We need more female lead singers in hard rock

[Droopy]

I remember a few years back a hard rock song called "Supernova". I don't remember the band's name but I do remember they had a female lead singer. Their video ran on MTV for a couple of months, I think. The song was an upbeat ode to her lover comparing him to the heavenly bodies. I fell in love with her just based on that song. In my fantasies I would imagine she was singing to me.

There aren't too many women making hard rock and even fewer female lead singers. An all female band called The Donnas had a minor hit a few months back. Not too original, though. They sounded like AC/DC with female vocals. A new band called Evanescence has a woman lead singer and they've had a couple of hits. They've got a unique sound with a piano thrown in and male backing vocals. Other than that, I can't think of any popular new hard rock bands with a female lead singer. I can think of a few examples of bands with female musicians, but that's it.

So where are all the women rockers? I know a lot of women like hard rock. What do you think? I think hard rock needs an overhaul right now. Could the female lead vocalist be the key?

[Loonman]

1. Supernova, by Liz Phair

nt

[Droopy]

2. Yup, that's it

thanks

[DBoon]

3. Sleater Kinney

on Kill Rock Stars records. Not really new, but still very vital

[vi5]

4. In underground/indie/punk rock there are/were plenty......

You just need to be able/willing to dig deeper to find them.

The closest any of this came to mainstream prominent acceptance was the early to mid-90's with the whole Riot Grrrl thing bubbling just under the surface. Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy, and others, and to a lesser degree larger name bands like L7, Hole, etc.

Unfortunately the relative success of those bands/artists caused the unfortunately inevitable backlash of the put-upon angry white male rock of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and all that nu metal garbage.

Sleater Kinney are still plugging away and rocking pretty hard. Some newer bands like Erase Erratta and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are women fronted or all women and carry some pretty decent torches musically and stylistically.

[Droopy]

5. I know what you mean by that "nu metal garbage"

It seems like every guy in hard rock who had a bad relationship at one time is busy cranking out songs about how a woman done him wrong. Godsmack is making a career out of it. I hope they give it a rest. That stuff got old about three years ago.

[mvd]

6. I'm a Donnas and Sleater-Kinney fan

If they are really good, I don't care how original they are. Sleater-Kinney is more original, but the only flaw on the Donnas' Spend The Night is the similarity of the tunes, and that's a minor one because the album's very fun and short. Donna A. has a great voice - you can tell her low voice apart from the pop/rockers.

I kind of like Evanescence, too - Amy Lee's voice is one of the best I've heard in rock, period.

More:

Lennon Murphy - 5:30 Saturday Morning
The Painkillers - Medicine For The Soul
Tracy Bonham - Down Here
Joydrop - Viberate
Laura Dawn - Believer (not all hard rock, but definitely hard in spots)

[Droopy]

7. I've only heard that one tune by the Donnas

So maybe I passed judgement too soon. Thanks for the correct spelling of Evanescence. I'll change that.

[mvd]

8. You're welcome

Also, Garbage can get pretty hard - they're a fave of mine. And Courtney Love is returning - another fave. But you probably know these.

[tuck]

9. sexist establishment

there are plenty of women in hard rock, but they don't get the opportunity to succeed, because clear channel doesn't play women whose images aren't either whorish or spic 'n'span .

i mean, is liz phair really the edgiest mainstream can get?

i'll stick with my bikini kill and bonfire madigan, thanks......even if i have to pay $20 for a CD

[newyawker99]

16. Congrats tuck!! 100 posts

A :toast: for your first milestone!! :-)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

10. I used to think I liked the Donnas...

but i downloaded a ton of their stuff and they all sound the same, the lyrics are very simple, rhythms are very easy, and their voices get annoying.

We do need more women in that genre. There's a new group, Evanescence with a female singer and male singer. They're pretty good. Even Liz Phair is sounding a bit more poppy than she used to be.

I just realized you already mentioned Evanescence, lol. :)

on edit: my spelling is a atrocious this afternoon

[mvd]

11. Hmm..

I don't agree, except for the similarity of the songs. The lyrics bring the party feel of rock back, in a good way to me.

Power pop is often kind of easy in rhythm, and I like the straightforwardness.

[arcane1]

12. some of my current faves are female-fronted bands

Lacuna Coil
The Gathering
Dreams of Sanity
Mistle Thrush
Flowing Tears
Nightwish


the list goes on...


see http://www.metalgirls.com/

(may need to click the Union Jack for English)


edited to add: Evanescence is just a rip-off of Lacuna Coil's sound, they were doing it first!
and they are on tour now and kicking total ass

www.lacunacoil.it

:bounce:

[mvd]

14. The vocals are different

Also, Lacuna doesn't seem quite as riff-driven, and don't seem to have the same kind of ballads. Lacuna Coil just sounds like an influence to me.

[Ramsey]

13. I agree!

I am no rock star, but you can check out some cuts from my (hopefully) soon to be released album here:

http://ramsey.dca.net/versigh.html

[arcane1]

15. sweet!

I'll check em out after work!

:toast:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. I like Evanescence!

and Johnette Napolitano and Joan Osborne ain't too bad either!

[ornotna]

26. Johnette Napolitano

one of the best, she has a powerful voice.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

18. not exactly hard rock

but if you want a strong female vocal, kathleen hanna of le tigre is the best there is

also, patti smith never gets old

[Nomad559]

19. Music Videos

Does anyone have any links to Music Video sites?

Here Is one that I have ... http://www.findvideos.com/

Thanks ... :)

[mitchum]

20. Won't happen because there are NO female Bon Scotts

Come to think of it...there are now no male Bon Scotts

[theemu]

21. 'Women in Rock'

Liz Phair sounds like a Avril-wannabe now, unfortunately, and she claims that her current sound is what she's been wanting to achieve her entire career.

To be honest, I've never really given much heed to the 'Women in Rock' ideology - I think it's a bit patriarchal. Bands like Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre, Sahara Hotnights, Blonde Redhead, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs just rock, independent of the gender of the lead singers (or, in the case of the first three bands, their entire lineups). But any of those bands would be ones I recommend. Sleater-Kinney is standard-issue indie rock, Le Tigre and Blonde Redhead are heavily influenced by electronic music but maintain a distinctly rock texture, and Sahara Hotnights and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are two members of the recent garage rock revival.

[MissouriTeacher]

22. Check out Nightwish...

They're a Finnish heavy metal band with a female lead singer who actually sings! I mean, this woman sounds like an opera singer. Great stuff.

www.nightwish.com

[MissouriTeacher]

23. Whoops!

Just noticed someone mentioned Nightwish already.

Oh well, they're good enough to be mentioned twice. :D

[binaryline]

24. try out beth ditto and the gossip

i swear... you won't be able to stand after you hear her sing!

[ButterflyBlood]

25. Makara

you probably can't tell if it's a male or female with this one. It's just pure, distorted, insane screaming. but yes, it's a female.