Celebrating Women in Rock this March on Tower Blog

Celebrating Women in Rock for Women’s History Month

February 27, 2008 by Romy

Back in the 1980s the U.S. Congress declared March to be dedicated to Women’s History. In honour of this month, Tower.com has declared March to be Celebrating Women in Rock month. But where do we begin? Women have been rockin’ out for as long as rock n’ roll has been around – Aretha Franklin is often called the Queen of Rock, and Billie Holiday is up there too. Of course, no women in rock history is complete without the “Two J’s” – Janis and Joni. The 1970s was arguably the decade of Rock n’ Roll lead by the all-girl rock group The Runaways (see The Donnas for an updated version of this awesome band). And then of course, there’s Patti Smith and Marianne Faithfull – the month of March should be dedicated just to them!

Here at Tower.com we’re not the only one’s taking the Month of March to celebrate Women in Rock. There’s a brand new film out this month called Girls Rock where a bunch of young gals are taught to play instruments and form bands. And of course, Marion Cotillard winning an Oscar for her performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose seems like the most appropriate way to start off this month of women rockin.’

This past year has been ALL about women who rock so maybe it’s a little unfair that March is the only month that we are recognizing this fact! Just look at Amy Winehouse winning all those Grammys, or M.I.A. and Feist topped almost every ‘Best of 2007’ chart and Kimya Dawson is finally getting the recognition she deserves after her songs in Juno became superhits.

But maybe you have all these albums already and need to beef up your collection by including some of the ‘Quintessential Women Who Rock’? Well, you’ve come to the right place! No collection is complete without a little Hole, Sleater-Kinney or Cibo Matto. You could check out the history of Riot Grrrls in Don’t Need You or even the dynamics of a rock n’ roll band in Gina Gershon’s awesome film Prey for Rock & Roll.

Want to read about women rocking? Check out Guitar Styles – Women in Rock or the history of all-girl bands in Riot Grrrl.

Out recently are the esteemed albums of Cat Power and Sia. Bjork always tops my favourite rockin’ ladies lists, along with The Gossip, Kinnie Starr and Tegan & Sara!

Whoever said history is boring is totally wrong this month! Just check out some of these titles and you’ll see exactly what Tower.com is talking about…