From its inception, rock and roll’s primal ingredients – aggression, rebellion, and swagger – have often been regarded as the exclusive province of men. But such thinking is narrow-minded, to say the least. As the following all-female bands prove, women can rock with an authority that’s every bit as explosive and genuine as that of their male counterparts.
Vixen
Coming of age in the late ‘80s, Vixen offered up hair-metal in the pop-tinged vein of bands like Warrant and Poison. Critics sometimes described them as the female equivalent of Bon Jovi, but those same critics could have easily have said that Bon Jovi was a male version of Vixen.
Kittie
Formed in the late ‘90s, Kittie quickly perfected a hard-ass sound centered on glam rock and heavy metal. The Ontario-based quartet has gone on to release several albums filled with gargantuan, death-metal riffs of the sort any fan of Godsmack or Slipknot would admire.
The Donnas
Originally characterized, in the late ‘90s, as “the Ramones meets the Runaways,” the Donnas quickly developed metal chops that put them in the league of bands like AC/DC and Motley Crue. Boasting infectious hooks, snarling riffs, and a keen ear for punk-metal traditions, the influential quartet is also one of rock’s quintessential party bands.
The Go-Go’s
Even lead singer Brenda Carlisle’s sappy solo career can’t eradicate the New Wave credibility enjoyed by the Go-Go’s. Nearly 30 years have passed since “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat” ruled the airwaves, and still the group’s bubblegum charm endures.
The Slits
Championed by the Clash, the Slits may be the only all-female punk band whose main love was dub reggae. Fronted by the teenaged Ari Up, the group helped establish the template for the riot grrrl movement that came a decade later. Fittingly, Up eventually became the step-daughter of punk icon John Lydon.
The Bangles
Mixing infectious melodies with garage-rock faintly evocative of the Yardbirds, the Bangles delivered one of the best albums of the mid ‘80s with their should-have-been-a-classic All Over the Place. Prince became a fan, and the group went on to further its pop cred with an affectionate cover of Alex Chilton’s “September Gurls.”
Fanny
“One of the most important female bands in American rock.” That was the praise no less an authority than David Bowie bestowed on this overlooked ‘70s hard-rock quartet. Eventually recruiting Suzi Quatro’s sister Patti Quatro as its guitarist, Fanny counted George Harrison among its most ardent fans.
Dixie Chicks
It’s not for nothing that the Dixie Chicks are the highest-selling all-female group of all-time. Combining striking prowess on their instruments with surefooted pop smarts, the trio upholds country traditions while making music that’s utterly commercial.
The Runaways
As the spiritual godmothers to every girl who’s since strapped on an electric guitar, these forerunners of female punkdom spawned a lineage that includes everyone from the Go-Go’s to Sleater-Kinney. Had the Runaways done nothing but serve as the springboard for Joan Jett, their place in rock history would be assured.
Plastiscines
This French quartet ranks among the most promising all-female groups to emerge in recent years. Sporting a pop-punk sound spiced with a smidgen of ‘60s bubblegum grooviness,
the Plastiscines’ guitar-centric songs cut a stylistic swath that runs from the Shocking Blue (of “Venus” fame) to the Strokes and beyond.