50 women who changed the course of rock'n'roll forever (by Metal Hammer)
Nightwish
Tarja Turunen, Anette Olzon and Floor Jansen have each fronted the biggest and most successful symphonic metal band in history. Racking up over two decades of destruction, it’s a testament to the ability and ambition of these three women that Nightwish have gone from Scandinavian curio to a bona fide festival headliner.
Shirley Manson
It’s easy to forget how futuristic Garbage sounded when their debut album exploded. Butch Vig’s shiny production may have excited the audiophiles, but the real action was taking place out front: Shirley Manson was unconventional, tough and sexy, and the owner of an almost other-worldly brand of charisma.
Skin
Shaven-headed, bisexual, black: Skunk Anansie’s lead singer Skin didn’t so much break down barriers as kick them into submission. With a voice like an air-raid siren, she’s an utterly compelling live performer. And without Skin, 90s Brit-rock would have been a greyer, dustier, overwhelmingly less interesting proposition.
Amy Lee
In 2003, Evanescence skyrocketed into the sun to become one of the hottest bands on the planet, thanks in no small part to the power and emotion of frontwoman Amy Lee. Her operatic prowess and soaring vocals set the five-piece apart from their peers, sending them into arenas across the globe. Debut album Fallen has now sold over 17 million copies.
Lzzy Hale
A literal force of nature as much as a genuine force for good, Halestorm singer and guitarist Lzzy Hale is a role model for young women, a vocal advocate for mental health, and a writer of inclusive, crowd-delighting anthems. With a god-given voice and an unquestionable commitment to her craft, she’s able to make Halestorm’s songs great while her contributions to other people’s songs make them greater. Very much the archetypal modern rock star, she’s not a bad live performer, either.
Doro
Formerly the lead vocalist for Warlock, Doro Pesch has been redefining what it means to be a woman in heavy metal for the past 30 years. With 12 studio albums under her belt, Doro has never compromised her art or integrity, always standing with one fist firmly in the air and another punching gender-boundaries in the face.
Larissa Stupar
One of the most exciting bands in the UK right now are the death metal powerhouse Venom Prison. Fronted by Larissa Stupar, they defy genre stereotypes with songs about force-feeding rapists their own genitals, and absolutely crush live. Born in the European hardcore scene, Larissa is as real as it gets, and genuinely terrifying onstage.
Arch Enemy
For 14 years, Angela Gossow led Swedish wrecking crew Arch Enemy into battle, turning conventions of female vocalists on their head with her savage growls and roars. Now, Alissa White-Gluz is at the helm, picking up Angela’s mantle and flying the flag for female metal vocalists everywhere, as the well-oiled death metal machine continues to crush arenas around the world.
Sharon den Adel
The arena-levelling symphonic goths Within Temptation aren’t just one of the most successful bands from the Netherlands, they’ve sold millions of albums around the world. Vocalist, songwriter and founding member Sharon den Adel can be thanked for this, with her vast vocal range and enigmatic stage presence. She’s also exercising her poptastic muscle with solo project My Indigo, whose debut album arrived in 2018.
