Women In Rock

[Mattman]

This question pulls at my brain every now and then when I'm watching Much Loud, this Canadian TV channel that plays only rock videos.  Why are there so few female bands in rock?  There are so few female rock bands that "girl rock bands" is practically a genre unto itself - bands like the Runaways, Hole, the Donnas, Kittie, Sahara Hotnights.  You can count the all-female bands you know on two hands.  Why is that?  And the few female band there are never seem to truly get into the rock mainstream.  I mean, there's never been a truly major, influential female rock band - no Fem Zeppelin or anything.

Maybe it has to do with the lack of female instrumentalists.  I mean, I know a lot of girls who play instruments.  But when I see a band perform, and there's a woman up there, she's almost always the singer, while a bunch of guys play the instruments.  In those cases, I mainly feel sorry for the guys, because in any band where there's a female singer and a bunch of guys - Blondie, No Doubt, Evanescence, the Distillers - she always gets all the attention and the rest of the guys are anonymous instrumentalists.  I just wonder, why aren't there more bands with female instrumentalists?  I can think of a few - Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth - that have a female bass player.  But overall, the presence of women in rock is pretty small.

Theories?  Opinions?

[journey]

I think it's because the rock band scene started with men. It's somewhat of a cliche. Rock n' roll is supposed to be dirty and rough. And, I guess women were, and in some cases, still are excluded from that category. I always thought the Go-Gos and The Bangles were pretty cool, "for girls"? Things might change for women in rock one day.

[Dizzy]

Vixen rules.   

[Izzy]

This question pulls at my brain every now and then when I'm watching Much Loud, this Canadian TV channel that plays only rock videos.? Why are there so few female bands in rock?? There are so few female rock bands that "girl rock bands" is practically a genre unto itself - bands like the Runaways, Hole, the Donnas, Kittie, Sahara Hotnights.? You can count the all-female bands you know on two hands.? Why is that?? And the few female band there are never seem to truly get into the rock mainstream.? I mean, there's never been a truly major, influential female rock band - no Fem Zeppelin or anything.

Maybe it has to do with the lack of female instrumentalists.? I mean, I know a lot of girls who play instruments.? But when I see a band perform, and there's a woman up there, she's almost always the singer, while a bunch of guys play the instruments.? In those cases, I mainly feel sorry for the guys, because in any band where there's a female singer and a bunch of guys - Blondie, No Doubt, Evanescence, the Distillers - she always gets all the attention and the rest of the guys are anonymous instrumentalists.? I just wonder, why aren't there more bands with female instrumentalists?? I can think of a few - Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth - that have a female bass player.? But overall, the presence of women in rock is pretty small.

Theories?? Opinions?

I guess women just ain't drawn to rock music - though there are a shocking lack of female bands in any genre (other than the pop group in which all are singers)

All the best musicians always seem to be men (there wouldn't be any women in a list of the top 100 guitarists, bassists, drummers etc etc)

Just one of those things i guess

[Chris Misfit]

I mean, most young guys will pick up a guitar in their teenage years, very few girls will. I doubt it really has anything to do with them being crap musicians, although I'm stuck trying to think of a great female guitarist.

When female bands do make it, it seems they have to go through this teen grrl angst bullshit, like Courtney, Tarrie and Brodie. But then, most male bands nowadays, in the mainstream, are the same. I have no idea what point I'm trying to make.

I love the Donnas riffs, I also think they're quite good musicians (apart from the drummer).

I think girls are more accepted in punk, as there are loads of female bands, but then, punk isn't hard to play, is it?

[Doc Emmett Brown]

cuz it's easier to be a groupie.

[the dirt]

I like The Coors, 1 guy in the band, their brother

[Mattman]

I mean, most young guys will pick up a guitar in their teenage years, very few girls will. I doubt it really has anything to do with them being crap musicians, although I'm stuck trying to think of a great female guitarist.

Yeah, most girl bands are either punk or garage or that kind of thing.? However, a few months ago I read an article in Guitar World or something about this chick named Ana Popovic.? Apparently, she's got some really wicked blues chops.? I haven't been able to download one of her tunes, but there's a lot of hype about her in the guitar magazines.

[Aava]

I think Sahara Hotnights is pretty good.
I have only heard few songs, and so far they rock!! On Top Of Your World is great!

[Walk]

Power metal fans are currently drooling over the Nightwish girl. I think women in rock are just gimmicky. They lack testosterone to create aggressive, powerful music. The women in music today is kind of a backlash against the 80's glam scene, which was all about getting girls. Today, the feminists want to prove they can make music just as great as the guys. THEY CAN'T.

The fact that there is a picture of a girl with a guitar in this thread just proves me right. They're there for the image and "broader appeal".

[cherry]

Power metal fans are currently drooling over the Nightwish girl. I think women in rock are just gimmicky. They lack testosterone to create aggressive, powerful music. The women in music today is kind of a backlash against the 80's glam scene, which was all about getting girls. Today, the feminists want to prove they can make music just as great as the guys. THEY CAN'T.

The fact that there is a picture of a girl with a guitar in this thread just proves me right. They're there for the image and "broader appeal".

Women aren't useless people. I love music and so do millions of other girls. I write music and play guitar. It's a big part of who I am, and I'm not gonna let close minded individuals say that I'm wasting my time, because I'm a girl. And, plus, there have been many women in rock that have proved themselves to be just as good as the guys. For instance, Joan Jett, Heart, Lita Ford, Janis Joplin, etc...

It's funny how everything always comes back to how we look. It's like our whole existence is based around that. I don't play guitar, because I wanna look the part of a rocker. That's absurd. You don't think women can be agressive? Well, you obviously have never heard of pms! PMS beats testosterone everytime.

