Women in Rock and Roll

[RPS]

Rock and roll and sex. Have you ever thought about why women are in the minority when it comes to rock and roll bands. Well, not in the minority, but how come we never give them enough exposure? Their have been plently of amazing rock and roll acts featuing women from Janis Joplin, the girl from Fleetwood Mac who's name escapes me, to Joan Jett, to the modern day age of Brody Dalle and the Distillers. And no one can forget the Devotchkas, an oi band with a woman as the lead singer.

Are there enough women in rock and roll bands?

If so, why don't we hear about them as frequently as men?

If not, why aren't these women starting up kick ass punk bands?

Is it because of these poserish bands like the Donnas, Liveonrelease, Lillix who re-enforce this "weak and girly" image and not enough emphasis placed upon the true grit of rock and roll in the hearts of the Distillers, Bikini Kill, Joan Jett, Janis Joplin? Are record labels suppressing an empowering women figure?

And lastly, who is your favorite girl band or girl fronted band and some songs you really like by these artists. Just for some thoughtful discussion on music and the entertainment business.

[Enter Blue Guy]

I've been a No Doubt fan since the Tragic Kingdom album and I think Gwen Stefani is awesome. Therefore, my favorite girl fronted band would be No Doubt. Yes. Sue me. Besides them, I'm not really into bands with a girl on lead vocals, not sure why, its just the way I feel. Not that I have anything against them.

Edited November 5, 2004 by Enter Blue Guy

[Lord Nibbler]

Rock and roll and sex. Have you ever thought about why women are in the minority when it comes to rock and roll bands. Well, not in the minority, but how come we never give them enough exposure? Their have been plently of amazing rock and roll acts featuing women from Janis Joplin, the girl from Fleetwood Mac who's name escapes me, to Joan Jett, to the modern day age of Brody Dalle and the Distillers. And no one can forget the Devotchkas, an oi band with a woman as the lead singer.

[fineintent]

I'm inclined to agree with Jimmy with regards to Alanis Morrisette and EBG with No Doubt. But Blondie are my favourite without a doubt - Debbie Harry was back in the day - and they have some classic songs.

Favourite other female artists include Tracy Chapman and Bjork.

[Guest LegionCageFan]

Rock and roll and sex. Have you ever thought about why women are in the minority when it comes to rock and roll bands. Well, not in the minority, but how come we never give them enough exposure? Their have been plently of amazing rock and roll acts featuing women from Janis Joplin, the girl from Fleetwood Mac who's name escapes me, to Joan Jett, to the modern day age of Brody Dalle and the Distillers. And no one can forget the Devotchkas, an oi band with a woman as the lead singer.

Grace Slick, possessor of quite possibly the best voice in the history of ever.

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[Darloboy]

I really like The Distillers, and I don't mind Evanescence either.

[Lord Nibbler]

Rock and roll and sex. Have you ever thought about why women are in the minority when it comes to rock and roll bands. Well, not in the minority, but how come we never give them enough exposure? Their have been plently of amazing rock and roll acts featuing women from Janis Joplin, the girl from Fleetwood Mac who's name escapes me, to Joan Jett, to the modern day age of Brody Dalle and the Distillers. And no one can forget the Devotchkas, an oi band with a woman as the lead singer.

Grace Slick, possessor of quite possibly the best voice in the history of ever.

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[Benji]

Tsunami Bomb > A lot of bands and their lead singer is female.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Evanescence are pretty much wicked and I love the voice of Amy Lee.

No Doubt take it for me though, Gwen is just awesome and cant do any wrong in my eyes.

Edited November 5, 2004 by JohnnyPerfect

[tristy]

Otep.

Otep Shamaya > *

[Rage]

I love Lacuna Coil and their lead singer Christina Scabbia. For some reason her second name puts me off her. It makes me think of scabs...

[Boulder]

Don't forget Heart. They're the only one of these mentioned acts that I enjoy.

[Jook]

Goldfrapp

Bjork

Tsunami Bomb

Yeah Yeah Yeah's

Stina Nordenstan

Listen to them all.... now.

[Skummy]

I went through a massive phase of loving nothing but female-fronted bands, so I'll make a little (read: probably quite large) list of decent-to-great bands with female singers.

Within Temptation - Only just getting any real recognition, but they are the prototype that Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Evanescense et all were built around. Listen to "Enter", it blows anything by most other bands out of the water.

No Doubt

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Tsunami Bomb

Nightwish

Lacuna Coil

My Ruin

Jack Off Jill

Scarling

Scary Bitches

Future Bible Heroes

The Chubbies

After Forever

This Mortal Coil

Lydia Lunch

Breeders

Siouxsie & The Banshees

The Creatures

Horrorpops

Lullacry

That's off the top of my head, I could probably think of many more. There's plenty of damn good female-fronted bands out there.

[Lord Nibbler]

Shit, forgot the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (no apostrophe).

Based on her voice, I expected her to be a total sex kitten. I was kinda disappointed when I saw her.

[Lowerdeck]

Don't forget Heart.  They're the only one of these mentioned acts that I enjoy.

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Yeah, they're good. I got their self-titled album from 198(5?)

[Skummy]

Shit, forgot the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (no apostrophe).

Based on her voice, I expected her to be a total sex kitten. I was kinda disappointed when I saw her.

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How dare you!!!

Karen O = Goddess

[Docpepper]

Within Temptation are awesome thanks for recommneding them

Kristyn Strange is a good solos rock artist thats jsut starting out

[FunkAsPuck]

Theres this not-very-well-known-but-actually-very-good band from the UK called No Comply who have a female lead singer.

Great band, great live, hot lead singer.

[VerbalPuke]

X is a great band with a female vocalist. Exene Cervenka and Joe Doe used to share the mic on stage. Exene was great, and had funny stuff to say in interviews.

One of my personal favorites is Blondie, they gained their notoriety playing at CBGB's with bands like the Dead Boys and the Ramones. The group was always mostly a new wave group however. Deborah Harry, the lead singer, was incredibly hot.

The Alice Bag Band was focused around Alice Bag, the lead singer. They never gained a whole lot of fame or really released any full length albums, but their material isn't completely scarce these days. If you can ever get ahold of anything by them (be it vinyl, or a copy of the Decline of Western Civilization, or it's soundtrack) then give it a whirl.

Crass is another group, like X that featured multiple lead singers, one being male, one being female.

Edited November 7, 2004 by VerbalPuke