The Time Joan Jett Was Arrested in England During the Runaways Tour—and Blamed It on Robert Plant

I don’t give a da** ’bout my reputation, Joan Jett famously said. She hasn’t just talked the talked, she’s walked the walked. Few rockers are as undisputedly bad to the bone as Jett is–it’s a proven and well-documented fact. Despite her “bad reputation,” she has seldom gotten into any true trouble. She prefers to deal in sentiments rather than arrest-worthy crimes, like some of her fellow punk artists. However, she did find herself in handcuffs once during a Runaways tour–and she blames the whole thing on Robert Plant. Learn more, below.

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The Time Joan Jett Was Arrested in England During the Runaways Tour—and Blamed It on Robert Plant

Can’t stay at home, can’t stay in school
Old folks say, “You poor little fool”
Down the streets I’m the girl next door
I’m the fox you’ve been waiting for

Hello, daddy, hello, mom
I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hello world I’m your wild girl
I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb

Prior to becoming a household name as a solo artist, Jett was a guitarist in the Runaways. It was during one of their early tours that Jett had a brush with the law.

Jett reportedly asked Robert Plant about what souvenirs she should grab while on the road with the Runaways. The Led Zeppelin singer apparently told her to sneak hotel keys into her bag. Innocent enough by today’s standards, but hotel keys back then were substantial, metal turn keys. Not something that wouldn’t go missed by the staff. She made it as far as the train station before things went south.

“In England, on the first Runaways tour, about to catch the ferry to France,” Jett once said. “I blame Robert Plant, because we once asked him what souvenirs we should get on the road; he said he took hotel room keys. In England, the keys were big, ornate, metal things. I had four. At customs, the guy said, ‘Hmm, sticky fingers, you’re under arrest,’ and put me in a jail cell.”

Jett’s arrest while with the Runaways might have been slightly overkill for a hotel key theft, but it certainly adds to Jett’s punk demeanor. Plant might be good for some advice (his prestige in rock and all), but his opinion on how to make the most of your trip might not be all that advisable.

Stone Age love and strange sounds too
Come on, baby, let me get to you
Bad nights causing teenage blues
Get down ladies, you’ve got nothin’ to lose

Hello, daddy, hello, mom
I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hello world I’m your wild girl
I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)