"Female Fronted" Rock Bands
Burying the Term
So, we're still having to talk about this. 2020 is just around the corner and we're still stuck with problems we've been dealing with since the 60's. Granted we have come a long way since then and the treatment of people in the industry has massively improved, especially considering the amount of abuse artist received throughout the 20th century. Many people however, believe that we still have one big problem in the industry when it comes to Rock N' Roll and even Metal, myself included. And what is that problem? Well, its 'female fronted' Rock bands, its time to end the term.
Now, I've never been overly PC or anything like that, but there is one thing that I never understood, and that is the term 'female fronted' that has been haunting Rock music since its inception, and I am just baffled that it's still used. Personally I never saw the necessity for such a thing, or why it draws so much attention for that matter. "A female fronted rock band? Interesting." Is it? Why is that interesting? Does it make any difference? I mean, think about it, you wouldn't ever use the term 'male fronted' Rock bands, or 'all boy' Rock bands, but we do whenever there is a female involved, a little odd don't you think.
So why is this a thing? You could make the argument that when Rock first hit the scene back in the 50's and 60's it was a predominantly male based genre, one that could be incredibly misogynistic, especially as it continued into the 70's and 80's. I love most Rock music, but even I can admit there is an element of sexism and objectification when it comes to women, they call it 'sex, drugs and Rock N' Roll' for a reason. But here's the thing, there isn't anything wrong with songs about sex, it's a matter of how artists present it. It's funny because a male Rock band can sing some really outrageously misogynistic lyrics about women and it's fine, but if a female Rock band does the very same, they are labeled as crude, only to be insulted with terms like slut or whore.
But where the treatment has greatly improved over time, and the public perception has come a long way since then, there is a problem. People still assume Rock to be a male based genre, and the concept of a female Rocker is alien to them. Even in guitar stores young girls are always asked "are you buying something for your boyfriend?". And I can't tell you how many times I've seen a female guitarist and hear people say "she's good for a girl", haven't you heard of Nita Strauss Or Orianthi? They could out-shred anybody that's anybody. So, once again, why is this still a thing? It's time to end.
For as long as I've been listening to Rock N' Roll I have never used the term 'female fronted'. When I see bands like Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless I don't see 'female fronted' Rock bands, I just see Rock bands, just the same way I don't see Alter Bridge or Beartooth as 'male fronted' Rock bands. Alter Bridge and Halestorm, what's the difference? One is Hard Rock the other is Heavy Rock, that's the only difference, it has nothing to do with what's between their legs, its the music that they play. There is nothing different, quirky, weird or bizarre about 'female fronted' bands so why do we label them so? Rock N' Roll is about collaboration, us against the world, and pure fucking attitude, and if you have all that, that's what makes you a Rock band.
So, we're still having to talk about this. 2020 is just around the corner and we're still stuck with problems we've been dealing with since the 60's. Granted we have come a long way since then and the treatment of people in the industry has massively improved, especially considering the amount of abuse artist received throughout the 20th century. Many people however, believe that we still have one big problem in the industry when it comes to Rock N' Roll and even Metal, myself included. And what is that problem? Well, its 'female fronted' Rock bands, its time to end the term.Now, I've never been overly PC or anything like that, but there is one thing that I never understood, and that is the term 'female fronted' that has been haunting Rock music since its inception, and I am just baffled that it's still used. Personally I never saw the necessity for such a thing, or why it draws so much attention for that matter. "A female fronted rock band? Interesting." Is it? Why is that interesting? Does it make any difference? I mean, think about it, you wouldn't ever use the term 'male fronted' Rock bands, or 'all boy' Rock bands, but we do whenever there is a female involved, a little odd don't you think.
So why is this a thing? You could make the argument that when Rock first hit the scene back in the 50's and 60's it was a predominantly male based genre, one that could be incredibly misogynistic, especially as it continued into the 70's and 80's. I love most Rock music, but even I can admit there is an element of sexism and objectification when it comes to women, they call it 'sex, drugs and Rock N' Roll' for a reason. But here's the thing, there isn't anything wrong with songs about sex, it's a matter of how artists present it. It's funny because a male Rock band can sing some really outrageously misogynistic lyrics about women and it's fine, but if a female Rock band does the very same, they are labeled as crude, only to be insulted with terms like slut or whore.To be honest that can be extended to the sex debate as a whole. Consider when a man has sex many times with different women, he is labeled a player and congratulated by his peers. But God forbid a woman does it, she is labeled a slut and is demeaned for it. This was the centerfold of Rock music in the 80's, so much so it's become a cliche and even comical. It's a cliche that is brilliantly capitalized by Rock parody bands, like Steel Panther or Tenacious D.
