Across February some of the UK’s leading rock music magazines are joining forces with TeamRock.com in launching She Rocks month, a celebration of women who have shaped the landscape of what rock music has become.
The days where women in the industry were perceived as a novelty are remaining firmly in the past as a result of the gumption displayed by women who carved the way for future female talent to not only prevail but to thrive.
Women in rock music leading to this point have been pioneers and personalities that embody what rock aspired to represent; a big fuck you. By kicking down the male-dominated door that blocked the entrance to the music scene at the time, women have rightfully earned their place beside their sexual counterparts and in some cases even outpaced them with bewildering talent.
In applause to the women that took music by the balls and turned it on its head, here is a look at who's influence can still be felt today...
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - With earth-shattering vocals, seductive growls and guitar picking that inspired a young, budding Elvis Presley, Sister Rosetta was a musical force to be reckoned with. She was the queer, coloured god-mother of rock and roll.
Although her bluesy talent can be overlooked when it comes to what defines rock music, her gospel canticles were the beginning of it all, paving the way for rock and roll history. When you listen to the iconic white males that front the rock scene, think of the powerful black woman that galvanised them.
Tina Turner - Born Anna Mae Bullock and later being rebranded by partner Ike, Turner's musical career has spanned decades, reinventing herself and adapting to multiple genres. With a wild stage presence and an age-defying appearance, she defines the raunch of rock and roll. Having worked with some of rock's most notable figures such as David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney, she is more than capable of holding her own in a male-dominated industry. Turner's life has seen trouble but it seems to have only added to the power she can give to the songs that she delivers with such passion and that keep fans enthralled even after so many years.
Janis Joplin- The pure grit that Joplin brought when she performed was so emotionally intense that it was an almost mirror image of the way in which she lived. The obscene wails and staggering range that came from the Big Brother & the Holding Company's leading lady was magical. Joplin sang with such passion that every word she delivered was an enchantment; when Janis sang about love, you were falling too. Sadly, her life was cut short as a result of a calamitous relationship with hard drugs that were rife in the industry at the time.
Suzi Quatro - In the early 60's Quarto came together with her sisters, Patti and Arlene to become The Pleasure Seekers, touring with legendary acts such as Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad and Alice Cooper. The notorious bass player then moved to England where she found real success, becoming the strong, sexy woman clad in boots and leather. Quatro was widely respected for her honesty and was a firm believer in celebrating sexual freedom - making it a very vocal part of her music.
The Runaways - Before Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, there was Runaways. This all-female lineup manoeuvred the punk scene during the latter part of the seventies, despite the fact that the girls were only teenagers. After releasing their self-titled debut album The Runaways began touring with huge acts, even opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Although all the tales these girls have to tell aren't too pretty, they definitely deserve some serious credit for the global influence they had and the tenacious mark they left on rock n roll.
Patti Smith - Smith was as disruptive to the rock scene as she was unique. Her poetic and confronting lyrics spoke about upfront topics that others shied away from. Her foremost inspiration appeared to come from the Beat scene and more lyrically literate rock musicians like Jim Morrison and Lou Reed, rounding it together was a garage inspired amateurism.
After a series of ebbs and flows of working in the industry Smith returned and has never left, still producing albums that brim with worldly anecdotes and tragedies.
Blondie - Fronted by the visually arresting Debbie Harry, Blondie achieved no easy feat breaking into a music industry that was still hesitant about Punk and New Wave. Regardless of this, they were very successful and were able to experiment with nearly every genre of music in one way or another; reggae, rap, disco...
Harry, an ex-playboy bunny knew how to do sexy, she also knew that at the time this sold. Looking like a new age Marylin Monroe, with bleached hair and pouty lips, she fitted comfortably into the rock scene that was glamorous and camp. Dominated by sexual ambiguity and androgynous males like Bowie and Bolan.
Stevie Nicks - For me personally, Nicks stands out of the crowd when it comes to the women that have shaped rock. Her voice is a bewitching contralto. Lyrically she is able to take her fans on a journey through her world with a consistent nod to magic, nature and love. Nicks shows that a woman doesn't have to be brash or aggressive to keep up with the men that dominate the industry. Being ultrafeminine, almost celestial, has been her brand from the beginning and has influenced the way in which other female artists have presented themselves. Instead of trying to be more like the men they work alongside, the image of women in rock was able to catapult in the opposite direction.
Nicks' music both with Fleetwood Mac and without, has had a particular influence on me and is often what I turn to when looking for clarity or escapism. She was the first female artist whose music I felt that connection too and that has encouraged me to embrace what it means to be a woman. Unabashedly proud of my quirks and emotions, I thank Stevie Nicks for what she has brought to rock music.
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