Tons of female musicians in rock know how to do rage and vitriol right, both on-stage and in the studio. I’m fond of the following four rock icons, specifically. Let’s take a look!
1. Amy Taylor
The old guard of riot grrrl bands and grunge icons have passed the torch onto the younger generation, and that younger generation hasn’t disappointed. Probably the most prominent of the bunch at the moment is Amy Taylor of Amyl And The Sniffers.
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Taylor knows how to scream her head off, and she managed to bring the punk rock energy of 1990s girl bands into the 21st century gloriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if she and her band blew up even more in the next few years.
2. Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks is a more underrated entry on our list of female musicians who have mastered the art of rage. She’s not underrated in the general sense, considering she’s one of the most iconic members of Fleetwood Mac.
Rather, she’s underrated for her ability to depict rage, especially from a scorned lover’s perspective, with a shocking amount of quiet power. Her live performance of “Silver Springs” is aggressive in the most quiet, haunting way.
3. Fiona Apple
Like Nicks, Fiona Apple isn’t really associated with riot grrrl or alternative rock. However, that’s part of her appeal. This singer/songwriter knows how to vocally and lyrically explore rage and the more complex personal emotions that musicians are often too afraid to touch on.
“Get Done” is one of her angriest songs, and tracks like “Limp” use intense lyrics to explore the sheer power of her rage. Honestly, many of the songs on Fetch The Bolt Cutters are relatable, anger-filled delights.
4. Courtney Love
We couldn’t leave Hole’s Courtney Love off of our list of female musicians who have historically done rage right. She was a pioneering figure in the grunge movement of the 1990s, and proved that women had as much space in the genre as their male counterparts.
She was brazen, fearless, and often hated; she still is, today. And that just added to her appeal in the band Hole. Her vocals and styling of screaming are like no other. “Doll Parts”, “Asking For It”, and basically all of Live Through This are pretty stellar examples of her powerful vocals, as well as her angst-filled songwriting.
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