There’s been a lot of discussion in recent years – and even months – about the future of Rock.
Some believe the ship has sailed – that Rock, the power genre of decades gone by has become irrelevant. Critics – and radio programmers – debate the efficacy of new Rock, questioning whether there’s still gas in the tank.
But when you look at the landscape – and perhaps squint a bit – you can see a fascinating future taking shape: women who rock.
A wonderful NPR essay caught my eye earlier this month. Written by music critic Ann Powers, the story’s title says it all:
“The Fellowship of the Rockers: How did we get stuck with the idea that four guys make a rock band?”
The passing this week of Ronnie Spector, lead singer from the iconic group the Ronettes, brought the topic home.
Powers takes us on a journey, back to the British Invasion. And in the Beatles, she sees much of what has come since take form. She connects to the Disney+ documentary “Get Back” to show us the process of how bands formed, then and since. The Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Foo Fighters, and so many others fit the traditional casting model. And she asked key questions about race, gender, and rock n’ roll.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s, women excelled in the space. Carly Simon and Carole King on the piano side of the spectrum; Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson and Pat Benatar featuring guitar heavy rock. And then into the MTV era, it was Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry, leading into the Go-Go’s, much celebrated last year with a great documentary and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
But a woman’s place in rock n’ roll has been checkered at best. And it seems like so much of that is due to the influence of the Beatles, and other British Invasion groups, mostly in the “4 white guys mold.”
Oddly enough, one of my favorites of the era – and believe me when I tell you new bands came virtually every week from across the pond – was the Honeycombs. Yes, there were female vocalists from the British Isles, like Petula Clark and Cilla Black. But the “hook” behind the Honeycombs was simply this:
“Hey, they’re the band with the girl drummer.”
Sadly, Honey Lantree and her North London mates only enjoyed one hit: “Have I The Right?” But it was a good one. And I remember seeing the band perform on the various TV shows during the height of the group’s short-lived popularity.
Since that era, female drummers have been few and far between, but there have been noteworthy exceptions: Moe Tucker of Velvet Underground fame, Gina Schock of the Go Go’s, and Jack White’s “sister” – Meg – from the White Stripes.
So-called “girl groups” had their best run in the 60’s, especially on the Motown label. The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, and several other all-female ensembles each racked up multiple hit records.
And the Phil Spector-produced Ronettes had several monster hits, led by Ronnie Spector (yes, she married the enigmatic Phil, both a career and life mistake). The music community is still mourning Ronnie’s passing earlier this week. Classic Rockers remember her singing along with Eddie Money on the hit, “Take Me Home Tonight.” More than two decades after the Ronettes’ hit, “Be My Baby,” Ronnie’s vocals made the song a massive hit.
The Ronettes were groundbreakers. Many of the girl groups of the era sang their hits on stage wearing slinky cocktail dresses. The edgy Ronettes, on the other hand, flaunted their tight, short skirts.
In her New York Times obit, Spector was quoted from her memoirs:
“We weren’t afraid to be hot. That was our gimmick.”
And the book’s title said it all:
“Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette.”
That badass image has continued through the years, from Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, as well as 2010’s women who front their own bands:
Taylor Momsen (The Pretty Reckless)
Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
Dorothy (whose band carries her name)
And those women now pave the way for some of the amazing female teen phenoms – “shredders” and singers who are all over the Internet, particularly on sites like TikTok. Jasmine Star (her real name), who is featured in the photo at the top of this post, made the radio airwaves, thanks to KLOS in 2020, is a great example. At just 18, she sings and plays like a veteran. You can access her electronic press kit here.
In this clip, Jasmine channels Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page – no easy task:
Jasmine takes the sexist phrase, “He __________ like a girl” to a whole new level. ” Any of us guys wish we could do that on a guitar.
And while we’re on the topic of women who rock, let’s not forget 11 year-old Nandi Bushell. She’s become famous for challenging Dave Grohl to several “drum-offs” – and more than holds her own against the Hall of Famer.
It’s a good sign for Rock’s evolution. Somewhere Honey Lantree is smiling.
And because I know you want to see and hear the Honeycombs…
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Karen Carpenter was no slouch on the drums either.
Nope, you’re right. Known more for her voice & writing, but she could pound those skins.
Nandi!
Debbi Peterson, the drummer for the Bangles comes to mind. While not a Nandi Bushell she was better than some. I always thought Orianthi was a decent guitar player.
Orianthi, yes!
Thanks for weighing in with another group I missed.
Great coverage of this subject, Fred. We’re likely missing out on some great rock music simply by assuming it’s a “guy format”. Classic Rock stations in many markets enjoy more female listening these days than in the past and some Active Rock stations carry a nearly 40% female comp. While we’re dropping names, I’d consider Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale one of the best in the business. Thanks for the insight. And RIP Ronnie.
Agree completely, Jack. The Ann Powers’ essay makes a similar case. Thanks for the comment.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe…. that is all
https://youtu.be/gELe5Rj_tXU
Yes!
And how can no one have mentioned Bonnie Raitt? To hear/see her play “Love Me Like a Man” is to know beyond doubt that women need take a back seat to no male guitarist; it’s the perfect estrogenian reply to every testosteronian guitar god.
Now that ‘girl’ can play! Raitt learned personally from Mississippi Fred McDowell, played with John Hammond Jr. She learned from the sources of Rock and Roll, first person stuff. Jasmine here has some chops, she knows her scales, that’s for sure. Can’t wait for her to mature a bit in her playing.
Incredible – she truly cooks!