[POPmetal]

Power metal fans are currently drooling over the Nightwish girl. I think women in rock are just gimmicky. They lack testosterone to create aggressive, powerful music. The women in music today is kind of a backlash against the 80's glam scene, which was all about getting girls. Today, the feminists want to prove they can make music just as great as the guys. THEY CAN'T.

The fact that there is a picture of a girl with a guitar in this thread just proves me right. They're there for the image and "broader appeal".

You nailed it my friend

It's funny how the commies at MTV had to censor metal in the 90s so that crap like Jewel and Sarah Mclachlan can gain way.

I'm sick of all this "sensitive" shit MTV is trying to ram down my throat. And garbage male bands like REM are even bigger pussies than the women. MTV destroyed music so they can foist their radical agenda onto the youth. It makes me sick!@

That's also why Axl gets thrashed so much by the music critics. He is hated simply because he was the last rock star with balls period

[Miz]

I mean, most young guys will pick up a guitar in their teenage years, very few girls will. I doubt it really has anything to do with them being crap musicians, although I'm stuck trying to think of a great female guitarist.

Jennifer Batten.  She isn't at all well known, but she'd kick the ass of every single "guitarist" you'd find in any rock band.  The reason she isn't really well known might have something to do with the fact she's a woman though.

I think the most famous thing she's ever done was play guitar for Michael Jackson, but you'll never really get any media doing that cos all anyone cares about is his face.

[Walk]

The instrument of the guitar is sexual in nature. Freud and most renouned psychologists would agree with me. Women aren't designed to manipulate a tool like that. The guitar is like an extension of male anatomy, which is why playing ridiculously well is called wankery. Women cannot experience this, it is physically and psychologically impossible.

Women do have a place is rock music. Groupies. 99% of rock bands would not exist if there were no groupies. Without groupies, there would only be Judas Priest, and rock music would be part of the gay culture. 

Cherry, I only agree with you about Janis Joblin, but the blues isn't really rock music. She was a great singer with a great sense of humor, but not a rock star.

PS- Who was that woman that played topless on stage and sawed up cars with chainsaws and did crazy shit?  It was ridiculously gimmicky, but it was so funny anyway! I saw a short clip about her on VH1 ages ago.

[Mattman]

Power metal fans are currently drooling over the Nightwish girl. I think women in rock are just gimmicky. They lack testosterone to create aggressive, powerful music. The women in music today is kind of a backlash against the 80's glam scene, which was all about getting girls. Today, the feminists want to prove they can make music just as great as the guys. THEY CAN'T.

The fact that there is a picture of a girl with a guitar in this thread just proves me right. They're there for the image and "broader appeal".

I've always hated the idea that a person's choices in life are limited by whether or not they have a penis...

[Eazy E]

I mean, most young guys will pick up a guitar in their teenage years, very few girls will. I doubt it really has anything to do with them being crap musicians, although I'm stuck trying to think of a great female guitarist.

Jennifer Batten.? She isn't at all well known,

Why is that?

[Suskind]

I am glad someone mentioned Jennifer Batten! She is one of my heros! Made me pick up a guitar! She is amazing and is so underrated its sickening. She is being robbed!

She is amazing and has done alot of solo work. Heres a brief bilography:


JENNIFER BATTEN

photo by Maryanne Bilham
JENNIFER BATTEN
 
The buzz on Jennifer Batten rose from the guitar underground, enticing the guitar magazines to track her down and chronicle her savvy musicianship and highly original approach to the electric guitar, in print. On GPM's premier compilation CD, John Stix wrote, "It was Jennifer's version of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" that was considered by her peers the "scariest and most requested cut on the disc."
 
At one point Batten was in 6 different bands, playing everything from straight ahead rock, to metal, to fusion, to funk. A major turning point came when she was selected from over 100 guitarists to play in Michael Jackson's highly skilled band which toured the world for 1 1/2 years playing for over 4.5 million people on his first solo tour. In the following years she joined Michael on his "Dangerous Tour" as well as '97's "HIS tory Tour", traveling to such countries as South Africa and India. She also joined him in Superbowl 27's half time entertainment which aired to the largest audience in television history.(1 1/2 billion)
 
Following '89's "Bad Tour" grand finale, she dove into work on her debut album with renown producer (ex-Stevie Wonder guitarist) Michael Sembello. The innovative results can be heard on "Above, Below, and Beyond". Her 2nd solo record "Jennifer Batten's Tribal Rage" was released in '97 and is heavily influenced by world music. It sounds like a rich and moody travelogue through many cultures.
 
In '98 Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band. She spent 3 years recording and touring in support of his last 2 CDs. Tour dates included many dates with Sting.
 
Guest recordings include: Jeff Beck's "Who Else" and "You Had It Coming" Carmine Appice's "Guitar Zeus" featuring (Brian May). Michael Sembellos' "Heavy Weather" , Carl Anderson's "Sunlight Again", Cindy Cruz' debut, Public Image bassist Bret Helm's "Doc Tahri", The Immigrants debut CD. Videos include appearances with Jeff Beck, Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, Sara Hickman, and a feature in "Hot Guitarist's" video magazine. She's also authored 2 music books.
 
She is currently working on her 3rd solo CD.


You can check out more on her website.  www.batten.com


peace

[Malcolm]

i love Amy Lee...i think she can look very pretty is a good songwriter and has an outstanding voice

[Mattman]

i love Amy Lee...i think she can look very pretty is a good songwriter and has an outstanding voice

Yeah, but once again she's "just" the singer in a band full of guys.  Why are women always singers in pop music, never instrumentalists?

[RichardNixon]

I like:

Tori Amos
Debbie Harry
Kim Deal
Shirley Manson
PJ Harvey
Janis Joplin
Sammy Hagar 
Grace Slick (from the JA days)
Nico