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Rock music’s greatest frontwoman

posted 3 years ago by [deleted]
80 replies | jump to latest

Out of this list (which excludes girl vocal groups) who do think is the best frontwoman in rock music?

Amy Lee (Evanescence)
Ann Wilson (Heart)
Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)
Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s)
Beth Ditto (Gossip)
Bjork (The Sugarcubes)
Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
Courtney Love (Hole)
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries)
Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine)
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane, Starship)
Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Joan Jett (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Kate Pierson (The B52s)
Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxie & the Banshees)
Skin (Skunk Anansie)
Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
Tarja Turunen (Nightwish)

Personally my pick would be Debbie Harry, she might not be the best vocalist on the list but in terms of charisma and influence I think she’s hard to beat.

Feel free to mention any I’ve forgotten.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Joan Jett is probably the most rock solid (excuse the pun) one on the list as well as one of the most talented. I know there's a bit of controversy from her time with the Runaways but just about everything else about her is as "rock and roll" as it can get without being an excessive asshat.

[–] spacecomedy (2062) 3 years ago

Bad Reputation is probably the most kickass female rock 'n roll vocal ever.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Debbie harry or Ann Wilson.

[–] DoctorThirteen (15276) 3 years ago

Good list OP, and honestly, Debbie Harry was the first one I thought of too.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Cheers Doc

[–] snepts (11123) 3 years ago

I absolutely LOVE Kate Pierson but she was at best A front woman and hardly THE front woman of the Bs.
Sometimes I wonder why she didn't try harder for a solo career, but I'm sure there are reasons.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

True, Cindy Wilson is equally deserving but I’ll admit when I think of the B52’s I think of Kate first.

I’ve also wondered why she didn’t launch a solo career earlier, particularly after featuring on Iggy Pop’s Candy. Her vocals on that track are insane!

[–] snepts (11123) 3 years ago

At one pointI started to feel a little bad for Cindy. Bad enough about her brother but I imagine singing next to Kate would draw some unkind comparisons. Pierson can belt out a song with such clarity and assuredness, it's uncanny. Maybe it's a One Trick, but it's a great trick. Just guesting on Shiny Happy People gives that song much longer legs.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] elprimitivo (378) 3 years ago

Texacala Jones of Tex and the Horseheads

[–] NitroHangover (1143) 3 years ago

Alanis Morissette, for me.

EDIT: I don't know if I can call her the best of all time with so many giants who came before her, but she is my personal favorite.

[–] mikethemartian (6992) 3 years ago

Well would she be a front woman? I think of her and Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow as soloists even though they do have bands that back them up.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mikethemartian (6992) 3 years ago

I would probably pick Debbie Harry.