Now, here's the problem. You could argue that the genre is supposed to be misogynistic and testosterone filled, but as Rock icon Joan Jett said herself, "Girls have got plenty of testosterone". You could also make the argument that, statistically, there are far more males in Rock then female, and that's just the way the genre has always been. True there were probably more male rockers back in the day, but that doesn't mean female ones where uncommon. For starts in the 60's you had legends like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. Then through the 70's and 80's you had pure Hard Rock icons Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Girl School, Nancy & Ann Wilson, Pattie Smith, Debbie Harry the list goes on. And I can't even name half of the Hard Rock/Metal bands today leading the genre forward, from Halestorm to The Pretty Reckless, Nightwish, New Years Eve, In This Moment, its endless. They were never uncommon, and as said before, its nearly 2020. Not only are they more common, but you could argue there are just as many today as there are male, so why do we need to label them differently? The answer? We don't.
Not only are these 'female fronted' bands all over the world now, but they are leading the genre. Not to mention, just next month Halestorm are hitting the road with In This Moment and New Years Eve filling up entire arenas across the UK. Clearly lady rockers today have finally reached the same level that most Rock bands can only dream of, and it appears public perception has changed for the better.
Now, here's the problem. You could argue that the genre is supposed to be misogynistic and testosterone filled, but as Rock icon Joan Jett said herself, "Girls have got plenty of testosterone". You could also make the argument that, statistically, there are far more males in Rock then female, and that's just the way the genre has always been. True there were probably more male rockers back in the day, but that doesn't mean female ones where uncommon. For starts in the 60's you had legends like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. Then through the 70's and 80's you had pure Hard Rock icons Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Girl School, Nancy & Ann Wilson, Pattie Smith, Debbie Harry the list goes on. And I can't even name half of the Hard Rock/Metal bands today leading the genre forward, from Halestorm to The Pretty Reckless, Nightwish, New Years Eve, In This Moment, its endless. They were never uncommon, and as said before, its nearly 2020. Not only are they more common, but you could argue there are just as many today as there are male, so why do we need to label them differently? The answer? We don't.
Not only are these 'female fronted' bands all over the world now, but they are leading the genre. Not to mention, just next month Halestorm are hitting the road with In This Moment and New Years Eve filling up entire arenas across the UK. Clearly lady rockers today have finally reached the same level that most Rock bands can only dream of, and it appears public perception has changed for the better.
Women can now embrace their dark sides and their sexuality without being slut shamed as they once did. Joan Jett was famously labeled with terms like 'whore' and a 'bitch', and has even had batteries thrown at her while on stage, just because she was a woman with an electric guitar. Whereas the Wilson sisters not only faced the same abuse from the public, but were also slated for being supposed lesbian lovers, a rumor that was spread by their own fucking record label.
Now women can open up and be as loud, as crazy and as fucked up as they want and no one is to judge. Just listen to Halestorm's 'Do Not Disturb', an incredibly open, crude, sexual track that absolutely Rocks and no one is yet to disagree.
But where the treatment has greatly improved over time, and the public perception has come a long way since then, there is a problem. People still assume Rock to be a male based genre, and the concept of a female Rocker is alien to them. Even in guitar stores young girls are always asked "are you buying something for your boyfriend?". And I can't tell you how many times I've seen a female guitarist and hear people say "she's good for a girl", haven't you heard of Nita Strauss Or Orianthi? They could out-shred anybody that's anybody. So, once again, why is this still a thing? It's time to end.
For as long as I've been listening to Rock N' Roll I have never used the term 'female fronted'. When I see bands like Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless I don't see 'female fronted' Rock bands, I just see Rock bands, just the same way I don't see Alter Bridge or Beartooth as 'male fronted' Rock bands. Alter Bridge and Halestorm, what's the difference? One is Hard Rock the other is Heavy Rock, that's the only difference, it has nothing to do with what's between their legs, its the music that they play. There is nothing different, quirky, weird or bizarre about 'female fronted' bands so why do we label them so? Rock N' Roll is about collaboration, us against the world, and pure fucking attitude, and if you have all that, that's what makes you a Rock band.
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