Tuesday 14 December 2010

So there we have it...


Those are my top ten women in rock and roll today. Feel free to comment and tell me who your top ten are!


Monday 8 November 2010

1.Brody Dalle


The one and only Brody Dalle makes it into my list as my number one rock chick of today.

She was born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson on January 1st, 1979. She was raised in Melbourne, Australia. She first picked up a guitar at the age of thirteen and started her first band Sourpuss im 1995 at the age of sixteen. Sourpuss played one of their first gigs at Summersault Festival in Australia. It was here that she met Tim Armstrong, lead singer of punk rock band Rancid. He was thirteen years older then her put the two still had a relationship after Brody lied about her age. The couple got engaged shortly after Brody turned 18. She then moved to Los Angeles, California and it was there that she founded The distillers.

The Distillers were a punk rock band and Brody Dalles famously harsh female vocals were what really set them apart. The band released their first two albums on Hellcat records/ Epitaph records. In 2003 she spilt from Tim Armstrong and chaged her name to "Dalle".

The distillers produced three studio albums and Brody played guitar, wrote/ co-wrote and sang nearly every song on each album. Brody and Tony Bevilacqua (Guitarist) split from the band in 2006 and formed the band Spinnerette.

Spinnerettes line up has some incredible musicians in it. They include Jack Irons (Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Pearl Jam) and Alain Johannes ( Queens of the stone age and Them Crooked Vultures). The band are signed to Anthem Records and released their first self-titled album in June of 2009.

Although Spinnerette has such an impressive line up Brody has said in interviews that "Spinnerette isn't a band, it's me and which ever musicians I want to work with at the time.

Brody is now married to one of the greatest men in rock, lead singer of Queens of The Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures Josh Homme.

Combine all of this together and this is why she is my number one rock chick of today. She's covered in tattoos and sounds like a female Kurt Cobain. She may not be the most famous woman in my list but in my opinion she is the best!

Check out Brody Dalles Facebook page bellow and see her band The Distillers perform live in the video bellow.








2.Hayley Williams


Hayley Williams might just be one of the most famous rock chicks of the decade, Lead singer of Paramore, fancied by nearly every man out there and with on hell of a voice, Hayley makes it into the runner up position.

She was born Hayley Nichole Williams on December 27, 1988. Hayley grew up in Merdian, Mississippi but moved to Franklin, Tennesse at the age of thirteen. It was here that she met fellow band members Josh Farro and Zac Farro. It was in school that Hayley began her vocal training with Brett Manning.

At the tender age of 14 Hayley was discovered by managers Richard Williams and Dave Steunebrink who signed her to a production deal. She was eventually introduced to Atlantic Records and was signed to the label by Jason Flom. Atlantic Records originally wanted to turn her into a pop star but she and said she wanted to play alternative music in a band. Atlantic went along with her ideas which caused her to form Paramore along with Jeremy Davis (Bass) and Josh (Lead guitar/backing vocals) and Zac Farro (Drums). In 2004 Hayley's neighbour Jason Bynum joined the band as rhythm guitarist.

Atlantic decided that to keep the bands alternative image if they released their music through a more niche label and so they chose to release their music through Fueled by Ramen. After CEO John Janick saw they perfrom at Taste of Chaos in Orlando, Florida he signed them to the label straight away.

The band went back to Orlando to record their first album. Shortly after arriving however Jeremey Davis left the band due to personal reasons. They decided to base their first album "All we know is falling" around Jeremy's departure. However before Paramore toured with their first album Jeremy returned after being asked by the band. Hunter Lamb replaced Jason Bynum as rhythm guitarist. Lamb left in 2007 to get married and Taylor York replaced him.

Paramore have gone on to enjoy huge international success with three amazing studio albums.
It's Hayley's incredible vocals that give her the number two spot in my list. She has some serious power in her voice and really knows how to work the crowd. She is the ultimate pop rock chick. She starred in New Found Glory's "Kiss Me" video in 2007 who are one of the best Punk rock bands around in my opinion.

