This can be a tough category to define, as what constitutes a rock band is a moving target. For this list, a rock band is a group of musicians who play under a group name, not an individual’s name (unless it’s part of the group’s name). For example – Pat Benatar is an awesome rock performer and would rank easily in the top 5 of this list, but she performs under her own name not a band’s name. So here’s my list and its based solely on personal preferences.
As I hear new bands or new music from existing ones, this list may be revised, updated, and expanded upon from time to time. Enjoy!
- Ellie Rowsell – Wolf Alice
- Ann Wilson – Heart
- Emily Haines – Metric
- Stevie Nicks – Fleetwood Mac
- Shirley Manson – Garbage
- Patty Smyth – Scandal
- Ritzy Bryan – The Joy Formidable
- Rebecca Lovell – Larkin Poe
- Florence Welch – Florence and the Machine
- Deborah Harry – Blondie
- Aimee Mann – Til Tuesday
- Belinda Carlisle – The Go-Go’s
- Annie Lennox – Eurythmics
- Karen O – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Leah Fay – July Talk
- Christine McVie – Fleetwood Mac
- Chrissie Hynde – The Pretenders
- Kim Gordon – Sonic Youth
- Terri Nunn – Berlin
- Grace Slick – Jefferson Airplane/Starship
- Gwen Stefani – No Doubt
- Hayley Williams – Paramore
- Susanna Hoffs – The Bangles
- Martha Davis – The Motels
- Delores O’Riordan – The Cranberries
- Beth Gibbons – Portishead
- Natalie Merchant – 10,000 Maniacs
- Courtney Love – Hole
- Joan Jett – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- Marie Fredriksson – Roxette
- Dale Bozzio – Missing Persons
Scandal – cincyweekend.com
Here’s a visual link to Amazon* for a new book entitled Rock-and-Roll Woman, about female rockers that will be released in October, 2018.
problogic
Panethos 