Joan Jett might not have been the first female rocker, but her iconic tracks “I Love Rock and Roll” and “Bad Reputation” have certainly made her one of the most enduring female rock icons, influencing future artists like these five bands Joan Jett lovers should listen to.
The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s unapologetically bold and brash style, both aesthetically and sonically, helped pave the way for future punk rockers in the 1990s and beyond. If driving guitar riffs, sneering vocals, and thundering drums are what you love about Joan Jett, then we think you’ll love these bands, too.
The Donnas
The Donnas offered the 2000s music industry a good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll alternative to bands catering to specific sub-genres like grunge and synth rock. Founding members Brett Anderson, Allison Robertson, Maya Ford, and Torry Castellano began playing together while attending high school in Palo Alto, California. They performed under multiple monikers, including Ragady Anne and The Electrocutes, before settling on The Donnas.
The band’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics, memorable guitar riffs, and punky sexuality drew a direct line between them and earlier bands like The Runaways and The Ramones. Some of the four-piece rock band’s biggest hits included “Take It Off,” “Fall Behind Me,” and “Too Bad About Your Girl.” The Donnas disbanded in the early aughts.
The Sounds
While one could reasonably compare The Sounds’ synth-heavy rock arrangements to groups like Blondie and The Cars, we’d argue that they’re a suitable inclusion in any Joan Jett lover’s rock playlist. The Swedish rock band formed in 1998 with classmates Félix Rodríguez, Maja Ivarsson, Johan Bengtsson, and Fredrik Blond. They won a Grammy Award for their 2002 debut, ‘Living in America.’
The Sounds combine Ivarsson’s sneering, sometimes whiney (in the best possible punk way) vocals with larger-than-life synths, lightning-fast drum fills, and earworm melodies. They’ve enjoyed continued success since their early 2000s debut, putting out their sixth and most recent release, ‘Things We Do For Love,’ in the summer of 2020.
St. Vincent
Frontwoman of rock outfit St. Vincent, Annie Clark, seems to adopt a new persona with each record she puts out. So, depending on which album you listen to, her connections to Joan Jett may be readily or less apparent. However, no matter which persona Clark takes on, each St. Vincent release features Clark’s virtuosic rock guitar skills, powerhouse vocals, and unapologetic attitude, á la Joan Jett.
St. Vincent’s latest release, ‘All Born Screaming,’ is a return to her bonafide rock roots, featuring iconic singles like “Flea” and “Broken Man,” which features fellow rock legend Dave Grohl. For an even more eccentric deep dive into St. Vincent’s discography, we recommend starting with her 2014 self-titled release.
Peaches
Peaches is the stage name for Canadian musician Merill Nisker, who started her career in the folk trio Mermaid Cafe. After embarking on a solo project in the mid-1990s, her sound got progressively heavier. She began touring with dark alt-rock acts like Marilyn Manson and Queens of the Stone Age in the early 2000s, releasing albums like ‘Fatherf***er’ in 2003 and ‘Impeach My Bush’ in 2006.
Combining elements of hard rock, hip-hop, and electronica, Peaches explores sexuality, gender, and aging throughout her extensive discography. She’s collaborated with a wide range of musical and visual artists, including Christina Aguilera and Shunda K. If you’re looking for a place to start in her discography, we recommend the Joan Jett-esque track “Boys Wanna Be Her.”
The Coathangers
Atlanta, Georgia, punk rock band The Coathangers have continued the tradition of bold, relentless, all-female garage bands since their formation in 2006. Similar to other rock bands like The Donnas, each member has a band-related pseudonym: Julia Kugel-Montoya as Crook Kid Coathanger, Meredith Franco as Minnie Coathanger, and Stephanie Luke as Rusty Coathanger.
Their band name refers to unsafe alternatives to abortions, and their music explores similar themes of radical feminism and raucous fun. The Coathangers cut their teeth opening for Atlanta alt bands like The Hiss and The Black Lips. They released their eponymous debut in 2007, and their most recent release is a 2021 split with L.A. WITCH called ‘One Way or the Highway.’
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