The 40 Baddest Bitches in Rock
Back in the day, the Runaways were some of the baddest bishes in the rock scene. The group disbanded over disagreements on artistic direction, but not before proving that girls could rock, even as teenagers—founding members Joan Jett and Sandy West weren't even 18 when they debuted.
Fast forward to today—Alabama Shakes are headed for No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with their second album, Sound & Color. The group is led by the awe-inducing Brittany Howard and her impossible-to-imitate howls, with a beautiful balance of soul and grit.
There are loads of women shaking up the genre right now with the likes of St. Vincent, Grimes and Paramore's Hayley Williams translating their badass personas to formidable musical outputs, alongside guitar goddesses Jenny Lewis and Este Haim, and metal chicks like Alissa White-Gluz, Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies. There isn't even room for argument anymore about pop stars like Janelle Monáe and Rihanna earning their place in the rock canon.
The media (i.e. old white dudes) likes asking questions like, "Where have all the real rock stars gone?" The simple answer is: Look to any one of these 40—forty!—bitchin' badasses.
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