“Do you believe in Rock ‘N Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?”
-Don Mclean
A century ago, people believed that rock and roll would be a temporary phase. Yet, we are still grooving to our playlists by Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and so on. Rock ‘N Roll has reached many new horizons in the past few decades. When we talk about the rock and roll scene, we only mention the male artists. We think men were the ones to invent the scene, but where do female artists fit in all of this? Let’s find out about the fiercest female rockers!
Inside Fiercest Female Rockers World
You would be surprised to know that women arrived at the rock and roll scene in the early sixties. Girl groups like The Crystals, The Ronettes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas become popular. If you are one of those raised listening to Elvis and Chuck Berry, you have probably heard of these few female names here and there. Indeed, most of the fiercest female rockers’ careers didn’t resemble that of their male counterparts.
However, these women were far more than that. They released ground-breaking albums and were trailblazers of the female music scene. Some made the Billboards, and the others impacted lives through their music. For those who don’t have the slightest idea about the female rock and roll scene, Meredith Ochs has you covered!
Who is Meredith Ochs?
Meredith Ochs is an award-winning American radio commentator. She is also a DJ, a musician, and an author and is one of the greatest contributors to music literature in the 21st century. For the majority of her career, she was the contributing writer and editor at Guitar Magazine World. Besides, her writings have appeared in numerous publications such as The Rolling Stone, the Boston Phoenix, Entertainment Weekly, the New York Magazine, etc.
For over a decade, Meredith Ochs was the host of a weekly show, Trash, Twang, and Thunder. Recently, she has been more focused on writing books and has written four books. The first two were on the life and musical career of Bruce Springsteen, and the third was on the “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin.
The 5 Fiercest Female Rockers” By Meredith Ochs
Meredith Ochs’ latest book is her most ambitious project yet. “Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers” takes an insightful look into the lives of 50 rock icons who helped shape the music scene. She has meticulously profiled women rockers from the late 1950s to today, cruising through various genres.
If you are passionate about music, you will find Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers a delightful read. Ochs has brought to light the dramatic stories behind their success and their impact on the present-day rock culture. The narrative of her book is strong and accompanied by excellent photographs. There are stories about the trailblazers of the scene, including Big Mama Thornton, established headliners like Aretha Franklin, the not-so-famous like Poison Ivy, and finally, the prominent faces of the industry including Patti Smith and Amy Winehouse.
Here are some of the fiercest female rockers, according to Meredith Ochs.
1. Amy Winehouse
Best known for the tragic end of her career, Amy Winehouse was one of the most experimental musicians of the early 2000s. Among the fiercest female rockers of all time, Winehouse will forever be remembered for her expressive contralto vocals infused in an eclectic blend of genres, such as soul, jazz, and R&B.
She entered the music business at the young age of 16 and threatened the careers of many singers of the time. During her short career, she won five Grammy awards.
2. Carole King
Carole King is the songwriter of more than 100 hit singles. To date, she is one of the most successful female recording artists. Her 1971 project, Tapestry, sold more than 10 million copies. The impact of her music was so lasting that four decades after the album’s initial release, she was able to draw 60,000 fans to London’s Hyde Park for a live concert.
3. Patti Smith
No list ranking the fiercest female rockers is complete without the mention of Patti Smith. The legendary poet-laureate of punk, Patti Smith, is best known for her razor-sharp vocals, protopunk sound, and hard-hitting lyrics. She was one of the major influences of the 1970s New York punk scene. Since then, legions of alt bands have followed her style. With her 1975 debut album, Horses, Smith became an influential figure of the New York City punk rock movement.
4. Janis Joplin
There was no one like Janis Joplin. One of the most influential and successful female rockstars of her era, Joplin is remembered as among the early blues women of the 60s. Her music is a force of nature.
Even though her life and career were tragically cut short due to the abuse of drugs, she is still remembered for her mezzo-soprano vocals and searing undernotes. Her single, “Me and Bobby McGee” was the biggest hit of her career, but sadly she was not around to witness the success.
5. Tina Turner
Tina Turner is celebrated as a trailblazing Rockstar responsible for bringing rock ‘n roll to the mainstream. Not only is she a massive R&B and soul icon, but she is also regarded as one of the fiercest female rockers and greatest music artists of the 20th century. Her songs, Acid Queen, Proud Mary, What’s Love Got To Do With It, Nutbush City Limits, etc., are all-time classics!
The takeaway from Meredith Ochs’ book is that women are capable of much more than they are given credit for. Here’s to Rock ‘N Roll!