Rabz’ Radio Show March 2023: Rock Chicks

This post will no doubt be seen as either a desperate attempt to ensure some gender balance or an exercise in unrepentant sexism.

Quite frankly Cats, I couldn’t give a rodent’s.

The definitive “Rock Chick” when I was growing up was one Suzi Quattro. All that leather and attitude, as well those heavy guitar chords blasted out (by her all male band) very loudly. A path followed by the likes of the Runaways and one Joan Jett, whose definitive contribution to Rock’s canon was “I love Rock and Roll (so put another dime in the jukebox, baby)”.

Otherwise, I’ve not really got any favourite “Rock Chicks” as such, my preference for women in contemporary music being more about their magnificent voices and (any) physical desirability as an added bonus.

An aspiring Rock Chick should however recognise there is a “uniform”, undefined as it is. Some essentials might include tight jeans, tight tops, suede jackboots (black or tan) and a Brando, topped off with just about any possible edgy female hairstyle you could imagine (with additional points for the mighty Femullet).

Anyway, here’s this month’s two intro tracks.

Suzi Quattro – Can the Can

Zepparella – Kashmir

Again, barely scratching the surface here, Cats. No doubt there’s a whole heap of Rock Femmes that you’re just waiting to nominate in the comments thread. So, go for it Cats, you know you want to!

150 thoughts on “Rabz’ Radio Show March 2023: Rock Chicks”

  2. I tips me hat for a fine idea for a radio show! Yes, I did like Susi Q too when I was younger!

    Can do no more than put up the rock chick. She’s a babe.

    Rapture (1981)

    2

  4. I don’t think she was exactly a chick, Rabz, but Mumma Cass was quite the go in her day, before she stuff that fatal sandwich into her amble mouth.

    Janis Joplin though, now there was a real rock chick. Early days, an a fine screamer.
    Also died early.

    2

  9. The Bangles.

    Can’t beat four rock chicks. I doffs me hat. And a serenade of our bloglord too!

    2

  12. Hard to conceive that Ann Wilson is 72. What an amazing voice. I’ll put this one up because some kind person recorded it off Rage, which almost makes me forgive the ABC for being a pack of arseholes.

    HEART – Magic Man (1976)

    1

  19. One of the first female singers I can remember mentioning Rock and Roll,
    Kay Starr with her big hit of the mid fifties (1956 here in Aus) –
    Rock and Roll Waltz
    As the title suggests this novelty song is a waltz in triple metre, but it also contains a bass riff that is reminiscent of typical boogie woogie and rock and roll riffs. Wiki

    5

  20. Speaking of Rock Chicks – Miss Ellie is just magnifique …

    Although she’s more of a Siren than a Rock Chick, despite her Telecaster* wielding pretensions.

    *Her Black Tele was inspired by Miss PJ.

    1

  24. Miss Polly Jean

    That whole album is something else. Many many hours listening to the CD, especially on long car trips.

  26. The first joke I remember my younger sister cracking… updated to take advantage of a nuance not available to her at the time.

    What do you call a wardrobe malfunction?

    A 48 Crash

    4

  42. Here she is with her rendition of a Bee Gees classic, live in a TV studio, which is a notoriously unfriendly environment for live music, which is why most just lip sync.

    Superb.

    Here’s a modern rock chick who lived the quintessential rock chick’s life and went out at the same age as Janis.

    Amy Winehouse. Valerie

    1

  49. Detroit Cobras.

    Sadly the singer Rachel Nagy is no more. I heard the two girls interviewed on the radio in Sydney after they had been out for a night drinking with the Cosmic Psychos, a pair of real diamonds, in rough. Apparently rice for dinner is a killer as far as hangovers go.

  52. Suzi Quatro and her sisters in their first band

    The Pleasure Seekers

    What A Way To Go

  58. “Rabzsays:
    March 4, 2023 at 7:41 pm
    Sacré bleu – Je suis ta bombe cerise! ?    ”
    “Dragnetsays:
    March 4, 2023 at 9:03 pm
    The Runaways !
    Cherry Bomb !!    ”

    Guys, I still have my “unscratched” vinyl copy of The Runaways I bought when I was sixteen. nyah nyaaaaaah!

    Crossie, I also have Parallel Lines on vinyl.

    3

  62. There is not a Rock Chick alive, dead or composting that will ever out rock chick Chrissie Amphlett.

    1

  76. Suzi Quatro appeared on the very first episode of Countdown. Showing my age now, but I watched it!

    She lost a bit of street cred though when she portrayed “Pinky Tuscadero” on Happy Days.

