Joan Jett, Cherie Currie Offer Lady Gaga Advice on Longevity

If there’s anyone who could give sage advice to Lady Gaga, whose over-the-top outfits and performances seem to be wearing her down, it’s veteran rockers Joan Jett and Steven Van Zandt.

And though times may have changed, they have some tips for the pop star after her recent near collapse onstage in New Zealand.

“I’ll tell you, The Runaways, when we started, we didn’t have this sort of craziness around us. Really the only time when there was insanity, as far as the press goes, was Japan … it wasn’t a 24-hour media world at that point,” Jett told PEOPLE at the Tommy Hilfiger-sponsored New York premiere of The Runaways, which portrays the ascent of Jett and Cherie Currie to rock icons. “I think it’s very difficult if you had to be dealing with this all the time. It’s tough to incubate and do the work you need to do with people in your face.”
PHOTO: Kristen Stewart Rocks Out as Joan Jett
Currie’s concern for Lady Gaga, who she believes is “very good,” is less about media and more about managing expectations and staying sober.

“You know you have got to try to keep your wits about you,” Currie, who served as a drug councilor after leaving The Runaways said. “There is so much expected from you. But try to limit yourself to just two … as long as it is in drinking form, just two [drinks].”

Also on hand was and talking about drinking was Van Zandt, of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band. “My first advice would be to hydrate,” he said. “Drink more water. You do need to drink a lot of water onstage. We also have a substance that we drink during a show that has electrolytes. But I think, she really seems to have a good grip on celebrity, not talking it particularly seriously.”

Her little monsters would agree.