Do you know the song “I Love Rock And Roll“? If you do, in fact, love rock and roll then I’m sure you know this song well. “I Love Rock And Roll” has been covered by many artists since it’s original release 36 years ago (I can’t believe it’s already been that many years!)…but do you know who wrote and recorded it originally? It’s quite likely you guessed it was Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.
But, although her version reached the #1 spot on the U.S. music charts, Joan Jett’s version of the song is a remake. She isn’t the original artist. It was Alan Merrill with his band (at the time) The Arrows who wrote and originally recorded the rock masterpiece “I Love Rock And Roll”.
Alan Merrill in 2011.
Alan Merrill is American and currently lives in his home state of New York…but he has lived in both England and Japan for a number of years…and reached celebrity status in both countries. Mr. Merrill was kind enough to do an excellent and interesting interview with me.
Click here to read his interview with me (and then come back and leave a comment on this post with your opinion of the interview).
My favorite country in the world is Japan.
—Alan Merrill
(My interview with Alan Merrill: www3.ocn.ne.jp/~tokyo5/interviews.html#merrill.)
Tokyo Five 
There are several albums with different version on it. I have the album Tawny Tracks by the Arrows which has the song “I Love Rock N Roll” on it. Interesting factoid – The Arrows lead singer Alan Merrill lived in Tokyo and started his professional music career in the Japanese Group Sounds scene as a teenager in 1968, long before he moved to London and formed the Arrows in 1974.
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>Interesting factoid – The Arrows lead singer Alan Merrill lived in Tokyo and started his professional music career in (a) Japanese Group
I know. It’s very interesting!
It’s mentioned in my interview with him…at this link:
http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~tokyo5/interviews.html#merrill
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Yes! The truth at last. The singer of the original first version of I Love Rock N Roll” is Alan Merrill of The Arrows, released in 1975 on RAK records UK. Songwriters Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker. Published by RAK Music publishing Ltd. UK. On the Arrows “Tawny Tracks” album. Joan Jett covered the Arrows song in 1982.
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You know about that song very well!
Do you have the original album?
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Thank you for your informative and educational interview ! ~ Kris
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And thank you for the kind words.
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“I love rock n’ roll” seems to be universal phrase for rock lovers. Even Britney Spears sings that song.
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>“I love rock n’ roll” seems to be universal phrase for rock lovers.
“I Love Rock ‘N Roll” is one of the greatest rock anthems about rock music…
“We Will Rock You” (Queen), “I Wanna Rock” (Twisted Sister), “Rock ‘N Roll All Nite” (KISS), and “Rock! Rock! Til You Drop” (Def Leppard) are others!
>Even Britney Spears sings that song.
Yeah, I was shocked when I first heard that Britney Spears had the audacity to attempt a remake of this classic!
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Thank you for spotlighting Alan Merrill and his music career with that terrific interview. It is so true about what we bloggers/writers of Rock music are “supposed to do”… that is “research” a song or albums history before we write about it! (Those who don’t just look foolish)
You have obviously done your Rock history research with “I Love Rock And Roll” and Alan Merrill. I have been informed and what more could I ask for? 🙂
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>I have been informed and what more could I ask for?
Thanks.
You have many great interviews on your blog too.
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Nevermind, I got it working. 🙂
Interesting interview, I knew Joan Jett covered it but I didn’t know by who.
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>Nevermind, I got it working.
I’m glad.
>Interesting interview,
Thanks. I think so too. 😉
>I knew Joan Jett covered it but I didn’t know by who.
Many people think “I Love Rock And Roll” was Joan Jett’s original song. Her version is great too…but more people should know that it is an “Arrows“‘ song.
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I couldn’t read the interview. 😦
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The interview is on my other website…at this link:
http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~tokyo5/interviews.html#merrill
(You have to scroll with the scroll-bar in the website…not your browser’s scroll-bar).
If anyone else has trouble reading the interview, let me know please. Maybe I’ll rethink the design of my other website.
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Thanks for letting me know this!
Peace,
Ed
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Of course.
And thanks for visiting my blog. Please comment anytime.
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