Women in Rock Commentary
Why do we Have a Women in Rock section?
Time and time again I get asked the same question or some variation of it: why does the Blog of Sound have a section about women in rock? Are you trying to single out female musicians as being unique or some type of sub-genre worthy of its own section?
The Novelty Act
Hypnotists. Jugglers. Fire breathers. Those are novelty acts. The Chipmunks are a novelty act. Weird Al Yankovic is a novelty act. Heck you can even go ahead and call Spinal Tap a novelty act. What makes a novelty act a novelty act?
Unlocking the mystique of the female drummer
When you think of female musicians most people don't instantly think of drummers. Being a guitarist myself, when I think of women in rock I think of guitarists before drummers pop into my head. And it's not like I don't know any great female drummers. In fact, I've had the great pleasure of meeting when of the best female drummers of all time (at least, that's my opinion.).
From the Looks of Things
There is a double standard afoot. Amongst the many topics that we’ve touched upon in this column it shouldn’t come as a surprise to regular readers that we’re once again talking about the differences that seem to naturally exist between female musicians in a rock band and guys in rock bands.
Saluting the Pioneers of Women in Rock
If you took a poll of 100 randomly selected people and asked them to name a female rock and roll pioneer no doubt Joan Jett's name would come up. You might get a few Janis Joplins thrown at you and a few folks might even be bold enough to remember Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick. For some reason the term "rock pioneer" conjures images of Jimi Hendrix, Bo Diddley, The Beatles, and a slew of other well-known artists from the 1950s and 60s. Seldom do the women of rock get noticed.
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