For as long as there has been rock music, women have played a role in its success. Some were a major influence on artists of their generation, and some were a major influence on the success of the bands with which they worked. All excelled at creating and performing rock music, as songwriters, instrumentalists, and singers. Below is a list of women in rock whose influence is still felt today.
1. Pat Benatar
One of the first women associated with hard rock, Pat Benatar’s rise from bank teller to arena rock star was meteoric. Success began with her first album, “In the Heat of the Night” in 1979. Her second album, “Crimes of Passion” put her in an ideal position to become one of the first and most frequently played artists on MTV when it launched in 1981.
2. Chrissie Hynde
Despite spending much of the ’70s unsuccessfully trying to form or permanently join a band, Chrissie Hynde finally got her demo tape to a record label owner whose backing enabled her to put together The Pretenders. On the strength of their self-titled debut album in 1979, the band rode rock’s New Wave movement through the ’80s, succeeding in spite of internal conflict and numerous changes.
3. Joan Jett
After success in the mid-’70s with one of the first all-female rock bands, The Runaways, Joan Jett went on to even greater success with her own band, The Blackhearts. Their first album, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1981 was an immediate hit. In addition to her talent as a vocalist, Jett has distinguished herself as a guitarist, songwriter, and producer.
4. Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was one of the first female artists to break the “girl singer” mold that existed in folk and pop music in the mid-’60s. Her fusion of rock and blues-influenced both male and female artists. Her breakthrough came after performing with Big Brother and The Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. She also performed at Woodstock in 1969. She was approaching the height of her success in 1970 when she died of a drug/alcohol overdose.
5. Stevie Nicks
Since joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975, Stevie Nicks established herself as a major vocal and songwriting talent. While still a member of the band, she also launched a solo career in 1981. Artists in various genres have cited Nicks as a major influence on their music.
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