5 Most Influential Women In Rock

From the beginning, rock music has too often been an all-boys club that excludes women from its inner circles. But not always: The following list celebrates the most prominent, influential and significant women in rock. Here we will take a look at the profiles of these Phenomenal Women in Music who have contributed their talents to help shape the rock music history, at a time when men dominated the airwaves and the charts.

On this three part series we look at each of these female musicians' role and contribution to rock.

Joan Jett is without a doubt one of the greatest influences in rock music. As a fearless, young and controversial musician, Joan Jett was incredibly successful in the 70s with all-teenage-girl band, The Runaways, formed in Los Angeles and consisting of full-time members Lita Ford, Cherie Currie and Sandy West. In a male-dominated rock music scene, this was something new and not easy to do. However, the band recieved a great response from Europe and Japan, before splitting after a four year run.

Joan is now best known for her work as Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, bringing us something even more powerful and well, ultimately just extremely cool. Some of her biggest hits include BadReputation” (which has been featured in a number of television shows and films), “I Love Rock N Roll” (although this was a covered and updated version of the original song by The Arrows), “DoYou Wanna Touch Me” (original by Gary Glitter), “Crimson and Clover” (Tommy James) and “I Hate Myself For Loving You”.

Joan Jett also produced many bands throughout her career under the label Blackheart Records, such as The Vacancies and The Eyeliners. As well as being involved in the music scene, she has also had various roles in film and theatre, her own radio show and most recently been a producer in the movie, The Runaways (2010), starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, which focuses on the relationship between Joan and Cherie.

As far as her influence on others goes, Joan Jett was considered to be a huge inspiration for the Riot Grrrl movement in the 90s, its pioneer being Bikini Kill, a band whose single, “NewRadio/Rebel Girl” was produced by Jett. It’s obvious that she has had a huge impact on many girl rockers out there, showing the world that a girl can indeed make it in a male-dominated music scene.

source:morethanthemusic.co.uk