3 Female-Fronted Rock Bands from the 1970s Whose Music Has Stood the Test of Time

While rock and roll was an evolution of early blues and R&B that rose to popularity in the 1950s and solidified as the favorite genre of the 1960s, it was in the 1970s that everything crystalized and was, in a way, perfected. Bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and the Eagles took things to new heights. But while the genre was saturated with male rockers, there were women doing a lot of heavy lifting, too.

Here below, we wanted to explore a trio of female-fronted rock projects that have since stood the test of time. Three groups that continue to influence listeners and inspire both new projects and new songs. Indeed, these are three female-fronted rock bands from the 1970s whose music will last forever.

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Heart

The Seattle-born rock group was fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Together, they led the band to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ann could sing as well as any artist of her generation and Nancy was as ferocious a guitar player. With hits like “Barracuda,” “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You,” Heart helped to define a generation of rock and roll caught between success and the turmoil of the times. While the band is still touring today, their impact was felt like a sonic boom earlier in the ’70s after they released their debt LP Dreamboat Annie.

Jefferson Airplane

Fronted by Grace Slick, a vocalist who could fill the Grand Canyon with her voice, this Bay Area-born rock group was known for its iconic hit “White Rabbit,” a drug-inspired eerie rock tune about the possibilities of one’s mind. But they also were known for other hit singles, including the track “Somebody to Love.” And both these songs have stood the test of time since their release. In total, Jefferson Airplane dropped 10 albums in their career, including Bark in 1971, Long John Silver in 1972 and Thirty Seconds over Winterland in 1973. Also in the 1970s, Slick and other members of the band formed the side project Jefferson Starship, which released its own collection of Gold- and Platinum-selling records, including the double-Platinum Red Octopus in 1975.

Blondie

Formed in 1974, this group was led by vocalist Debbie Harry and released hit songs like “Call Me,” “One Way or Another,” “Heart of Glass,” and “Rapture.” But one of the signature aspects of the group was its fearlessness. Blondie was also an early pioneer of hip-hop, collaborating with rappers like Fab Five Freddy and even shouting out the New York lyricist on “Rapture.” Harry, a beautiful modelesque artist, didn’t retreat into her visual appeal, but rather used it to raise the boats of many around her. For that and for the music of her band, she remains a stone-cold icon.

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