Historically, rock bands have been dominated by male lead vocalists. But women have been breaking through barriers and pushing their voices to do some incredible things in music! From rock, to pop to jazzy tunes, there are hundreds of female-led bands who just – ROCK!
Paramore
Hayley Williams leads this Tennessee rock band. She has been with the band since its inception in 2004. Hayley and her pop-rock-punk band are more popular than ever, and continue to sell out arenas and top the charts.
Freshlyground
Zolani Mahola is the front woman of this South African afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in the early 2000s. Freshlyground’s music is a blend of blues, jazz and indie rock. And who forget the group singing alongside Shakira in Waka Waka.
Evanescence
This iconic band was founded by lead singer Amy Lee, and guitarist, Ben Moody. By far, one of the most famous and *iconic* alternative bands during the 2000s.
Heart
Sisters Ann Wilson (lead singer) and Nancy Wilson (lead guitarist) formed Heart in the 1970s. Double the woman-power! The group is best known for their hits Barracuda, Magic Man and this gem…💎
Blondie
Debbie Harry and her crew are known for scoring huge popularity in the early 80s. They rose to fame with songs like Heart of Glass and Atomic.
Alabama Shakes
This funky, soulful, blues rock band is fronted by Brittany Howard. Her breathtaking voice and hypnotic presence is the ~soul~ of this group.
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O and her electro-dance crew have been dominating radio waves since the early 2000s. The unique sound has earned them critical acclaim through the years, their most famous songs include Maps, Heads Will Roll and Y Control.
Mafikizolo
This multi-winning SA group is made up of lead singer, Nhlanhla Nciza and composer, Theo Kgosinkwe. The pop duo climbed to fame with their hit singles like Kwela Kwela, Sibongile and Ndihamba Nawe kuphela.
The Band Perry
Kimberly Perry is the vocal lead alongside her brothers Reid and Neil. The trio become greatly loved after their successful single, If I Die Young. During the early 2010s the group released a number of bestselling albums and performed across the globe.
GoodLuck
The electo-dance group was first formed in 2011 with Juliet Harding and Ben Peters. They are best known for blending classical instrumentation with electronic beats against a South African music background.
Florence + the machine
The band rose to fame in 2009 with their single Dog Days Are Over. Under Florence Welch’s lead, they have been a staple in the indie rock scene for over a decade!
Eurythmics
The Eurythmics made some significant moves in the 80s synth-pop scene. Vocalist Annie Lennox, alongside instrumentalist Dave Stewart, gave us a number of classics including Here Comes The Rain Again and this banger right here!
ABBA
Hands-down one of the most iconic pop supergroups of the 70s. Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad fronted the bands, and blended to bring us catchy (and legendary) tunes like Dancing Queen and Money Money Money!
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight, accompanied by her troupe of male backup singers, influenced the sound of Motown in the 60s and 70s. Knight is also known as the Empress of Soul. The group is better known for their hits like I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Midnight Train.
Fleetwood Mac
The group formed in London and is fronted by Stevie Nicks (except when she briefly left the group and was replaced by Bekka Bramlet). They have become a household name for rock fans all over. Years after becoming a band, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
