What Happened To All The Ferocious Female Punks?

Del [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 16:05

I think Suicide Girls certainly has damaged female punk. But also the co-opting of the whole Girl Power mantra into the mainstream by the likes of the Spice Girls cheapened the message, and put a lot of people off. I think it's due a resurgence. Just reading that list of artists at the top of the page makes me excited.

Claire [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 17:57

What about Karen O?

EJ [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 18:51

i agree that there's not a lot going in right now in terms of mainstream music, but there seems to be something exciting bubbling away beneath the surface at the moment. you should listen to some female fronted bands from Norwich. ok, it might not seem like the most likely place in the whole world but there is an amazing scene going on there right now, and female artists are very much at the forefront of it. check out: THE BROWNIES FEVER FEVER UHOHS BEARSUIT VIOLET VIOLET every band in norwich seems to have a girl or two involved, its a refreshingly balanced scene and well worth investigating. also, read any issue of artrocker and theres loads of great musical ladies with something to say. oh yeah! also... AN EXPERIMENT OF A BIRD IN THE AIR PUMP (not from norwich but bloomin' marvellous!)

Dave [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 18:59

They arnt attractive, i want more ting tings girl. Send me a poster.

Miss Isabel [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 19:17

I am a girl in rock...want to know what I have to say? Every week I publish a blog that reveals what a woman surrounded by guys in a rock band lives, feels and promote. We are different as women, and we DO have a lot to say and bring alongside men... http://www.yourfavoriteenemies.com/myspace/yfeprinc/design_app/blogs/missisabel.html I am hoping for more women in music and in all fields, women of of quality promoting self-esteem and courage to accomplish any dreams... Miss Isabel Your Favorite Enemies

RedThom [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 19:19

There are angry female voices out there, you just need to look harder to find them. That said, L7 and Babes in Toyland were hardly mainstream. You could argue that Lily Allen is closer to the punk spirit than a lot of people mentioned. Controversial, intelligent, outspoken... depends if you count the quality as an influencing factor. That said, there are still plenty of strong, angry female voices in music- Karen O, Amanda Palmer, Jemina Pearl, Peaches, Alice Glass, Annie Hardy...

William [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 19:25

Actually, Suicide Girls seems more the inevitable outcome of the whole Riot Grrl thing, which was fueled primarily by a generation's glib narcissism and sense of entitlement. There was nothing really politically or musically valid going on. And it's a tad hysterical to blame a silly little soft-core porn site for robbing an entire sub-culture of its voice.

Heather [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 19:55

Please check out Divorce - 4 women & one guy playing v. loud, aggressive noise-punk with no interest in trying to look or appeal to the tattooed porn-fetishism female punk has become -- www.myspace.com/puredivorced

[Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 20:22

excellent article, although i still cant stand paramore

Stephanie Kowalski [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 21:28

Inspired by the same book back in 1995 i wrote my dissertation on Alterntative Female Musicians in the Music Industry. I was a big fan of all the bands mentions and totally inspired by the 'can do' attitude of the Riot Grrrl scene. Indeed I picked up a guitar because of that whole movement. But lets get one thing straight -The Suicide Girls aren't damaging female punk at all. Surely the whole notion of a woman being able to be powerful and yet obtain her femininity at the same time is a force to be reconned with. Girl Power shouldn't mean that a woman need to act or dress like a man or a scruff in order to cause a Riot. And besides whatever happened to sisterhood? Women are are womens worse enemy - slagging one another off all the time - if women learned to actually unite a revolution may actually be possible! The truth is that there just aren't as many girls in bands out there at the moment but they will come again and be back in fashion sooner or later.

aaron [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 22:39

you have Karen'O....and most how are you leaving out Alice Glass of Crystal Castles????

Jimmy [Visitor] //October 21 2009 at 23:25

there are loads of US/EU acts with awesome and ferocious singers such as Kap Bambino, Dandi Wind, Brilliant Pebbles etc. unfortunately NME chooses to not focus on them.

Zoe [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 01:54

Katie Jane Garside

Dallia [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 03:06

Check out Formica Iglesia in Carny! http://www.myspace.com/carnymusic Screaming green and punkrock! with Paul Leary from Butthole Surfers. Free The People!

Liz [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 06:18

What about maykay from fight like apes?

Alana [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 06:42

Hell YES.

[Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 06:45

50 Foot Wave?

[Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 06:50

Sonic Boom Six?

KapnKopf [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 07:28

I have to argue a little and say that though I agree suicidegirls has complicated matters in the subculture world for women ESPECIALLY in the US, there are a lot of females making music that are known within the pages of NME who make their statement by not being typical sex-symbols nor having to shout about feminism either. People like La Roux, Little Boots, Karen O, and of course The Gossip just to touch on it the obvious, all show the RESULT of the spirit of the 90s.

[Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 09:16

Don't forget Elastica, they were awsome!!

ffff [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 10:18

paramore, crystal castles????