Hayley has also one many awards Such as Kerrang readers sexiest female and NME's sexiest female.


Check out Hayleys Facebook page bellow and see Paramore perform live on MTV in the video bellow.





3.Gwen Stefani


Gwen Stefani, the queen of Ska. She has enjoyed a hugely successful music career, has her own fashion label and has one of the most unique and memorable styles around, this is why she is my number three.

Born in California on the 3rd of October 1969 Gwen is another rock chick to grow up in a Roman catholic household. Gwen gets her interesting name from her mother who named her after a stewardess from the 1968 novel Airport. Gwen attended Loara High School where she made her first on stage appearance. She graduated in 1987 and attended Fullerton College, she then transferred to California State University.

Gwen Stefani is no doubt most famous as the lead singer of the band "No Doubt". Gwen and her brother Eric were the founders of the band, forming it in 1986 they called themselves Apple Core, Gwen sang backup vocals. After about a year Eric decided to get a serious group together, the line up for the band was; Eric Stefani (Keyboards), Jerry McMahon (Guitar), Chris Leal (Bass), Gabe Gonzalas (Trumpet) and Gwen Stefani and John Spence (Vocals). They all practised in the Stefani's garage. After they played a couple or early shows Tony Kanal joined the band as the bassist. Tony also dated Gwen.
The band were doing well until tragedy struck when lead singer John Spence committed suicide just days before a gig at The Roxy Theatre, which was especially for record industry employees. The band split up but decided to reform after a few weeks, Gwen eventually took over the role of lead singer.

The band changed line up many times, Tom Dumont joined as the new guitarist and Adrian Young became their new drummer. However it was Gwen's powerful on stage presence that really attracted the fans.

The bands success grew and grew and in 1990 they singed to Interscope records, it was with them that they released their self-titled début album. However this album failed to make it into mainstream success.

Eventually Eric quit the band 1994 due to lack of creative control, Tony and Gwen also broke up. Interscope became unsure of what to do with the band and so sub-licensed them to Trauma Records. It was with Trauma Records that No Doubt found super stardom. Their album Tragic Kingdom was mostly written about Tony and Gwen relationship breakdown, the song "Don't Speak" was especially sang by Gwen about Tony and is one of their most famous songs.

The band went on to enjoy international fame and success, with five studio albums and many Grammy and MTV awards.

In 2004 they went on Hiatus and Gwen enjoyed a solo Career producing dance/pop albums. Her first album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby" reached triple platinum status and her second "The Sweet Escape" was also hugely popular.

Gwen also launched her own clothing line L.A.M.B. which includes a line of clothes inspired by her love for Japanese culture.

No Doubt reformed in 2008 and our now currently working on new material.

Gwen Stefani made it into the top three on my list for many reasons. She is hugely influential and inspiring. Her 1940's Hollywood make-up and punk clothing give her unique style, which is something every rock chick should have. Her voice also has a very original sound to it and you would know when you were listening to a Gwen Stefani record. She's powerful and has and incredible presence on stage and in my opinion there is no one else like her.

Check out Gwen's Facebook page bellow, also see No Doubt's video for their infamous single "Don't speak" below.





4.Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen is the youngest rock chick in my top ten list, She may be seen in the press as a bit of a wannabe brat but in my opinion she is one of the most promising new acts.

Born in July 1993 she grew up in St Louis, Missouri. She was born to a roman catholic family and attended a catholic school. She started her career at just three years old when she was cast in a 'Shake 'N' Bake' commercial. Her most famous role as young actress however was as Cindy Lou Who in the Grinch that Stole Christmas.

At the age of fourteen Momsen signed. She still models today along with her music career, she was the face of New Look and Madonnas clothing line Material Girl in 2010. She is also set to be the model for John Galliano's New women's fragrance.

However it is her band The Pretty Reckless that gives her such a high place in my top ten list. Taylor formed The Pretty Reckless in 2009 and supported The Vernoica's on there North American tour. After this tour however she fired the other members of the band because they didn't play the style of music that she wanted to play. She then found Ben Phillips (Guitar), Mark Damon (Bass) and Jamie Perkins (Drums) and started to produce a far darker style of music. Momsen says she takes her influences from The Beatles, Oasis and Nirvana.

They signed to Interscope records and in 2010 released their début album Light Me Up.

Taylor herself is known for her outlandish behaviour and risqué outfits. She is just 17 years old but has no trouble expressing herself.

She also famously had a rant about Disney teen star Miley Cyrus. In an interview with Miley Cyrus she said "I'm not looking to be Miley f***ing Cyrus, I don't care about the fame. I do it because I love music. I like making records and if people like them, then we'll go along for the ride." This is one of the things that puts her high up in my list. She's bringing back real rock and roll, not all this bubblegum sweet auto tuned pop that's around today. She's not afraid to speak her own mind and has amazing style!

Check out The Pretty Reckless Facebook page bellow and also see them perform live in the video bellow.






5.Karen O


Now Karen O might be resonably new on the rock scence, but in my opinion her quirky orginalltiy puts her high up there on my list.


Karen Lee Orzolek was born in November 1978 in South Korea. The family then moved to New Jersey in the United States. Karen attend New York Universitys Tisch School of Arts.

She is most famous as the front women for the New York band The Yeah Yeah Yeah's who formed in 2000. She is also known for her crazy on stage antics, for example in 2003 at a festival in Australia she accidently danced off stage and had to be taken to hospital. She also does things like spits water all over herself during her shows, which only add to her image.

Karen has won many awards for her high fashion approach to rock and her good looks, bellow is a list of awards she has won.



  • Spin Magazines Sex Goddess award, 2004 and 2005.

  • Rocks hottest women by Blender in 2006.

  • Number 3 in Spinner.com's women who rock right now list in 2007.

  • Shockwaves NME award for hottest women in 2010.

Aswell as the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O has done alot of soundtrack work. She collabarted with other artists on the soundtacks for films such as "The house of wax" and "Jackass 2". Her most famous soundtrack work though is "Where the Wild things are", she compssed every piece of music on this films soundtrack.

Karen O has her own incredible sense of style and quirky sining style. Along with her crazy on stage antics i think she is one of the most stand out rock chicks out there today.


Check out her Facebook page and video bellow and let me know your opinions on Karen O.


Karen's facebook page.

6. Courtney Love

Now Courtney Love may not be on top of her game these days but she is no doubt one of the most influential women in Rock of all time.

She is best known for her role as lead singer in the hugely successful grunge band Hole, but perhaps she is known even better as Wife to the late grunge god and front man of Nirvana Kurt Cobain.

Courtney was born July 1964 in San Francisco, California. After a turbulant and troubled childhood Love gain legal emancipation from her family at the age of sixteen. She left Orgeon and travelled around the U.S, England and Ireland. It was at this time in her life that Courtney developed her love for punk and rock music.

Courtney was born as Courtney Michelle Harrison, she changed her name to Love when she worked as am erotic dancer in Portland after travelling. She chose Love as a tribute to "Peace and Love".

Courtney got involved in many bands and finaly moved to L.A where she formed Hole in 1989.

She taught herself to play guitar and took her influence for Hole from the likes of Big Black, Sonic Youth and Fleetwood Mac. Hole were a hugely famous and influential band earning Courtney her status as a true Rock Chick.

However her turbulent marriage to the late Kurt Cobain also boosted her fame and caused alot of controversy. They met on January 12th 1990 and were married in Hawai in 1992. People warned Courtney that marrying Cobain would ruin her life but she said " Whatever i love him and want to be with him". Two years after their marriage on April 8th 1994 Kurt was found dead at their Seattle, Washington home, he'd committed suicide with a shotgun.

Courtney Love is Infamous for her drunk and wild behaviour, something that perhaps only greatens her rock star image. In my opinion she is one of the most famous rock chicks of all time.

Check out Courtney's Facebook page bellow and also see her do her thing with Hole in the video bellow.

Courtney Love's facebook Page