In a scenario long dominated by men, as Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury and Kurt Cobain some female figures have claimed their place and gained prominence in rock. Defying stereotypes, these women have made significant contributions to the musical genre, which have reverberated in the music industry for decades.
From Janis Joplin to Pitty, CNN enjoy the Rock Day to present and praise some of the great names, international and national, of the genre.
10 women who were iconic in the history of rock
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Janis Joplin – “Queen of Rock n’ Roll”
Considered the “queen of rock n’ roll”, Janis Joplin was mostly successful in the 1960s and was an icon of the psychedelic rock subgenre. The American magazine Rolling Stone included her in 78th place on the list of the 100 greatest musical artists of all time.
Janis drew attention for her powerful and unique voice, impossible not to be quickly recognized. She had a short life, on and off the stage, as she died in 1970, at the age of 27 (she is one of the celebrities that make up the “27 Club”), as a result of a heroin and alcohol overdose. Despite this, he left important works for the history of rock, such as “Piece of My Heart”, “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Cry Baby”.
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Courtney Love – big name in grunge
Kurt Cobain’s widow, Courtney Michelle Cobain, 60, is a singer and songwriter who gained notoriety with her band Hole in the early 1990s. She was one of the biggest names in the grunge subgenre and her first work, the album “Pretty on the Inside”, was highly acclaimed by critics.
The following albums, “Live Through This” and “Celebrity Skin” made Courtney and Hole known worldwide. In the 2000s, the singer began a solo career, which continues to this day. One of the first songs she released was “Mono”, in 2004.
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Stevie Nicks – “Reigning Queen of Rock n’ Roll”
Stephanie Lynn “Stevie” Nicks, 76, made her career as the lead singer of Fletwood Mac, one of the most commercially successful bands in the world. Named the “Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll” in 1981 by Rolling Stone magazine, she is also considered one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by the publication, ranking 98th.
Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, along with fellow member Lindsey Buckingham. The singer’s second album with the band, 1977’s “Rumours”, won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and is still heard and acclaimed to this day.
In 1981, she began a solo career with the album Bella Donna. “Edge of Seventeen” was her most famous song and debuted at the top of the charts. Stevie Nicks is still active in the industry performing concerts to this day.
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Joan Jett – “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”
Joan Jett, 65, emerged as an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, music producer and actress. Also described as one of the most important women in rock, she reached her peak in the 1970s alongside her bandmates The Runaways.
In 2003, Joan Jett was named the 67th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone. The artist began her solo career in the 1980s. Her biggest hit is the rock anthem song, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”.
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Joni Mitchell – Historical Albums
Joni Mitchell, 80, also emerged as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, ranking 75th in the magazine, which also cited her as one of the greatest songwriters in history.
She rose to stardom in the 1970s and is known for her folk rock subgenre. Four of her albums are on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. “Blue” (1971) is in the top 3, in third place, “Court and Spark” (1974) is at 110 in the ranking, “‘Hejira” (1976) at 133 and “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” (1975) at 258.
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Rita Lee – “Queen of Brazilian rock”
Known as the “Queen of Brazilian rock”, Rita Lee has sold over 55 million records and is now the best-selling female artist in Brazil.
Rita rose to fame with the group Os Mutantes (1966–1972), which she formed in the 1960s. Their songs, which flirted with rock, psychedelia, pop and pop rock, were filled with “acid” lyrics and social criticism. Rita Lee died in May 2023, while recovering from lung cancer.
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Pitty – a big name in rock today
One of the biggest names in rock today, Pitty, 46, began her career in 1997, playing drums for two years in the punk rock band “Shes”. In 2003, she released her first solo single, entitled “Máscara”, which was soon followed by her huge success, the album “Admirável Chip Novo”. It was the best-selling rock album in the country that year.
His latest project was the album “Matriz”, released in 2019.
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Cassia Eller
Cássia Eller has some of the biggest Brazilian hits of all time. The voice behind “Malandragem” and “O Segundo Sol”, she emerged in the 1990s and released six albums during her lifetime, “Cássia Eller” (1990), “O Marginal” (1992), “Cássia Eller” (1994), “Veneno AntiMonotonia” (1997) and “Com Você… Meu Mundo Ficaria Completo” (1999), “Acústico MTV” (2001) and a posthumous album, named “Dez de Dezembro” (2002).
In 2022, Cássia won the Latin Grammy for Best Rock Album of the Year. Cássia died in 2001 after a heart attack caused by a malformation of her heart.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
