When it comes to women rock stars, there is very little middle ground. They are either churning out guitar riffs that rock, or somewhere in the middle of the pack. Some just posses that classic Rock and Roll attitude. As with any list see if you agree with me. Here are the top ten, in no particular order:
When it comes to women in Rock and Roll, Tina Turner will always be the measuring stick. She stayed lean and mean into her fifties with Steamy Windows. However, the big she is know for is What’s Love Got To With It?
Lita Ford
Lita Ford had a great time with Kiss Me Deadly in the 1980’s, but really hit her stride with Close My Eyes Forever with some guy named Ozzy.
Joan Jett is one of the original bad girls of Rock and Roll. Her anthem of I Love Rock & Roll will live forever, as well as hits like I Hate Myself For Loving You and Crimson and Clover.
Pat Benatar is truly a rock legend. Her resume includes We Belong, Love is a Battlefield, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and of course Heartbreaker. Her status amongst the elite female rockers of all time can not be debated.
Cher
Cher rose to fame performing with Sunny Bono, that much is common knowledge. But when she strutted her solo stuff, like in If I Could Turn Back Time, she showed she was much more than half of a duo. She proved that women can move on after a successful group career.
Perhaps best know as Kurt Cobain’s wife, Courtney Love keeps rock interesting. She is important not just as the lead for Hole, but with widely believed mentality without her Nirvana would have never happened. That makes her an important part in rock history.
Mama Cass Elliot
Mama Cass should be on any top ten women in music list. She was popular at a time when women were struggling with equality period, not just equality on the music charts. So her stint as one of the singers in the Mamas and the Pappas was a highlight of music history. She was taken far too soon.
Janis Joplin released such classics as Me and Bobby McGee, Kozmic Blues, and Piece of My Heart. She continues to under rated as an artist, mostly due to her untimely death. Her songs still live on, and keep her on the list of the top women rockers.
Stevie Nicks was amazing as singer with Fleetwood Mac, and just as reliable as a solo artist. Her songs like Edge of Seventeen, Leather and Lace, and Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around are proof that she can go her own way (sorry I had to slide in a Fleetwood song.)
Debbie Harry is best know as front woman for Blondie. With songs like The Tide is High, Call Me,and Heart of Glass brandishing her resume is the least of her problems. Debbie Harry resonates with rock stars of today, as much as those in the 1980’s.
So there you have my list of the top ten female rockers of all time. Disagree? Sure many people will, but as with any list, you have to sacrifice some names to get others onto. Thanks for checking it out.
