Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Universal Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA
November 30, 1988
Mike Millard Master Tape via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 257

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

JEMS 2023 Transfer: First-generation cassette labeled by MM > Nakamichi RX-505 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX8 Advanced and Ozone 10 > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Bad Reputation
02 Light Of Day
03 I Hate Myself for Loving You
04 Roadrunner
05 Little Liar
06 I Wanna Be Your Dog
07 I Love Rock 'n' Roll
08 Crimson & Clover
09 Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)

Known Faults:
-None

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

Welcome to JEMS� Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike the MICrophone, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around Los Angeles circa 1975-77. For the complete details on how tapes in this series came to be lost and found again, as well as JEMS' long history with Mike Millard, please refer to the notes in Vol. One.

Until 2020, the Lost and Found series presented fresh transfers of previously unavailable first-generation copies made by Mike himself for friends like Stan Gutoski of JEMS, Jim R, Bill C. and Barry G. These sources were upgrades to circulating copies and in most instances marked the only time verified first generation Millard sources had been directly digitized in the torrent era.

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millard�s original master tapes.

Yes, you read that correctly, Mike Millard�s master cassettes, long rumored to be destroyed or lost, have been found. Not all of them but many, and with them a much more complete picture has emerged of what Millard recorded between his first show in late 1973 and his last in early 1992.

The reason the rediscovery of his master tapes is such a revelation is that we�ve been told for decades they were gone. Internet myths suggest Millard destroyed his master tapes before taking his own life, an imprudent detail likely concocted based on the assumption that because his master tapes never surfaced and Mike�s mental state was troubled he would do something rash WITH HIS LIFE�S WORK. There�s also a version of the story where Mike�s family dumps the tapes after he dies. Why would they do that?

The truth is Mike�s masters remained in his bedroom for many years after his death in 1994. We know at least a few of Millard�s friends and acquaintances contacted his mother Lia inquiring about the tapes at the time to no avail. But in the early 2000s, longtime Millard friend Rob S was the one she knew and trusted enough to preserve Mike�s work.

The full back story on how Mike�s master tapes were saved can be found in the notes for Vol. 18 Pink Floyd, which was the first release in our series transferred from Millard�s original master tapes and now officially released on the Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary Box Set.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, November 30, 1988

So good to be back and releasing more recordings made by Mike Millard. This week's volume is notable as it is a previously undocumented Millard tape of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts opening for Robert Plant. We had no record of Millard recording Joan Jett, so we were thrilled when Jim R emailed to say he'd found a few more tapes and in doing both filled in a missing piece and gave us new Millard work.

Jett was opening for Robert Plant on his Non Stop Go tour, which hit the Universal Amphitheatre near the end of its run for two shows. We knew Millard had recorded Plant but we didn't know he had captured Jett, who herself was out supporting her sixth album, Up Your Alley which dropped in May 1988 and spawned the hit "I Hate Myself For Loving You."

Whether you consider yourself a Joan Jett fan or not, this recording is worth a listen for its classic Millard sound: up close, punchy and full fidelity. I can't imagine there's a better Jett audience tape out there. Samples provided.

Lost and Found series watchers may recall that we released Robert Plant's December 1, 1988 set from the Amp as Volume 88 in our series, but not November 30. Suffice it to say that the situation will soon be rectified.


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JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Jim Ri, Ed F, Barry G and others to release Millard's historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

We can�t thank Rob enough for reconnecting with Jim R and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. Both remain amazing partners in our on-going efforts. Likewise, mjk5510 continues his invaluable work as JEMS' production and release supervisor. We couldn't do this without him. Thanks as well to our constant collaborator Professor Goody who checked the pitch on this one.

Over the next several weeks we'll continue to post a handful of true, new volumes (sorry, Queen is not among them), followed by updated editions of a few old volumes where new sources have been acquired, e.g. upgrading from first-generation cassette transfers to master cassette or master-cassette-to-DAT sources.

BK for JEMS

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