Hugo [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 11:24

The truth of the matter is that women are too inteligent to get themselves into the mess that is running a band especially these days. Only us men are stupid enough to.

Martine [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 15:57

Of course there are female punks out there but it is hard to find them. Why? Men probably know but I don't. I very much enjoyed reading this and thank you for writing this.

Germaine Leer [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 18:21

ah riot grrl, how i miss you...saying that there are plenty of female musicians, photographers, club night runners and fans without the 'someone's girlfriend' tag attached taking over clubs, dancefloors and practise rooms across the UK, spesh in the North East where I frequent. Also, if you're looking for a female alt subculture that involves empowered women setting their own rules and being creative and inetresting, look no further than UK roller derby......24 leagues in the UK, filled with awesome women of all ages, shapes, sizes, background, musical tastes all with one thing in common...tenacity! check it http://www.ukrda.org.uk/ xx

Germaine Leer [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 18:21

ah riot grrl, how i miss you...saying that there are plenty of female musicians, photographers, club night runners and fans without the 'someone's girlfriend' tag attached taking over clubs, dancefloors and practise rooms across the UK, spesh in the North East where I frequent. Also, if you're looking for a female alt subculture that involves empowered women setting their own rules and being creative and inetresting, look no further than UK roller derby......24 leagues in the UK, filled with awesome women of all ages, shapes, sizes, background, musical tastes all with one thing in common...tenacity! check it ukrda.org.uk xx

[Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 20:20

um, M.I.A. anyone? I reckon she's one of the only people carrying on that spirit of The Clash. She's smart, political, from a culture outside the dominant one, independent-minded and knows how to bang out great tunes too. Worth all the hype and more - inspirational!

forever [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 21:14

Whatever, check out Make Me "House of Brakes" Electrelane " Power Out" and Deerhoof "Friend Oppertunity"

El Grande [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 21:32

I'm a girl and I formed my own punkrock-band 'cause of Courtney Love, but despite everyone is whining for more angry girls in rock music I actually find it damn hard to get gigs for a band fronted by a screaming girl who is not everyones wet dream. Especially in Germany lots of people don't get what I'm aiming for and they simply find my stuff 'too disturbing'... there you go, riot girrrl. www.hotelzimmerinferno.de

grrrl sounds [Visitor] //October 22 2009 at 21:44

there are lots of current female punk rockers. just check out grrrlsounds.com !!!!!

[Visitor] //October 23 2009 at 08:15

METRIC!

Paul [Visitor] //October 23 2009 at 10:34

Die Mannequin is going to save the dying trend definitely.

trav [Visitor] //October 23 2009 at 19:22

man if you are saying the fucking distillers used to be a girl PUNK band you are fucking crazy. They were nothing more than a shitty rip off of hole with a trendy little bitch trying to be a punk rocker whining on the mic.

Michael English [Visitor] //October 24 2009 at 02:13

If Ms. Alexandra wishes to criticize the SuicideGirls website as having a detrimental effect of the state of women in punk rock, she could start by actually looking at the website. I have done so. and I can attest to the reality that, whatever else may be said about the women appearing in it, they most emphatically are NOT voiceless.

czx [Visitor] //October 24 2009 at 15:09

Jemina Pearl FTW

http://ronebofh.livejournal.com/ [Visitor] //October 24 2009 at 18:12

I'd say Sleater-Kinney but they broke up. Good to see someone else mentioned 50 Foot Wave, and i would also recommend Magneta Lane, who just put out a new album.

Bigelow [Visitor] //October 24 2009 at 19:17

Punk's are even more annoying than hippies, and for all the same reasons ... 5 years of creativity and 25 of smug self congratulation. Tired attitude, tired style, tired boring music ... why would any women capable of independent thought have anything to do with this pathetic subcultural remnant?

Teetop [Visitor] //October 24 2009 at 23:19

The problem is that punk rock is played out in the first place. Why would anyone under the age of 35 want to pick up the tired and discarded mantle of a priror generation? That's the least punk rock thing I can think of. May as well ask why they aren't hippies or beatniks.

sap [Visitor] //October 25 2009 at 00:33

Karin Dreijer Andersson... forgotten her?

Tom [Visitor] //October 25 2009 at 21:28

You haven't noticed Kim Gordon is still going strong? What planet's culture are you reporting on??

Kirt [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 00:33

Nobody liked Riot Grrl other than music critics and a tiny, tiny handful of campus feminists. Once they graduated the scene died. Women now prefer making music that people actually want to listen to, even the former Riot Grrls themselves. Riot Grrl didn't do anything but create a backlash that is still going strong. Suicide Girls is what it is, but continues because it makes money. Riot Grrl bands were all flops other than Hole, who had outside help for their records.

