All-female band

An all-female band is a musical group in popular music that is made up only of female musicians. This is different from a girl group, where the women are only singers and not playing instruments, though not everyone always follows this exact definition.

Even though bands with only men are quite common in rock and pop music, bands with only women are less often seen. These bands have made important contributions to music history and have helped to show that women can excel in every part of making music, not just singing.

1920s–1950s

During the Jazz Age and the 1930s, many exciting all-female bands entertained people. Groups like the Blue Belles, the Parisian Redheads (later known as the Bricktops), and Lil-Hardin's All-Girl Band were very popular. These bands played jazz and swing music in vaudeville shows and early sound films.

Famous leaders of these bands included Blanche Calloway, sister of Cab Calloway, who led a male band called Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys, and Ina Ray Hutton, who led an all-female band called the Melodears. Other bands, such as Ivy Benson's "All Girls Band," toured for many years, bringing lively music to audiences everywhere.

1960s

Bands made up only of women started to appear with the rise of rock and roll. Some of the first all-female rock bands to get signed to record labels were Goldie and the Gingerbreads in 1964, the Pleasure Seekers with Suzi Quatro in 1964, the Feminine Complex in 1968, and Fanny in 1969. Other bands from this time included the Liverbirds, the Ace of Cups, the Heart Beats, and Ariel.

The Pandoras, an all-girl band from 1964 to 1968, played original songs and popular covers at concerts across New England. They later signed with Liberty Records and performed across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and even opened for famous acts like the Kingsmen and the Byrds. The Shaggs, an all-female family band, became known for their unique style and later gained attention when their album Philosophy of the World was released widely.

1970s

Roger Ebert, in his audio commentary for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, noted that the film helped inspire the formation of all-female rock bands, which were quite rare at the time but began to appear more often after the film's release.

Fanny became the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major label. On November 6, 1971, Fanny reached the Hot 100's top 40 with their song "Charity Ball." In 1975, the Canadian sisters Kate & Anna McGarrigle began recording albums, sometimes with their sister Jane. The Runaways, an early commercially successful all-female hard rock band, released their first album in 1976. In the United Kingdom, the rise of punk in the late 1970s led to the formation of bands like the Slits, the Raincoats, and the Pretenders, where female members played key roles. In Australia, Sweet Jayne started performing regularly in 1977 and became well-known for their original rock music. The heavy metal band Girlschool formed in 1978 in South London. The Deadly Nightshade, a rock/country band, was signed by RCA in 1974 and released two albums during that time.

1980s and 1990s

The 1980s marked a turning point for all-female bands, with several achieving chart success and gaining respect in the music industry. Bands like Joan Jett and the Go-Go's brought attention to female musicians who could play instruments and draw large audiences. This period helped break new ground, even though it was still seen as unusual for women to lead rock and pop bands.

As the 1990s began, more all-female bands emerged in various genres, including heavy metal, punk, and Christian rock. These bands often challenged stereotypes and showed that women could create powerful, influential music. Many members of these bands went on to join other successful projects, further expanding opportunities for female musicians in the industry.

2000s and 2010s

In Japan, the 2010s saw many all-female heavy metal bands become popular. Aldious helped start this trend with their album Deep Exceed in 2010. Another famous band, Cyntia, joined a big record company in 2013. Other well-known bands from this time include Mary's Blood, Fate Gear, and Lovebites, who won an award in 2018.

Some all-female bands in the 2010s started to question why they were called "all-female" or "girl bands" but not "all-male bands". They felt this showed unfair treatment based on gender. Bands like American pop rock trio Haim shared these thoughts.

Outside pop music

All-female bands can be found in many different types of music, not just popular ones. For example, the British/Australian string quartet Bond plays classical crossover music and includes instruments like the first and second violin, viola, and cello. There are also all-female bands in other genres, such as the psychedelic folk group Spires That in the Sunset Rise.