I have a bit of an issue with people classifying women rockers as “women in rock”. They never say “men in rock”, Rolling Stone didn’t put out a “Thirty Years Of Men In Rock” when they put out their issue of women in rock.
Question: the ’30 Years’ issue came out when I was in grade 9, so that was 1998. The issue, obviously, went from 68-98. Were women not making music pre-68? Did they all just magically burst onto the scene at the same time? No. And did they all just stop in 98? No. So why confine it to just 30 years? And again, why assign them to a sub-genre?
For a long time, rock/punk was largely a boy’s club. Women were largely groupies, except in cases like Patti Smith, Debbie Harry or Joan Jett, where they broke through that. Were it not for them, I doubt we would have had the likes of Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney or The Donnas.
But women broke down those barriers and made their way in and some of them are incredible performers. Patti Smith writes amazing lyrics and is still going strong today. Lita Ford is arguably one of the best metal guitarists out there. Pat Benatar, while some might dismiss her as an 80’s pop sensation, broke new ground visually by having the first choreographed dance appear in her music video. And have you heard her voice? Her range is incredible.
In the 90’s, riot grrrl emerged, and while it was a small and short-lived movement (though many of those involved still describe themselves as riot grrrls), the music from that time is important. Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Heavens To Betsy are just a few of the bands that took over the punk scene and really made a name for themselves. Sleater-Kinney evolved from riot grrrl and Carrie Brownstein is by far one of the most talented guitarists walking the earth today.
If there’s all this talent and ability and raw, rocking power, why is it always “women in rock”? It drives me fucking mental. Rock music is not a gendered thing.
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