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Gibson celebrates women with guitarsLast week, Gibson posted a list of its 10 favorite “All-Female Bands.” (Thanks to AE reader monica_s for the tip!) They got a few right: Vixen, the late 80’s “hair-metal” response to the likes of Warrant and Poison. Some critics dubbed them the “female equivalent of Bon Jovi,” but who’s to say Bon Jovi isn’t the male equivalent of Vixen?
The Donnas are known for their “infectious hooks” and “snarling riffs,” plus badass lyrics like “You can play my game/But I’ll put you to shame.” They picked up more queer credit with their theme song, “I Don’t Want to Know” for South of Nowhere.
The Dixie Chicks, the undoubtedly “highest-selling all-female group of all-time,” have come a long way from awkward music videos, to showcasing their musicianship and turning the every country music stereotype on its head. Yes, you can play country music and hate George Bush.
And, of course, The Runaways. How can you not love a hardass group of rebel girls that dressed in leather, played insanely catchy rock ‘n roll and became the object of every lesbian’s romantic affection? Plus, it put Joan Jett on the map. Need I say more?
The list also included The Bangles, The Go-Gos and Kittie. But why not add some more lesbian (and lesbian favorite) acts that Gibson’s list left off? (Note: I’m defining “bands” in this case as those that play their own instruments.) Riot grrls and feminist icons Sleater-Kinney The 5.6.7.8s, a Japanese garage rock trio that gained American popularity in Kill Bill The Indigo Girls — a band synonymous with being a lesbian Married couple Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett, aka The Ditty Bops Canadian indie/pop lesbian twins-duo Tegan and Sara The latter two acts bring in a couple dudes every now and then for instrumentation, but they get some leeway for being lezzy bands. Who are your favorite all-female bands of all-time? Submitted by on October 28, 2009 - 1:00pm. |
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A few more
yes!
Heart, anyone?
Heart!
Ya Heart is pretty awesome :)
~I couldn't let boys have all the fun ;)
Heart on TLW?
@ Silly Alex -- when was Heart on TLW? I definitely wasn't paying attention or something... ?
Do you remember which season/ep it was?
Season 2 Finale of the TLW
Thanks jeepdawg
season two finale ;) she is
season two finale ;) she is singing crazy and they show jenny...looking pretty crazy. i thought it was pretty funny!
To every feminist action, there is an equal and opposite beauty reaction- Naomi Wolf
Hell Yeah
I love Heart, but...
they're not an all-female band.
Ann and Nancy do rock, no doubt about that! I can't live without Dog & Butterfly!
thats what im sayinn!! Heart
thats what im sayinn!! Heart is my fav band of ALL time!! nobody around me understands my obsession with them! they always say im too young to like them. I LOVE THEM. honestly, Ann has the BEST female rock voice of all time, DUH. and Nancy's voice is soo amazing too. i love her raspy sweet voice. Heart is sooo underrated! When i tell people heart is my fav band of all time, they are always like.. oh yah, ouu barracuda. as if that is their only song. heart has sooooo much amazing effing songs. i really think EVERYBODY on the planet needs to listen to sooo much more of their songs. But yah, it just makes me soo upset and disappointed how Heart is so overlooked. Ann & Nancy Wilson are not only amazing artists but amazing women too. And SUCH an inspiration to all women.
Thanks Trish for pointing that out! its about TIMEEE! :)
Ann & Nancy Wilson forever. :) <3
OH AND i seen them in
OH AND i seen them in concert in Windsor Ontario, Canada. and O M G. I knew i loved them like crazy before tha concert, but after, i couldnt believe how much i could love two human beings! lol They blewwwww my freakin mind! it was the BEST experience of my life seeing them! UGHHH. If anybody wants to see an amazing rock concert, SEE HEART!! honestly, you will NOT be disappointed!! :D :D <3 <3 <3
BTW, Nancy is the bbesstttt guitar player known to man. just sayin. :)
ahhh...
got a soft spot for all girl bands!
Some of my faves...Elastica, Jack Off Jill (both got 1 guy but hey), Betty Blowtorch, Sahara Hotnights, Luscious Jackson and used to have a thing for Drain STH but possibly for non musical reasons also.... :)
For the "extreme metal" crowd...
HEART
Have to agree with the others, although Heart is not an all female band, Ann and Nancy Wilson can rock out like no others.. I just saw them last week for about the 15th time and they continue to impress!
Add them to the list (and they need to be on top)! :)
Lo-Ball
dbl post *oops*
Sleater-Kinney mentioned in the article
Sleater-Kinney is mentioned in the article:
(NB: Sorry for the bold italics -- won't turn off *rrr*)
STILL Obsessed with the Dixie Chicks...
What?!
the donnas!
Sleater-Kinney for the win!
Sleater-Kinney for the win! These girls know how to freaking ROCK. I'm terribly sad I will probably never see them live again.
Can't forget:
Magneta Lane, CocoRosie, Pony Up, and The Organ (how I miss thee). Lots of Canadian love here.
sick of sarahhh of course
mmm, i'd be happy if gibson
mmm, i'd be happy if gibson actually backs some of this up with some signature instruments. i think the only one for a female they have is a joan jett signature series
________________________________________________________
Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice.
the organ!!! To every
the organ!!!
To every feminist action, there is an equal and opposite beauty reaction- Naomi Wolf
Totally agree!! They were
Totally agree!!
They were amazing!
Bikini Kill??!!!
I played in an all girl band and we would cover some of the All Girl Riot band "Bikini Kill"
the song Rebel Girl is pretty clearly queer. Plus they had uber feminist lyrics. Worth checking out if you haven't heard them.
Cool
The Runaways!
Thank God they're on the list, they're so often overlooked! I adore them and can't wait for the movie with Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. Joan and Cherie are both such fab role models for women and so very sexy too! They were the trend-setters for so many of these other bands...
I never listen to things they say, cos what you hear gets in your way (Joan Jett)
Music to my ears :P
Oh Dixie Chicks, I love them SOO much! I love Heart too, but how leniant are the rules for the smount of testostorone in the ensamble??
How about Uh Huh her?
Au Pairs!
If Heart gets to be on the list I'll throw Au Pairs in there as well. After all they were 50% women and the fact that singer Lesley Woods was (is) a feminist and out lesbian has to be a plus, right?
Either way their album "Playing with a different sex" is forever one of my favourites, regardless of gender.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB-DAyZ-3Nk
Au Pairs
And I'm amazed most people
Throwing Muses!
Throwing Muses started in the early-80s as an all-female, guitar-centered band and still had three women (plus one man) in its lineup when I discovered them in the late 80s.
They've been on and off over the years (due to the financial instability of being an indie band, not to acrimony), and their latest incarnation is as a trio with only one female: founding member and lead singer/songwriter Kristin Hersh. However, I'd say they are quite groundbreaking and are still one of my favorite bands. Kristin Hersh has also done great solo work over the years.
No lesbians were ever in the band as far as I know, but Kristin and co. have always been gay-friendly. Her stepsister and former Muses member Tanya Donelly was also a founding member of The Breeders with Kim Deal (Pixies) and out lesbian Josephine Wiggs. If you like the Pixies or the Breeders, I recommend you check out Throwing Muses.