Meet rock and roll’s leading women

It’s easy to think that women cannot  be rock artistes, given the testosterone and machismo associated  with rock and heavy metal. Back in the ’80s and early ’90s, it was almost unheard of for  women to be involved in rock music.

This genre of music is, and has always been, very intense, abrasive and recalcitrant, not the kind of place you would expect the tender gender to be.

However, like in all other spheres of the work, rock and heavy metal music have some of the most talented women performing on the big stages. You would be surprised just how many women have come to the fore and dominated these genres in the past decade.

The women  on our local rock scene are yet to really step out. Most, if not all, our local bands are dominated by a distinct male presence. Maybe this list will help encourage more ladies to join in.

AVRIL RAMONA LAVIGNE

This French-Canadian singer/songwriter is by far the most popular rock and roller to many worldwide. She burst into the limelight with the hit single, Skater Boi, released in August 2002 from her album, Let Go. Since then, she has gone on to tour the world, drawing fans  across many nations.

Being a young woman going through life’s experiences, Avril centres her song writing on relationships.

This went down well with many young fans, who looked up to her and who were going through the same experiences she was at the time.

Since the tender age of 15, when she performed with Shania Twain at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Canada, Lavigne has received more than 200 awards for her music, plus 300 nominations.

AMY LEE HARTZLER

This songwriter and classical trained pianist is the lead singer and founder of rock and roll sensation Evanescence. Hartzler is an example of what bona fide talent can do for you in a world where sexuality is over advertised. Her voice is pure gold. She can hit those high notes you can’t hit in the shower and does so with ease.

She has dabbled in Hollywood as well made various soundtrack albums for a few movies such as War Story and Indigo Grey.

Hartzler has won several awards with Evanescence and has been nominated  numerous times for her stellar work on the piano as well as for her vocals.

JENNIFER CAROLE "JEN LEDGER"

Born in 1989, this English drummer and co-vocalist in the American hard rock Christian band, Skillet, redefined the role, showing that women can drum just as well as, if not better, than their male counterparts.

Carole, a mum and wife, is considered one of the best in the business. Not only does she drum really hard, but she also sings while doing it. This makes everything that much better when watching a Skillet show.

ORIANTHI PANAGARIS

This Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist is widely regarded as one of the best of her time at the relatively youthful age of 30. Orianthi has been voted one of the greatest female guitarists of all time, and has won countless awards for her skills on the guitar.

She is so good at playing her instrument that she was selected by the late great King of Pop, Michael Jackson, to play in his ill-fated “This Is It” tour, beating the competition, most of whom were male, for that honour.

She toured with the band Alice Cooper until 2014.

Panagris has collaborated with  greats in the music world such as Steve Vai, My Darkest Days, Adam Lambert and Mary J. Blige.