Rock has always been, and still is a male-dominated music genre. However, throughout its history, there have been many tough women who have defied the odds and made their mark on the rock and roll landscape. Today we’ll look at some of the most iconic women in rock and roll, from Wanda Jackson to Janis Joplin, or Joan Jett to Courtney Love. These are some of the courageous women in rock music who have turned heads and carved out a space in history for themselves.
Setting the Stage
Rock music, born from a mixture of country, gospel, blues, and jazz, originated in the United States in the early 50s. Artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard were early pioneers. However, among these men, stood a few remarkable women that paved the way for generations to come. One such woman was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who is sometimes called the “Godmother of Rock”. With her powerful voice, she found an early audience with gospel music. She was also a phenomenal electric guitar player. She influenced many of the men of her generation including Little Richard and Elvis Presley, as well as inspired artists of later generations including Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. Another trailblazer was Wanda Jackson, often hailed as the “Queen of Rockabilly.” She toured with Elvis Presley early on in her career and worked up until her retirement in 2021. Nearly a 70-year career!
The Revolution: Women in Rock (60s and 70s)
The 1960s saw the second wave of feminism, often coined as the Women’s Liberation Movement. With that came a surge of women artists who broke free from the confines of traditional gender roles. Pioneers like Janis Joplin rose to prominence within the psychedelic rock scene with her soulful voice and electric stage performances. Tragically she passed away at 27, becoming one of the infamous members of the “27 Club”, but not before performing at Woodstock and releasing memorable cover songs like “Cry Baby”, “Piece of My Heart”, and “Summertime”. Grace Slick was also a pioneer from this period, fronting her band Jefferson Airplane. She was also a performer at Woodstock and a prominent figure in the psychedelic rock genre. Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 release Surrealistic Pillow, included top-ten US Billboard hits “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love”.
With the 70s came groups like Fleetwood Mac, and their often lead singer, Stevie Nicks. Nicks led audiences with her whimsical style and her warm, husky, quivering contralto voice. She is also noted as an inspiration to legions of artists including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Courtney Love to name a few. And, her songs are often found on top songs lists.
Lastly, nothing says influential quite like Debbie Harry. As the lead singer of Blondie, she brought a new sound to the masses. Blondie spun off many hits including “Call Me,” “Atomic” and “Rapture”. And it was “Rapture” that would set a record for being the first rap-oriented song to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts. Harry was also immortalized by Andy Warhol in 1980, who produced several artworks of her image from a single photoshoot at the Factory.
The Rise of Female-Fronted Bands
With the 80s came rockers like Joan Jett who spun heads with her band Blackhearts and their cover of “I Love Rock and Roll”, landing them in the Billboard’s number 1 slot for seven consecutive weeks. Before that, she was in a band called the Runaways, and they released the hit song “Cherry Bomb.” After being rejected several times by labels, Jett was also the first female artist to found her own label with direct control over an independent record company, becoming a blueprint for other independent artists.
Then it was in the 90s and early 2000s that female-fronted bands really took off. Bands like Hole, The Cranberries, Paramore, Garbage, L7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and No Doubt became very successful. The list could go on and on.
Hole’s debut album, Pretty on the Inside, came out in 1991 with heavy influences of punk and sludge metal. But it was their second album, Live Through This, that garnered the attention of critics and fans with its more radio-friendly, alternative rock sound. Led by Courtney Love, the album featured singles like “Doll Parts” and “Violet”. Garbage, led by Shirley Manson, also had a strong following during this time. It didn’t hurt that the band had producer Butch Vig as their drummer, who was already famous for producing Nirvana’s Nevermind album. But it was Manson’s rebellious attitude and distinctive voice that helped the band’s debut album go 4 times platinum upon release. It featured instant classics like “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains”.
Contemporary Icons: Rock Today
Women in rock music have continued to redefine the genre, and push boundaries. Artists like Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, and St. Vincent captivate audiences on a regular basis.
More recently, artists traditionally considered pop singers have been trying their hand at rock music. Singer Poppy recently traded her bubblegum pop sound for an industrial rock sound in her 2021 album I Disagree. Other artists like Miley Cyrus have done the same. Miley Cyrus even covered Hole’s “Doll Parts” recently on Howard Stern, showing that today’s artists are influenced by the rock leads of previous decades.
Conclusion:
Women in rock and roll are continuing to play an integral role in the evolution of rock music. From the pioneers who paved the way to the contemporary icons who continue to redefine the genre, these women are all definitely worth listening to for generations to come.
