The song was written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker and first recorded by the Arrows in 1975, but it became a global hit when Joan Jett & the Blackhearts released their cover in late 1981, topping the US charts in 1982. Its simple riff and chantable chorus made it a staple of sports arenas, films, commercials and guitar tutorials. Online it survives as shorthand for loud confidence, which is why short clips keep appearing in edits, intros and memes decades later.