Women Who Rock

I don’t, just trying to fit in. This place is a fight where occasionally a discussion breaks out.   

I'll agree that Amy Lee was sensational for a minute,… incredible contrast between her voice against the wall of power chords & dark lyrics but, I will agree with anyone who believes Pat Benatar is the greatest rock voice of "my" generation anyway. Classically trained, but totally flipped a switch when she got that band behind her. Truly amazing.

Tom Jones & Janis Joplin - Raise Your Hand - This is Tom Jones TV Show - YouTube

@tylermunns - aren't there awards categories like 'Best Male Vocalist'? 

@larsman What’s your point?  
“Best Male Vocalist.” Stupid.  
Art ain’t athletics.
It’s just a way to make more money.  
If instead of “Best Male (blank)” and “Best Female (blank)” they just had “Best (blank)” there wouldn’t be as many opportunities for music companies and film companies to market certain “assets.”

My point is that:

People consider a male artist an….artist.
A female artist is a…”female artist.”  

It’s just stupid.  
No one would make a thread of “best male vocalists” 

is not quite accurate, and I have seen threads of 'best male vocalists'. 

Personally, I don't believe in artistic 'rewards'; I have no use for Grammys or Halls of Fame - I agree that art is not a competition, but it gets treated like that whether I like it or not. 

@larsman I agree on all points except the conflation of music industry awards with music forums/music fans talking about music. If the industry does that (as they have for years) to maximize profits, that’s their prerogative, I guess, as unfortunate as it is.  
I don’t see how real music fans need to segregate things, to qualify the value of music on biological terms.

@tylermunns - yes, I can see that differentiation between music fans' discussions and industry awards. Categorization can be such a graveyard for great music that remains unheard because of it. 

I dunno... I don't worry about gender nor race

That said, I was underwhelmed both by Joan Jett and by Alanis Morisette when I saw them in concert (separately).  Jett was, dare I say, boring and predictable... Morisette I could barely understand the vocals even though I am familiar with her big album.

Heart, though, I did like live, twice.

I’ve known a few female drummers, and their lesser physical strength (compared to males) is a definite disadvantage. But they often play with great sensitivity and taste. Very unmasculine ;-) .

Cindy Blackman would like to have a word with you in the back alley...

^ And Sheila E, whom I also have not known. Debbie Peterson of The Bangles is a pretty darn good drummer, as was Karen Carpenter. The latter studied with Hal Blaine.

My ex wife

I dunno but…Chrissie Hynde?  Lucinda Williams?

And if you’ve  ever heard the live version of “Money Changes Everything”, ya’ just gotta include Cyndi Lauper for that in and of itself. 
 

Barbara Keith of the Stone Coyotes

Beth Hart & Lzzy Hale ...Beth more olde school blues/soul rock..

Carlene Carter. Her Musical Shapes album was produced by Nick Lowe (whom she married and divorced. She then moved on to Howie Epstein, bassist in Tom Petty's Heartbreakers), her backing band on the album Rockpile (in which Nick was the bassist. Guess Carlene prefers bass players ;-). Killer Rock 'n' Roll!

That "short list" comment, while probably intending to be humor, went out with Polish jokes.  It's enough.

Mia Zapata

Polly Styrene

Lita Ford

All of Sleater Kinney, Luscious Jackson, jeez lots of bands

Courtney Love

@jji666 + 1

My 2 are on the extreme side of rock, not sure if both have been mentioned?

Kittie-Female extreme metal band from London Ontario. With 6 studio albums they have enough material and notoriety to make the list. Currently there could be a heavier all female band but they were the first(extreme metal band) to my knowledge.

Martha Davis(The Motels)-Sophistication with a distinctive vocal elegance. 

+1 for Geddy Lee!

Anyone who enjoys blues/rock should check out Joanne Shaw Taylor "White Sugar"

and Laura Cox "Burning Bright" 

(Man do they Rock!)😜

Both EXCELLENT Albums!

Richpop,

"Janis Joplin" ! One of a kind! Saw here several times in Santa Barbara! I worked the events "luccky Me" She could drink everyboby under the table! ! Loved  her or hate her She was AWSOME !

I managed to see & hear Janis Joplin live in the Summer of ’67, and she was definitely a force of nature! Unfortunately the rest of Big Brother were as lame a professional band as I have ever seen & heard. I never saw her after she dumped the hippies and got herself a decent band (Full Tilt Boogie).

For those of you who like white female (is it okay to discuss them separately from the men? ;-) Blues singers, try to see & hear Lou Ann Barton live. She was the lead singer in The Triple Threat Revue, the band’s guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan not yet having sung on stage. Lou Ann often accompanies Jimmie Vaughan when he hits the road, he giving over to her the front of the stage. A "full-throated" gal, whom I love.

Lou Ann’s debut album on Asylum Records (entitled Old Enough) was produced by Jerry Wexler and Glenn Frey, and recorded at The Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield Alabama, using the Studio’s incredible house band, a/k/a The Swampers). The album is absolutely fan-f*ck*ng-tastic!

I saw Wendy O. back in the 80's - I haven't been the same since. I still have at least one 45 record of hers that is stashed someplace. The jacket is amazing.

Some great artists listed here, even if the OP didn't mean for anyone to create a list.