1. Black Flag: Think hardcore's strictly a boys' club? Well, ok, you're mostly right. But Black Flag, one of the premier bands of hardcore's heyday, had a female bass player. Kira Roessler played bass for Black Flag from 1983 until 1985, during the band's most prolific and experimental period, and is featured on four full-length studio albums and two live records.
2. Gang of Four: Although not a founding member, Sara Lee made a name for herself playing bass for post-punk legends Gang of Four. She was featured on their third and fourth studio albums, Songs of the Free and Hard, and toured with them until their break-up in 1984. She went on to be a highly-renowed live and session musician, and has played with the likes of the B-52s, Ani DiFranco, and the Indigo Girls, in addition to releasing a solo record.
3. Fleetwood Mac: You know, that one chick? The one who's not Stevie Nicks? Yeah, that one. Her name is Christine McVie, and she was a pianist, vocalist, and songwriter for the group.
4. My Bloody Valentine: Despite the fact that MBV has TWO female members (Bilinda Butcher on vocals and guitar, and Debbie Googe on bass), it's primary singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Shields who gets all the attention. Which is interesting in and of itself, if you consider the way other mixed-gender bands have been treated in the press: despite having equal numbers of men and women, bands like Veruca Salt, Tsunami, and Belly (or heck, even Heart) were largely promoted as "chick bands."
5. Medicine: Similarly, despite the striking presence of Beth Thompson on vocals, it was guitarist/songwriter Brad Laner that got the lion's share of attention for shoe-gaze pioneers Medicine. And you know what? I'm not complaining.
6. Pulp: I always, always, always forget that Pulp has a female member: keyboard player Candida Doyle. Perhaps it's because Jarvis Cocker is so dreamy? *sigh*
7. The Ex: Avante anarchist punk/jazz/noise collective The Ex has built a reputation for breaking down barriers: not only in terms of musical exploration and freedom, but also in terms of political enlightenment and activism. While their lyrics challenge corrupt and oppressive political structures, their personnel roster puts their money where their proverbial mouth is, and challenges traditional gender biases within the structure of the music industry. Their ever-evolving lineup has had a number of women in the ranks, notably drummer and occasional vocalist Kat, and upright bass player Rozemarie, two of the most talented and innovative musicians I've ever had the pleasure to see live.
8. Velvet Underground: You know, that one chick? The one who's not Nico? The one in the back playing drums? That would be Moe Tucker. Owing to her androgynous clothing and short hair, Tucker's gender frequently went unnoticed in the band's early days. Her distinctive minimalist drumming techniques, however, helped make her a notable drummer and inspiration for countless others. She is currently enjoying a successful solo career.
9. The Beastie Boys: No, really, the boys who wrote "Girls" started off with a female drummer. Kate Schellenbach was with the band from their inception in 1981 until 1984. She would later play with Luscious Jackson, Ladies Who Lunch (with Josephine Wiggs of the Breeders), and briefly, the Lunachicks.
10. Faith No More: Believe it or not, before she was in Sid & Nancy, Hole, or Kurt Cobain's pants, Courtney Love once sang for Faith No More. It was short-lived, sure, but this is one of my favorite lesser-known rock factoids.
BONUS: One Band You Forgot Had a Male Member (stop snickering, we didn't mean THAT kind of "male member.")
1. Bikini Kill: Who says men can't be feminists? I once got in an argument with someone who claimed that Bikini Kill were sexist, exclusionary, and "no dicks allowed," based on their practice of girls-only safe spaces at the front of the stage. (This was so girls could dance and enjoy the show without the fear of getting groped or beaten up in the pit.) When I pointed out that their guitar player, Billy Karren, was a boy, he had no rebuttal. Ha!
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