Women and Heavy Metal

In it's 30+ years of existence, heavy metal has been a very male dominated genre of music. It's a very strong, very masculine form of sonic aggression. Heavy metal was considered to be for men only. But in the 1980, women became more of a prominent role in heavy metal both directly and indirectly. During the 80's glam metal scene, women were indirectly influencing heavy metal. But also in the 80's, women were directly influencing heavy metal by starting all girl bands, whose influence is more prominent that ever today.

In the 1980s, when glam metal became a very popular form of heavy metal, there were women who wanted to be with the band; they were called groupies. "A groupie is a girl, usually, that wants to hang around with groups" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). The idea of a groupie has been around for years, but the idea that women would go to extremes to be with the bands started with Led Zeppelin, believes Pamela Des Barres, a former groupie. On the topic of women being objectified and powerless, she believes that to be wrong. "They are exactly where they want to be....they're not being dragged or coerced....they're doing exactly what they want to do" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). Lemmy, front man of Motorhead, quips, "I love women. I think they should be naked backstage all the time, I love looking at them" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). They are living the life of excess with the bands that they want to be with.

Along with women wanting to be with the bands in the 1980s, there were also the girls that were going out and forming their own bands. One of the first all girl bands of the 1980s was Girlschool. They came out and performed the same, loud, fast, abrasive music that all the other bands were playing, except they were all girls. While they did get respect on stage, they also dealt with patronizing comments. Jackie Chambers of Girlschool states, "People are asking me if I'm tuning the guitar for the guitarist...because they don't expect a female to get up and play guitar" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey).

With the influence from Girlschool, many metal bands today feature female members, most of which are fronting some metal's biggest acts. "Not only are they fronting some of the world's biggest metal bands, but they are now mastering the once male-dominated technique of extreme gutteral vocals" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). One the more well-known users of this technique is Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy. As a female fronting a metal band, it's all about feeling strong and powerful. Anglea says, "I am tough on stage...I feel very strong on stage and I want to give it to the people" (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey).

Women have definitely proven to be a viable part of heavy metal. The ones that take action and join and form bands have proven they have what it takes. They've shown they have the skill and strength to be part of what was considered to be a "boy's club." Women have broken the barrier and proved that metal isn't just a club for the guys anymore.


- "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey." Dir. Sam Dunn. Banger Productions, Inc. 2005.

- http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/archenemyangela.jpg