Nada Zero [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 01:14

Yeah, Rae, just listen to William's nuanced critique above. Next time you find yourself feeling oppressed by something, just remember that your response is merely a result of your being "hysterical." (Well, you're female so of course you are.) Just quiet down, stop making everyone uncomfortable, & show us your push-up bra.

phio gistic [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 14:40

The commercialization of punk (Hot Topic) and subjugation/pornification of punk women (Suicide Girls) has definitely tainted the punk rock scene. It's still alive but the capitalist, porn obsessed, anti-woman culture has almost completely succeeded in rendering it completely irrelevant and toothless.

phio gistic [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 14:42

The commercialization of punk (Hot Topic) and subjugation/pornification of punk women (Suicide Girls) has definitely tainted the punk rock scene. It's still alive but the capitalist, porn obsessed, anti-woman culture has almost completely succeeded in making it irrelevant and toothless.

Helen Boggs [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 16:12

THE SOLDIER THREAD is from Austin, Texas - Patricia Lynn is such a badass in that band...she plays viola and sings. You should definitely check them out... www.thesoldierthread.com

imadesomething [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 18:44

I don't know if you can really blame the Suicide Girls for the lack of women in punk rock today. Maybe it's the fact that everyone's beating a dead horse by making the same music over and over again. Why don't we give that whole angsty Betty Page look over to the Suicide Girls, let them keep it and do what they want with it and just be our fucking selves. Is it really that hard or do we have to continue to copy and yearn for the same shit we've heard and seen already for the past 30 years? Boring, that's what I say. Time to move the fuck on, ladies.

imadesomething [Visitor] //October 26 2009 at 18:47

I don't know if you can really blame the Suicide Girls for the lack of women in punk rock today. Maybe it's the fact that everyone's beating a dead horse by making the same music over and over again. Why don't we give that whole angsty Betty Page look over to the Suicide Girls, let them keep it and do what they want with it and just be our fucking selves. Is it really that hard or do we have to continue to copy and yearn for the same shit we've heard and seen already for the past 30 years? Boring, that's what I say. It's time to move the fuck on, ladies.

CrotchRot Renee [Visitor] //October 27 2009 at 22:51

Apologies if this has been said but please, before you say you can't find females in today's punk scene: TRY GOING UNDERGROUND!! There are plenty of females in DIY punk, not nearly as many as men, but there are a lot of us. Shout-out to my favorite female-fronted DIY hc/punk band, I OBJECT! out of upstate NY - they're going 5+ years strong!

[Visitor] //October 28 2009 at 11:14

Fair enough if you want to say that Suicide Girls damaged girls in punk/rock - personally I think that they're a symptom of a cultural shift rather than a cause of it, just my opinion - but let's not get it twisted. If Kathleen Hannah was born ten years later, I doubt she'd be getting her kit off on SG.com. Girls just aren't interested in punk rock anymore, and who can blame them?

The Girls Are... [Visitor] //November 23 2009 at 15:00

I think there's some really interesting points here. I do agree that Suicide Girls fetishises and therefore commodifies a certain 'type' of girl, and thus it can be difficult to be taken seriously if you happen to adhere to this aesthetic, whether you choose to take your clothes off and whore your naked self about on the internet or not. Having said that, I also agree that girls need to start supporting each other. As much as I am loathe to admit it, I do think there has been an anti-feminist backlash post riot grrrl and that is a crying shame. The best thing riot grrrl did was to encourage girls to pick up an instrument and have a go themselves. I think it's important for all lady music makers to start encouraging others musicians and bands, to start celebrating one another. Stephanie Kowalski highlights an interesting point: people's inability to distinguish between the hyper-sexualisation of a certain type of person, and a valid and reasoned concerned with the aesthetic. I fail to see how a lady's choice of aesthetic can be boiled down to dressing like a man and looking like a scruff or being naked?? I do, however, think that there is a wealth of great female artists out there: they just don't get the press they deserve. I am the founder of www.thegirlsare.com and I've made it my mission to seek these bands out, and establish a community of lady music makers and appreciators.... Our ears are always open to reccomendations!

The Girls Are... [Visitor] //November 23 2009 at 15:01

I think there's some really interesting points here. I do agree that Suicide Girls fetishises and therefore commodifies a certain 'type' of girl, and thus it can be difficult to be taken seriously if you happen to adhere to this aesthetic, whether you choose to take your clothes off and whore your naked self about on the internet or not. Having said that, I also agree that girls need to start supporting each other. As much as I am loathe to admit it, I do think there has been an anti-feminist backlash post riot grrrl and that is a crying shame. The best thing riot grrrl did was to encourage girls to pick up an instrument and have a go themselves. I think it's important for all lady music makers to start encouraging others musicians and bands, to start celebrating one another. Stephanie Kowalski highlights an interesting point: people's inability to distinguish between the hyper-sexualisation of a certain type of person, and a valid and reasoned concerned with the aesthetic. I fail to see how a lady's choice of aesthetic can be boiled down to dressing like a man and looking like a scruff or being naked?? I do, however, think that there is a wealth of great female artists out there: they just don't get the press they deserve. I am the founder of www.thegirlsare.com and I've made it my mission to seek these bands out, and establish a community of lady music makers and appreciators.... Our ears are always open to reccomendations!