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Guitar heroinesPrince's halftime show notwithstanding, I don't think guitars are necessarily phallic. Men have dominated the guitar world (especially when it comes to smashing things and jumping off amp towers), but who says it has to stay that way? Here are some axe-wielding women who sound as good as they look. 1. Pioneers: Without them, this blog post wouldn't exist. Wanda Jackson [pictured]
2. Acoustic experts: Their strings really sing. Joan Armatrading [pictured]
3. Rhythm methods: This is how you rock. Three chords sound bigger when you strum really hard.
Chrissie Hynde [pictured]
4. Innovators: 12 strings? Sure. And crazy finger-picking? No problem. Yeah, and we're queer, too.
Ani DiFranco [pictured]
5. Shredders: Proof that female hands are just as fast.
The Great Kat (Katherine Thomas)
6. Edge players: They don't always do things the way they should — and that's good.
Tracy Bonham
7. Boomers: While everyone else on this list is searching for a chord or hitting the whammy bar, these bassists keep the song in the groove.
Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
8. Troubadours: They don't just sing songs: They tell stories.
Neko Case [pictured]
9. LPers: Their initials are LP. That seems profound, so I gave them their own category.
Linda Perry (Four Non-Blondes)
10. Riot grrrls: 'Nuff said.
Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland)
This is just a sampling, of course — not intended to be a complete list. Who rocks your world? Submitted by on April 9, 2007 - 9:00pm. |
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Wanda.....
i've never heard of wanda jackson...but she is (or was?) really pretty. :-D
....and bonnie raitt...whew, i love her. :-D
If you've seen But I'm A
wanda jackson
Guitar Heroines
SWOON
This was inspired. Thank you for that!!!
*swoons*
Wow x 3
Yes
Wanda Jackson!! So awesome
Wanda Jackson!! So awesome that you mentioned her. She was the first lady of Rock and Roll! The original rowdy chick singer. So cool.
Also, I would be remiss in my duties as an uber-fan if I didn't mention that, in addition to her brilliant duties as a lyricist, Mary Chapin Carpenter wields one mean guitar.
gotta add L.P.
YAY!
Man, so stoked that Tegan and Sara finally made it on something here! and Carrie Brownstein too :D
Jeeezuz, girls and guitars... my goal in life is to be one of these girls. Or marry one. Or both.
"Jeeezuz, girls and
"Jeeezuz, girls and guitars... my goal in life is to be one of these girls. Or marry one. Or both."
--> Me too! I'm right there with ya on that...
Ah, Ani, the goddess of songwriting is on the list! and Tegan and Sara, and plenty other faves of mine... Kaki King is definitely missing though!
Hear hear! You can have T&S,
there's more...
Kaki King - innovator extraordinaire
Joni Mitchell - perfect technique
Rory Block - in the same category as Bonnie Raitt
Mary Kaye - called the first lady of rock and roll, played in the 50s. unfortunately mostly forgotten now.
haikuboxer.blogspot.com
my faves
I am a big fan of the blues, so in addition to those listed above, here are my axe masters:
Sue Foley ("Mediterranean Breakfast" is a fave)...and
Maria Muldaur, Ana Popovic, Erja Lyytinen, Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, Precious Bryant. Memphis Minnie, Ruthie Foster, Elvie Thomas and Geeshie Wiley. I know I am leaving out a great number of guitar blues women here, but those are the ones that come to mind.
SInead O'Connor of course!!!
From her rocker chick early phase. Playing on SNL in 1990. Watch particularly the last quarter of the performance :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeIHZvZTJTg
Yep, her classic angry divorce song, at the tender age of 24! Sinead certainly seemed to go through her painful life experiences early! But I guess she had her traumatic childhood to sort out...
a quieter piece, a political song about police racism in England, from the same album: "I do not want what I haven't got"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APV-yOFfrkA
and her first hit...great acoustic guitar playing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeIHZvZTJTg
Great list! Some I love
Great list!
Some I love that aren't listed include:
Rachel Jacobs: She is an amazing musician originally from New York, check out her stuff at myspace.com/racheljacobsmusic
Kimya Dawson: I loved the Moldy Peaches but her solo stuff is so amazing. Her lyrics (especially "Viva La Persistence") are terrific. myspace.com/kimyadawson
Rose Melberg: All of the bands she's been in (Go Sailor, Tiger Trap, Gaze, The Softies) and her solo stuff is great. Indie pop fans should check her out: myspace.com/rosemelberg
Yeah! Girls and guitars
Yeah! Girls and guitars - You can't beat that :) Thanks scribegrrrl
let's not forget
Kristin Hersh, Christina and Amparo Llanos (of Dover), Suzanne Vega, Kim Deal, and Lucinda Williams...I kinda want to say Louise Post, too. There are soo many women who actually own the guitar. It's hard.
The two Kims, Kim Deal and
Best top ever! I agree on
Best top ever! I agree on absolutely all accounts!
