We list some of the best rock bands to feature female members. Some of them are female-fronted rock bands which have garnered a sizable following and have grown their following internationally. Whether its playing drums, strings or delivering epic vocals, these female artists have proven they are just as talented in a male-dominated music genre.
1. The Cranberries
The Cranberries is an Irish rock band that rocketed to fame with hit songs such as “Linger” (1993), “Zombie” (1994) and “Free to Decide” (1996). Brothers Mike and Noel Hogan, O’Riordan and Lawler—all friends from Limerick—formed the band in 1990 and signed with Island Records one year later. Their debut release, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (1993) went platinum. Five of the band’s albums reached the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and eight of their singles reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Be that as it may, lead vocalist Dolores O’Riordan struggled with depression and the pressure of her own success, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015. Later on, O’Riordan died from drowning due to alcohol intoxication in January 2018. She was one of the most recognizable voices in rock in the 1990s, and was known for her lilting mezzo-soprano voice, signature yodel, emphasized use of keening, and strong Limerick accent.
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Read more:
- Rolling Stone: Dolores O’Riordan’s Death Ruled ‘Tragic Accident’
- The tragedy that inspired Zombie – The Cranberries’ biggest hit
- The Cranberries members reflect on life, music without Dolores O’Riordan
2. Evanescence
Evanescence is a Grammy-winning band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody (who left in 2003). The two met each other at a youth camp in 1994 and formed a band the next year. Originally considered by many to be part of the Christian rock scene — and for a short time promoted in Christian stores — the band has distanced itself from such categorization, even though Fallen (2003), their first major-label release, had some religious themes. Since then, the band has released a number of EPs, five studio albums, two live session albums, one compilation album and a career-spanning vinyl collection.
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Read more:
- Evanescence’s Amy Lee Gets Back to Life
- Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Queen of Goth Girl Style, Is Back With New Music – VOGUE
- The Not-So ‘Bitter Truth’ About Evanescence’s First Album of New Music in a Decade
3. Heart
Heart got their start in 1963 in Seattle, Washington formed by bassist Steve Fossen and brothers Roger Fisher (guitar/mandolin) and Mike Fisher (producer and sound engineer). The group went by the names Army and White Heart before settling on just Heart in the early 1970s. Ann Wilson joined the group in 1970. Romance sprang up between her and Mike, and she came along when they moved to Vancouver to avoid the Vietnam draft some years later. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music. After diminishing in popularity by the mid-1980s, the band created a major comeback in 1985, experiencing further success with their power ballads throughout the rest of the decade. By the mid-1990s, Heart left their 1980s’ sound and went back to their hard rock roots which they continue to play today. They have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
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Read more:
- For Heart’s Nancy Wilson, It All Started With a $5-a-Month Guitar
- Music from the heart: How Heart influenced rock and roll
- Nancy Wilson Recalls the Evolution of Heart
- A backstage pass to the creation of Heart, its evolution and the revival of its classic hits
4. Halestorm
Halestorm is an American hard rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale, her brother drummer and percussionist Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith. The group’s self-titled debut album was released on April 28, 2009, through Atlantic Records. Their second album The Strange Case Of… was released on April 10, 2012. The song “Love Bites (So Do I)” from that album won their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance on February 10, 2013.
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5. Flyleaf
Flyleaf is an American rock band, formed in 2000. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005. The album went platinum after selling more than one million copies. Flyleaf also released their second album, Memento Mori on November 10, 2009. Flyleaf’s third album, New Horizons, was released on October 30, 2012. Shortly before the album’s release, lead vocalist Lacey Sturm announced her departure. Kristen May subsequently became the new lead vocalist. May sang with the band until August 2016, when she announced her departure from the band.
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Read more:
- Former Flyleaf front woman Lacey Sturm proves that hard rock is not dead with Life Screams
- Is Flyleaf A Christian Band? Conclusive Evidence!
- The Story Of Flyleaf: A Christian Rock Band That Broke Free From Labels
6. Nightwish
Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen joined by guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since Angels Fall First, they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002). Their 2004 album, Once, has sold more than one million copies and was the band’s breakthrough in the United States.
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Read more:
- The Guide to Getting into Nightwish
- Nightwish continues to dominate the soundscape of symphonic metal
- Why Nightwish Are Now The Best Band They’ve Ever Been
- Feature article: Reflections on the plight of Nightwish (Finland)
7. Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a symphonic metal band from Waddinxveen, the Netherlands founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have always been classified as gothic metal and symphonic metal, although each album contains other influences outside these genres. After the release of their first album Enter, the band became prominent in the Dutch underground scene. It was not until 2001 that they became known to the general public, with the single “Ice Queen” from the album Mother Earth, which reached No. 2 on the Dutch charts.
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8. In This Moment
In This Moment is a metalcore band from Los Angeles, CA from 2005. Maria Brink (Vocals) was brought into the band by Chris Howorth (Lead Guitar). The band was originally going to be called Dying Star, but they decided to change the name to what is known today as In This Moment. They have released three albums to date, all with Century Media Records. Their debut album, Beautiful Tragedy, was released in 2007. Their second album, titled The Dream was released the following year debuting at number 73 on the Billboard 200.
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9. Amaranthe
Amaranthe is a Swedish/Danish band, originated from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 2008 that fuses melodic metal with pop melodies. Formed by Jake E (Dreamland, Dream Evil) and Olof Mörck (Dragonland, Nightrage), the project began taking shape, when singers Elize Ryd (toured with Kamelot) and Andreas Solvestrom (Cipher System, Within Y), signed on, as did drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen (The Cleansing, Koldborn, Mercenary). The band was originally called “Avalanche”, until May 2009, when the band was forced to change their name, due to legal issues, to “Amaranthe”.
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10. The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-female rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best-known songs are “Cherry Bomb”, “Hollywood”, “Queens of Noise”, “Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin”, “California Paradise”, “Dead End Justice”, and the cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Rock n Roll”. The Runaways, though never a major success in the United States, became a sensation overseas, e.g. in Japan, thanks to the hit single “Cherry Bomb”.
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Read more:
- How The Runaways Changed The Lives Of 13 Women Rockers
- The Runaways’ tells the story of the 1970s all-girl band that broke the gender barrier in rock ‘n’ roll
- The Runaways: Rock ‘n’ roll saviors of ’70s
Honorable mentions
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