I was listening to the radio last weekend, and although choices are limited for variety in Austin, we do have a syndicated radio station that plays oldies music.  We used to have multiple stations that would play oldies (50s, 60s and 70s) and classic rock (60s, 70s and 80s) and then modern rock that plays the classics (70s, 80s, and 90s), then one day they all disappeared.

So imagine my joy when I found a radio station that played all the oldies.  True, the DJ wasn’t my favorite, it was syndicated, and played a lot of music from the 50s that was kinda lame, but it was a nice other alternative.

When I was listening this weekend, they had a special theme: Women of rock and roll.  I pissed my pants in excitement! Yes! Finally! Women getting the respect they deserve for such amazing strides in rock and roll!  Excellent!

Until…”We’re celebrating songs with women’s names in them….”  Wait what?  It was a celebration of rock and roll music that had women’s names in it.  NOT FEMALE MUSICIANS!?  I sat totally blown away.  This was WAY worse than even ignoring women in rock.  This was a total blow to women in rock.  Hell, not only will they not recognize women in rock, but the only way to be recognized as a woman in rock is to be part of a song SUNG BY A MAN.  I was outraged!

I immediately changed the channel, heartbroken that woman can’t even get the attention they deserve on their own.

So I came home and immediately wrote down as many women in rock (or branch of rock and roll from the 50. 60s and 70s) as I could:

Janis Joplin, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac, Solo), Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry (Blondie), Annie Lennox (Eurythmics), Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Joan Jett, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Dolly Parton, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Carol King…do I need to go on?

These were just off the top of my head.  These women all made incredible strides in music in general, and it’s really crappy that they were ignored so that Toto could sing ‘Rosanna’.  Do a woman a favor and play some empowering, rock tunes by some incredible woman today.  They’ll appreciate it.

The fight continues…