---
Who you gonna be if you can't be yourself,
you can't get it from t.v., you can't force it on
anybody else.-- Ani Difranco
Allison Robertson of The Donnas and LITA FORD
Allison Robertson of The Donnas and LITA FORD
TOTALLY AGREE
Allison is definetly my favorite guitar player, and I think she is the best! so glad I'm not the only one who thinks she rocks!!
Kathleen Hanna
and Beth Ditto!!!
Absolutely LOVE Kathleen
give us some gaffa tape!
this reminded me of that chicks on speed song 'we dont play guitars'. p-e-a-c-h-e-s plays guitar, and she loves it!
Oh dearie me...
Kim Deal is a phenomenal guitarist. As is Kristin Hersh (check out 50 Foot Wave for proof) , Tanya Donelly, Elisa from the Magik Markers is a near genius. I love the way Ana from the Raincoats plays her guitar, Arista Strungay from Loraxx is so fierce. Carla Bozulich....arghhhhhhh, i could go on for hours and that is a leetle frightening...
It's lovely to see Wanda Jackson finally get some props. Something she so richly deserves. Bobbie Gentry is another wonder of country!
Brilliant listing!
Ten years from now, I'm gonna make that list ;). Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon definitely should've made it now.
Melissa Ferrick, of
Melissa Ferrick, of course.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zl7n7JMYcjk
PJ Harvey, as well:
PJ Harvey, as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ha1yxm3R9M
"There is no formula. You learn to love by loving. "
Aldous Huxley
Patty Larkin
She can fall under acoustic, innovators, edge, troubadours, and LP (sort of).Do yourself a favor and see her live.Also, I second Rory Block! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYAT8ccM6j8&mode
Yes
"Wolf at The Door" is rockin', even though it is acoustic.
Yay for Tegan and Sara!!!
Yay for Tegan and Sara!!! \o/
Ohh where is Kaki King??????
PJ!!
GREAT list! Love it!
But PJ Harvey is missing.
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feministhousewife.blogspot.com
You mentioned Nancy Wilson,
Well since were talking
Lady Bo
Ha.
Well now, this compilation represents a nice little chunk of my music collection.
carrie brownstein is too an
Joan BAez
Peace movement Maven extraordinaire.. The woman was around for what were the 'best' years of wood stock... and she's hot.. :P
still to this day plays a pretty mean guitar..and according to the bette porter queer dictionary.. we'd put her under the 'hasbian' category..
Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call
And here I sit
Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall
-diamonds and rust-
joan baez
Joan Baez
For a couple years the only
Jill Sobule and Janis Ian
Jennifer Batten? Berit Fridahl?
Does anyone remember Micheal Jackson's guitarist Jennifer Batten? She could ripped, shredded and finger tapped like any male guitarist out there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZBuzbe9xCo (I actually attended one of her clinics back in the 90s...)
Out Danish guitar player Berit Fridahl (tours with Heather Nova): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDACh-iSYeA
Btw, both Morgan and Mercedes Lander of Canadian metal band Kittie (not "The Kitties"!) are excellent guitarists.
_ _ _ _ _
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)
I was just about to write
I was just about to write that it was "Kittie" and not "The Kitties"!
What about KT Tunstall? Alanis? I wish I could add more to this list, but most of my favorite female singers (Alison Goldfrapp, Amy Lee, Shirley Manson) let the boys handle the guitars while they do stuff like roll around on stage among pink feather boas.
got to add some more too
I've got a soft spot for Beth Orton. And KT Tunstall too. And Michelle Shocked.
Hee hee... I found a pic of Janis Joplin with a guitar so I can include her too (can't I? pleeease - actually funny no one mentioned this woman who did this cover of one of her song not so long ago, you know the one).
Surely Patti Smith must have held a guitar at some point too...
^ok that was probably cheating... sorry
Sarah Bettens surely did. For real.
Sharleen Spiteri too. She's gorgeous.
Patrice Pike
Gotta add Patrice. Wonderful guitar player, fabulous singer, and she's QUEER!
brody
i have to add brody dalle of the distillers she is one kick ass giutar playing punk rock chick.
also charlotte hatherley formally of ash she is a uk artist now solo and she is very good
and on bass is melissa auf de maur she was in hole and now plays bass in her own band, she is very cool.
my all time favorite is joni mitchell though she is definatly one of my idols
In terms of modern guitar heroines...
I would definitely include KT Tunstall! Glad to see that a couple of other people have already mentioned her :) She doesn't do rock guitar as such, she has a more acoustic and melodic style. I always think of her as an acoustic guiatirst, but has been known to strap on an electric a lot more these days ;) Here's her breakthrough performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEU91d8ngc
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www.thenightwatchblog.blogspot.com
Kim Gordon? Gail Ann Dorsey? Paz Lenchantin?
More "boomers" for ya. (Kim's from Sonic Youth, Gail plays with David Bowie, Paz played with A Perfect Circle...)
_ _ _ _ _
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)