an engaged crowd where The Dollheads are playing.
Reminiscent of pop-punk groups like Blink 182, Green Day, and The Offspring, the musical trio strikes a nostalgic chord with a fresh approach. As long as The Dollheads exist, pop-punk for the new generation will be alive and well.
Check out The Dollheads on our March Playlist and The Music Video for “Teenage Runaway” on YouTube: