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Who’s Your Favorite Frontwoman?
I haven’t opened up one of these discussions for a while, so I’d say it’s high time for another roll call of Line Out readers’ opinions.
I’m not generally inclined to introduce gender as a categorical caveat, but when it comes to vocals and stage presence, there’s no denying that being male or female is a distinguishing trait (we’ll get to the boys next time). When it comes to ladies who deliver the goods, either behind a studio mic or in a live context, there a few that instantly come to mind, starting with the two critical British Pollys, this one:
And this one:
If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching Sharon Jones ignite the stage she shares with the Dap Kings, then you simply haven’t lived a full life:
Even though I was one of the responsible parties for this issue of The Stranger, I still stand behind my assertion that the live sets I saw her deliver in 1994 were some of the best I’ve ever seen:
Paybacks leader Wendy Case doesn’t fuck around when it comes to owning the stage and her gravel-and-honey voice is incomparable:
Lastly, any discussion of fierce female bandleaders would be woefully incomplete without a mention of Mia Zapata. Believe it or not, it was 13 years ago today that she was taken away from her family, friends, and community. I only hope her work with the Gits is still influencing other young women (and men) today:
I could go on and on, but now I want to hear from you guys—please share your favorites in the comments section.
Comments
Sooo Glad you mentioned Betty Davis, she's awesomely underrated.
There are some great new girls out there keeping it alive:
Kate from The Long Blondes
The one and only Beth Ditto
Alison Goldfrapp
If you haven't seen Marina Ribatski from Bonde do Role yet she'll knock your socks off.
And love the new alblum or hate it Karen O's influence on the new generation of rock girls can't be denied.
Roxy Epoxy (Epoxies) is incomparable!
Let's see...
As for all time favorites:
Annette Peacock - avant-jazz singer/composer - still don't know how so few people are aware of her
Yoko Ono - love her or hate her, her first two solo albums are incredibly important in the evolution of avant-garde music
As for recent favorites:
Liz Bougsatsos, of Gang Gang Dance - don't know if there's anyone cooler on Earth
Elisa Ambrogio, of Magik Markers - makes rock actually feel kind of dangerous again
Merja Kokkonen, of Islaja - Finnish free-folk nymph
Liz Harris, of Grouper - A one-woman band, consisting entirely of her processed vocals - taking the notion Bjork had with Vespertine but actually making it interesting
Wata, of Boris - She doesn't sing, but arguably she commands the most attention on stage, since she's a lovely, delicate wisp of a woman who kicks out incredibly heavy, brutal jams on her guitar.
Wendy O. Williams I think should be up there.
Vas Kallas of Hanzel und Gretyl - Sings with a powerful gutteral (faux) German accent and has great stage presence.
Wendy O. Williams (RIP)- Sung in a deep gutteral voice, gave you duck taped nipples and could wield a chainsaw on stage.
Ditto on Beth Ditto.
Also the girl who used to be the lead singer for erase errata and now is the singer/guitarist.
Agnes of Homomilitia/Lost
Victoria of Damad
Deno of DIRT
Lyz (?) of Antischism
well, exene, who at times, was just skanky enough and drunk enough and brilliant enough for me!
carla bozulich blows my head off with the mear thought of her existence.
lauren hill, jesus!
and yes, MS. Love.
Christine McVie, way better than Stevie Nicks.
ANYTHING is better than Stevie Nicks. Flesh-eating bacteria is better than Stevie Nicks. Cervical cancer is better than Stevie Nicks. Dick Cheney's sweaty inner thighs are better than Stevie Nicks.
I'll take Rose Melberg of the Softies, please. Or Lisa Marr of Cub. Jessica Griffin of Would-Be-Goods. No way you're leaving out Amelia Fletcher of Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, and Marine Research.
Go back a few years and give me Debbie Harry and Patti Smith. Go back further and give me Lesley Gore or Cher or Karen Carpenter.
How could I have forgotten Tracey Thorn from Everything But the Girl? Clare Grogan of Altered Images? And best of all, my vote goes to Pam Berry, of the Pines, Glo-Worm, Seashell Sea, Black Tambourine and a thousand other bands.
queen of new orleans soul, irma thomas.
tina turner, both with and without ike.
loretta lynn, in the studio and on the stage.
Currently fixating on Storm Large.
Kate and Cindy of B52s
Trish Keenan of Broadcast
Gotta echo Chrissy Hynde, Debbie Harry, and absolutely Mia Zapata
Erica of Lost Goat.
Laurie Sue of Ludicra.
Renae of SKARP
Haven't seen these mentioned:
Janis Joplin threw down.
Lisa Kekaula - The Bell Rays
Missy Elliot
Scout Niblett
The ladies of Sleater Kinney
Kim Gordon - Sonic Youth
That sassy one in ESG
Margaret Fiedler of Laika
Ursula Rucker
Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star
Also, Betty Davis seconded or (thirded).
Exene.
And, ok, this will come across as something of a minority report on these pages, but a flic of the bic also for Exene's diametric opposite, Margot Timmins.
SIOUXSIE SIOUX!
dUH!
Joan Jett
Bjork
Exene for attitude. Johnette Napolitano for pipes. Ditto Neko Case. Kristen Hersh. Does Joni Mitchell count as a frontwoman or a solitary genius? Chrissie Hynde.
Joan Jett live is clearly a rock god(dess.) Ditto Tina Turner.
From a couple of local shows I've seen recently, I've got to add the following:
- Rachel Flotard (Visqueen)
- Alexi Void (Go Like Hell)
Lots of good ones alread mentioned (Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, Karen O., etc.), but here's a few I didn't see:
Ann Wilson of Heart
Kathleen Hanna
Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls
Laura Pleasants of Kylesa
Yako of Melt Banana
Arzu of the Selby Tigers
Ryann Donnelly of Schoolyard Heroes
Also, I saw her mentioned, but I've got to give much local love to Renae from Skarp.
So many good ones listed here. I'll add Ari Upp (the Slits, the New Age Steppers).
no mention of NINA HAGEN??!!- the mother of PUNK!
DIAMANDA GALAS
LYDIA LUNCH
LAURIE ANDERSON
VAS OF HANZEL UND GRETYL
SIOUXSIE SIOUX
DEBBY HARRY
JOAN JETT
ANNIE LENOX
LENE LOVERICH
BETTY X
ALEXEI VOID OF GO LIKE HELL
MIA ZAPPATA
SELENE VIGIL OF SEVEN YEAR BITCH
L7
BABES IN TOYLAND
COURTNEY LOVE
DAISY CHAINSAW/QUEEN ADRENA
MY RUIN
JACK OFF JILL/SCARLING
HANIS OF ATARI TEENAGE RIOT
MEG LEE CHIN-PIGFACE
JOHNETTE NAPOLAPOLITANO
PATTI SMITH
WENDY O'
WILLIAMS
the cute little punk chick from XRAY SPECS
the list goes on....
Not a single mention of Fanny? They shared the duties of frontwoman amongst a few of them, but in their earliest lineup (first 3 lps), any one of'em could hold her own in those stadium rock dominated times.
And agreed with above - definately Chrissie Hynde.
ANN WILSON
&
SIOUXSIE SIOUX
JAYNE COUNTY, you stinking homophobes! and Can the Can herself, Miss Baby Come On Over To My Side...Suzi Quatro (there would be no Joan Jett without SQ). and Carole King, EVEN if she'd never sung a note her Brill Building career would earn her an honorary spot. And that lady, I forget her name, from the Shocking Blue! lemme see who else...Julie Driscoll!! um, (holy shit) Sharon Tandy! and my sweetest sugar baby Miss Connie/Chris Clark!!
DougSF HOLLA! FANNY STYLE!
Nina Hagen,Betty X, Vas of Hanzel und Gretyl, Joan Jett, Blondie, Pat Benatar,
Lita Ford- too many awesome frontwoman to mention.
Ah, good call on Jayne County, Nipper.
Yes, Polly(s)! A good front woman can be the backbone of a band. Some of my faves:
Su Tissu of Suburban Lawns - that voice, that pout
Siouxsie Sioux - punk goddess
Carla Bozolich - I concur, she is the shit
Lisa Kekaula of the Bell Rays can belt it out like few others
Chrissie Hynde - sexy and sultry
Lene Lovich - shivers in the spine
Nena Hagan - she just gets better with age
I will add:
The lead singer of Chinas Cominas
(What was her name, my punk peeps?)
Haruko of DAE and the Buttersprites too!!!
Cynthia Genser was the singer in Chinas Comidas. Good call!
oh, god. how could i.....
lynn breedlove from fucking tribe 8. The only female front who gives full frontal.
Ditto for Siouxsie, Johnette Napolitano, Neko Case, Kristin Hersh, Courtney Love, Mia Zapata, Tina Turner, Polly Harvey, Ann Wilson, Chrissie Hynde.
Also: Etta James, Kim Deal, Kelley Deal, Kate Bush...
Oh yeah...how could I forget Kristin Hersch. Geez.
And after last night - Peaches rulz supreme.
I have to say eith Gen form the Genitorturers, just because she's so damned sexy, Karin from Collide because her voice/lyrics put me in the mood ANYTIME or primarily Sonja Kraushofer from L'ame Immortelle...I can't say no to a curvacious Austrian redhead (albeit dyed).
Siouxsie Sioux, Shirley Manson, OTEP, Betty X, Joan Jett, Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde, that's all for now, but there's more...
So I would have to say Betty X has killer stage presence. She's this tinny woman that comes to her band mates shoulders in height but when it comes to metal she doesn't hold back any punches A woman I would be afraid to run into in a dark ally. When it comes to metal that’s what I like to see in a woman fronted band. Rock on Betty X.
When it comes to the chicks singing their hearts out, I am still looking for who has the screaminest vocs. That brings me directly to Gen from the Genitorturers, and my new found love Betty X. Both seem to have an awesome stage presence and the hellified vocals I am looking for. Keep on rockin' ladies!
Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile/Partyline and of course Betty X.
oh hell, i totally forgot to mention one of the best female vocalists EVER, monica nelson formerly of the obituaries now of generation out of portland.
Alright, it's official--time for me to check out Betty X.
I can't believe no one said Penelope Houston of the Avengers. Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex was a good call, I'd also throw in Sinead O'Conor and Siouxsie.
BETTY X ALL THE WAY!!!
Kat Bjelland. Hands down.
then also:
Amber(Jucifer),Otep Shamaya(Otep),Julie Christmas(Made Out of Babies) and now Betty X.
KARYN CRISIS!!!
Wendy O. Williams
Betty X
Betty X!!!!!!! and let me tell you why. What she delivers when she on stage is 100% in the moment high energy performance. What more could you want,right?
Betty X
without a doubt-
Betty rocks!
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I'm on yer side about a bunch of those, especially Poly Styrene ...
I'll never forget:
Vi Subversa of the Poison Girls
Bre of Daylight Basement
Siouxsie
Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders
Betty Davis (pre-Grace Jones avant-funk songwriter)
Jarboe
Lydia Lunch
...and many, many more