    1

  77. Oops!, Suzi Quatro was “Leather Tuscadero” on Happy Days. My bad. Still stands though, she lost street cred.
    Too many G & T’s tonight.

  82. Supremes (top fillum clip)

    The Supremes in Paris in 1965, singing their first # 1 hit: Where Did Our Love Go? – Dancing and skipping through the streets of Paris.

    2

  85. At the age of 37, she realised …

    For some reason known only to my hindbrain Marianne Faithfull always reminds me of Jerry Hall.

    Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together (1976)

    It’s fun that Rupert Murdoch made an honest woman of her, at age 60.
    For a while at least. 😀

    1

  88. Three music producers one day got sick of the bland stuff coming across their desks. They thought they could do better. There was a small problem though…none of them could sing. So they found a rock chick by watching television.

    Garbage – Stupid Girl (1994)

    They’re still going 30 years and 17 million album sales later.

    4

  100. Rogersays:
    March 4, 2023 at 8:23 pm

    Roger, that goil looks like she’s straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale!

  121. Lana Del Ray.

    She might be the greatest of all except I can’t play any of her songs when the young’ns are around.

  125. Speaking of Grace Slick:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7dJ3a-U6WQ

    Duetting with Mickey Kantor, 1981:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxCqrpucR0

    That is a very tasty bit of guitar work from Craig Chaquico.

    And now; a playlist of others:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwrnQxZQAAs&list=PL8aIynMubrGJqAHS2_n07jymfrqklYX9b

    I have most of their albums on the original vinyl; very few seem to b available on CD. They get an occasional “outing”, but not everyone appreciates the music.

    3

  129. Does Kate Bush qualify?

    Hell, yes.

    Any point linking to the greatest video of all time?

    You know what it is.

    5

  132. Victoria’s greatest horse-racing tipster, Deane Lester, who was born with spina bifida and lived most of his life in a wheelchair without complaint, died last week, aged 54, after his final health battle with cancer.

    On Deano’s deathbed, surrounded by friends and family, he requested the timeless classic composed by Fleetwood Mac’s Christie McVie, Songbird. Rest in peace, Deano: your legacy for me was planting this beautiful creation in my mind.

    5

  133. As usual, I was not around for Saturday night – standing engagement, and it is rude to be playing on one’s phone while your hosts/friends are being hosts and friends.

    But my goodness, what a wonderful array of Rock Chicks. Cats and kittehs have that genre well and truly covered. 🙂

    I was delighted to see plenty of Chrissie Hynde, Janis and Grace. And more.

    Another favourite is Kim Carnes, most famous for Bette Davis Eyes.

    But I prefer this one. Draw of the Cards.

    That is hawt!

    More to come.

  134. Someone mentioned Nina Hagen, which is right and proper. But the thread lacks her astonishing evocation of New York. Once heard, never forgotten.

    Glad to see the recognition of Heart, who were both talented and driven, especially out of Canada. It used to be a place where talented musicians got out there and made a career. There were plenty of them. k d lang, Gordon Lightfoot and Heart. Oh, and that terminaly depressed bloke.

    Nowadays, it seems to be all about self pity and blaming others.

    Oh, and those black gels. The Divine Diana, and many others.

    Maybe Rabz should consider doing a post about The Brill Building.

  138. Linda Day George – I can’t link her greatest hits here – her voice is brill.
    She used to teach voice in Melbourne . This life seemed idealism. Teach voice and then tram it home in the suburbs.

  141. But WAIT!

    There’s MORE!

    Patti Smith
    Carolyn Mas
    Thelma Houston (with “Pressure Cooker)
    Annie Lennox
    Pat Bennatar?
    Ann and Nancy Wilson

    I’ll see if I can find some of my “Euro” stuff. There was a Berlin-based “rock musical” called “Linie Eins”, set in the carriages of the Berlin subways. The show toured Oz in 1988 (pre the fall of the wall), as part of the “Expo on Stage” activities in Brisbane. The main female protagonist / vocalist knew how to work a song or two.

    1

  143. Suzi Quattro’s old man used to use her as a private punching bag until a group of … motorcycle enthusiasts intimated they would not be too happy if he did it anymore.

  149. There’s no doubt Suzi Quattro was a total honey in her day – I well remember her performance (as a support act) at a Union Ball (Hull Uni, longer ago than I like to think).

    A Pocket Rocket, no question.

    Does anyone remember a TV show called Rock Follies (mid 70s) – the manufactured band was called the Little Ladies and was led by Julie Covington (also Charlotte Cornwell, Ruka Lenska) who really did turn the power up.

    Slightly more recently, it’s hard to go past Jenny Lewis who fronted Rilo Kylie early this century.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.