From metal to punk to hard rock, plenty of rock outfits through the years have been led by female lead singers. There are too many to count, but there are a few that we think deserve some praise for sticking around as long as they have. Let’s celebrate just a few famous (and a few underrated) frontwomen from iconic rock bands!
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1. Sleater-Kinney
This really wouldn’t be a solid list without including the iconic indie rock outfit Sleater-Kinney. Carrie Brownstein is the longstanding frontwoman of the band, and she has been a core figure of the riot grrrl movement in Washington since the genre’s heyday in the 1990s.
The band’s music has historically revolved around themes involving politics and feminism, but their overall musicality is more than worth applauding. Sleater-Kinney is full of incredible musicians, and we’re lucky that they are still making music today.
2. Joan Jett And The Blackheart
Joan Jett is one of the most legendary frontwomen in rock on this list. Originally part of The Runaways, Jett went on to launch a super-successful solo career and spearhead the iconic “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” hitmakers The Runaways. Jett is still very active as a musician today, and she’s still known as the Queen of Rock and Roll.
3. Otoboke Beaver
You might be unfamiliar with this unique Japanese rock band, but they are definitely worth an entry on our list. This all-female punk rock outfit from Kyoto led by vocalist Accorinrin has been around since the early aughts and is still releasing new music today. Their style of punk rock is aggressive, fast, and challenges notions of what is expected of women in modern-day society.
4. L7
L7 has been around for a hot minute. You might remember them from the hit 1992 grunge song “Pretend We’re Dead”. The band reunited back in 2015 and is still led by frontwoman Donita Sparks. The band is packed with excellent musicians and killer songwriters, and they’re also no strangers to controversy. From the infamous tampon incident to the time they jokingly auctioned a chance to spend a night with their drummer, these grunge rockers have cemented themselves in rock music history.
Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Vulture
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