My current go to for a smile is this emerging star. The pure joy of playing music pours out of her.
https://fb.watch/axg2lpMrIa/
Wow, truly amazing. Hopefully, “My G-g-g-generation” is next!.”
Good choice for a bass player’s litmus test of greatness Fred!
From that headline I thought this was going to be about how Billy Squire’s video for “Rock Me Tonight” killed his career.
Craig, that’s why you have to read the entire post.
On the Roots/Americana/Folk side, my top 10 lists for the last 10 years have been dominated by female artists. Margo Price, Allison Russell, The Secret Sisters, Lindi Ortega, Valerie June, Dori Freeman, First Aid Kit and other women have had some of my favorite albums over that span.
A pretty fair drummer by the name of Richard Starkey is quite fond of Shelia Escovedo thumpin’ them pagan skins. Sheila E’s been on more than one All Star Tour with him.
Don’t know how I missed Sheila E, Mike.
Many female drummers made their way into hit music.
Some of them: Meg White, the female part of The White Stripes duo. Patty Schemel, with her Punk style in Hole with Courtney Love. Another Punk Rock female drummer, Sandy West of The Runaways. Jody Linscott, who managed to play with The Who. Sue Hadjopoulos, who played percussion with Joe Jackson (remember “Steppin’ out”?), Cyndi Lauper, Simple Minds, and The B 52’s. Gina Schock of the The Go-Go’s. Moe Tucker, the androginous looking drummer of The Velvet Underground. And the great Prince’s drummer, Sheila Escobedo, to name a few…
Thanks for an even longer lost if great women rockers, Tito.
Tito,
I encourage you to check out the music of VOLK is you’re a fan of great drummers.
Yup, Fred. There are SO many young & upcoming female musicians out there, many of whom I follow on Tik-Tok and Instagram. Guitarists like Jasmine, who you featured, as well as Elise Trouw…and drummers like Izzy Lamberti, who’s a huge fan of Classic Rock.
The talent pool is amazing–and I love watching these young’uns shred!! Long live Rock n Roll!
Indeed. It is truly great to hear these women rip it up.
My jr. and sr. high school radio drama classes were taught by two women who had previously been producers at NBC. I learned years later that NBC and many other broadcasters had fired most of the women after WW2 because they could get a tax CREDIT (not just a deduction, a CREDIT!) for hiring veterans. As a result, they ended up teaching drama and had talked the system into building control rooms into their classrooms. A little more research revealed that women had been instrumental in the creation of broadcasting in the 1920s.
The military had also taught music and provided instruments to thousands of service members. After the war, most of our musicians were men because of this.
This is a lot of how everything about music and radio became so male-dominated.
Great story, Bob. Appreciate you sharing it.
FRED!
This read made my heart sing! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you specifically pointed out The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm and Dorothy (In This Moment is great, too)! I have worked Rock since ’96 and can tell you that if you weren’t named Pat or Joan, or Stevie you weren’t getting any airplay.
Now, my group PD and I are putting together our own rock station for our market, and it was SUPER HARD to find females. Luckily, he listens to rock and knows the chicks who rock and it wasn’t a hard sell to get them on. What is surprising to me, is how hard it was to get Lita Ford on. Not since we’ve evolved, but before that, getting Lita or Vixen on was nearly impossible. There was just a blinder on programmers. As a teen of the 80’s I can tell you that they were BIG for us, and it’s nice to finally hear them again.
THANK YOU for shining a spotlight on past, present and future female Rockers. People hear what you say.
My pleasure, Tammie. Thrilled the post resonated for you.
Some of the popular Alt/Modern Rock genres and scenes of the ’80s-’90s were known for the significant proportion of female-led acts. For me, shoegaze came to mind first here–specifically Lush, which had two women (Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson) sharing both guitars and vocals. I’m choosing the song “Superblast!” here because the official music video was filmed at a concert…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uU5DU7P83E
Eric, thanks fir this, and appreciate you linking Lush.
Great story, Fred!
A girl I went all the way through school with, had an older brother who played in kid bands, then started drumming in a band that played the resort circuit, college parties, and the occasional bar when he got older. When Liz was 10, he showed her some drum basics, she’d sit down at his drums in their rec room (do we still have those?) put on records, and play along. One of my friends lived next door. One lazy summer afternoon we heard “Whole Lotta Shakin” coming out of the rec room windows. There was Liz on drums and one of her 11-year-old friends on the piano, playing Jerry Lee, and doing a good job of it. Liz never played professionally, nice girls didn’t play in rock bands, did they?
Liz is still playing with friends, has a full drum kit, and at 75 does a hell of a job on “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and other rock nuggets. She told me playing was great therapy for her knee replacements. She’s had both replaced after a long career as a ski instructor in Colorado.
Great story, Robert. I’ll bet her hearing is intact.
What a great column and what fun both remembering some amazing female talents and also looking up some I didn’t know. Thanks to all for contributing. I’ll throw my own pick in, Jen Ledger of Skillet. I was playing Skillet when they first hit the scene in the 90’s, and am thrilled to see them going stronger than ever. Stunning voice, stunning skills. Don’t overlook Ledger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyvFpD55c6c
David, thanks fir chiming in on this one.
Please, don”t forget about Melissa Etheridge. Her first album is a blast.
Good one! I’m thinking someone’s going to do a “Women Who Rock Weekend.”
IMHO, if people aren’t listening to music that’s being created by female, or female identifying, artists then they’re missing some of the best music that’s being created these days.
Agree, Matt. Thanks for chiming in.