Women in Rock

“If people are making fun of you then you’re probably doing something right”- Amy Lee. Over the years, women have made significant contributions to the realms of rock and metal music, breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and carving out their own space in what has historically been a male-dominated genre. From powerhouse vocalists to virtuoso instrumentalists, women have played pivotal roles in shaping the sound and culture of rock and metal. In this article I will be focusing on the stereotypes women have faced not only as musicians but also as fans. The rock and metal genre were seen as masculine so women really had to put in the work to stand out in the best way they could. Some artists, like Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, combine powerful vocals with heavy guitar riffs, while others, like Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation , incorporate symphonic elements into their sound. Bands such as Nightwish (featuring Floor Jansen) and Evanescence led by Amy Lee showcase the versatility of women in metal, blending operatic vocals with intricate instrumentals to create a unique fusion of styles. A group that really paved the way for women is from Girlschool. They were a part of the new British wave and even got recognized by Lemmy (Motorhead) and was taken on tour with them. Despite their contributions, women in rock and metal have often faced sexism, discrimination, and stereotyping within the industry and among fans. Many have had to fight for recognition and respect in a male-dominated environment. What is Heavy metal?  Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. Types of instruments that are typically in this genre include  one or two guitars, a bass guitar and drums. In some bands, electronic keyboards, organs, or other instruments are used. Despite a long standing public perception that heavy music is aggressive, studies have found that listening to it can in fact lessen negative emotions.(Fun fact, right?)

FUN FACT: Actually, it's not such a fun fact. Did you know that when the song Bring Me to Life by Evanescence was being produced Amy Lee was forced to have a male vocalist in her song? In fact they wanted a male co-vocalist full time for the band but Amy did not want that and compromised for the one song. The reason the record label wanted a male vocalist is because they thought a female lead song would be considered too alien by the audience. 

 “The myths tell us that women and men play distinct roles in the hard rock and metal community: women are fans, men are musicians, and those roles have values that are attached that mean that they are different and do not hold equivalent value.”

However, women in rock and metal have also achieved significant milestones and broken down barriers. For example Angela Gossow who was the new vocalist for Arch Enemy in the 2000s, she is the reason for breaking the barrier for most women in melodic death metal. The current vocalist for Nightwish also broke down some barriers for her showstopping operatic vocals. Floor Jansen joined Nightwish in 2012 taking place of Tarja Turunen who still has the longest standing with Nightwish. Even though these women have shown that they have what it takes they have still faced backlash from other artists and fans.  The rock and metal scene is seen more as a “Masculine” genre (since when did music have gender roles). “However, it is important to remember that ‘masculine’ sounds are only ‘masculine’ because they have been understood as such: they have no inherent masculine qualities” But what makes rock and metal so “masculine” is it because it is male dominated scene or because there are mainly male vocalist? Yeah it’s cool that men can make their voice go deeper and be able to scream, growl, but have you ever heard women scream or growl?  Some female vocalists who can really scream (my personal favorites) are vocalists such as Morgan Lander from Kittie and Sina Niklas from Orphan Hate. 

Artist Recommendation! While I was doing this project I found Sina Niklas who I believe deserves more recognition for her vocals and vocal range. I probably would have never found out about her if I was searching high and low for female vocalists. She has such a unique voice and I couldn’t believe her voice was able to go that deep. Orphan Hate doesn't have all their songs on Spotify nor do they have an official Youtube page. Circus by Orphan Hate is what really got my attention because of how she was able to growl and in many of their songs you can hear that growl which I absolutely fell in love with. 

I have talked a lot about how musicians have faced a lot of discrimination but I also said I would talk about the female fans as well.  “(1) there is a special need as a woman in heavy metal to prove oneself; and (2) women metalheads, more than men, have to rely on physical markers or symbols to emphasize that they too are fans of the genre and belong to the subculture.”  Women often had to rely on markers to make it known that they were also into rock/ metal and weren’t just posers. Not only did they have to rely on physical markers but they also had to deal with being called a “Groupie” which means a female fan who follows the band in hopes of having sex with them. Truthfully it’s nothing new even now, because how many times do women have to prove themselves as real fans with the infamous question of “name three songs”. Women are tired of it but will that ever stop? Probably not. The reason I decided to do my final project on women in rock and how this related to the course is because of tradition and how these women have defied gender norms and paved the way for contemporary musicians to express themselves freely. 

In conclusion women have played a crucial role in shaping the sound and culture of rock and metal music, from the genre's earliest days to the present. Their contributions have enriched the musical landscape, challenged societal norms, and inspired countless fans and fellow musicians alike. As the genre continues to evolve, women will undoubtedly remain at the forefront, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to rock.

Rogers, Anna S., and Mathieu Deflem. Doing Gender in Heavy Metal: Perceptions on Women in a Hypermasculine Subculture. Anthem Press, 2022. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1zqdvx9.

Andy R. Brown, et al. Global Metal Music and Culture : Current Directions in Metal Studies. no. Vol. 12, Routledge, 2016. EBSCOhost, https://login.proxy006.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e001mww&AN=1204177&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hill, Rosemary Lucy. Representations and Experiences of Women Hard Rock and Metal Fans in the Imaginary Community.

https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/4744/1/Hill_RL_Women_Hard_Rock_Metal_Fans_Imaginary_Community.pdf

https://mmhradio.co.uk/women-pioneers-in-metal-50-years-of-metal/

https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/bring-me-to-life-singer-amy-lee-reveals-about-evanscences-early-days/

https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-pioneering-female-rock-stars-2021-3#carol-kaye-played-on-over-10000-studio-sessions-laying-down-bass-tracks-for-some-of-rock-and-rolls-most-iconic-artists-4

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/amy_lee_405284

https://youthmusic.org.uk/mental-health-and-power-heavy-music#:~:text=Stress%20reducing%20and%20confidence%20boosting,levels%20(the%20stress%20hormone).