gold dust women

the essential women of rock and roll

naturally, listen while you read: gold dust woman by fleetwood mac (stevie nicks)

women in music are often overlooked, oversexualized, and underappreciated—especially in rock and roll. in classic rock in particular, their contributions are too often forgotten or minimized. yes, today we’re seeing major cultural moments from artists like taylor swift, and things like women dominating the nominations at the grammys this year. but long before that, women were shaping the sound and soul of rock, and not getting nearly enough credit.

every time i listen to fleetwood mac, all i can think is: a woman made this. sure, the other members were all integral to the band. but be honest, can you even name anyone in fleetwood mac besides stevie nicks? do you even know what instrument mick fleetwood plays—the guy whose name is literally in the band? didn’t think so.

i’ve mentioned a couple of times on here now that i adore fleetwood mac, and there’s several reasons for that. to me, they’re one of the most iconic bands of all time, second only to maybe the beatles. especially with rumours, an album that’s not only packed with unforgettable lyrics and melodies, but also features what i’d argue is one of the most recognizable and iconic album covers ever.

500 stars from me

fleetwood mac saw their biggest breakthrough when stevie nicks joined the band. yes, lindsey buckingham came in at the same time, and yes, their self-titled “white album” had a few hits, but the standout track? rhiannon—a stevie song. maybe you also know landslide? guess what? that’s hers too. then came rumours, with their most chart-topping single of their entire discography, dreams, oh again, stevie’s song.

all the mystical, magical energy that people associate with fleetwood mac? that’s stevie. she was the breakout star after the group split, and she’s the creative force behind some of their most beloved work. a woman was the heart of their success, which is pretty impressive, especially for the era.

classic rock is probably my favourite genre, and the more i listen to it, the more i think about how many incredible women are staples in this space, yet they’re so often overlooked, underappreciated, and under-credited. rock and roll is largely seen as a man’s territory, shaped by the same gendered norms that have limited women in so many other areas.

these societal expectations help explain why women in rock are often marginalized or why their contributions are framed differently than their male counterparts. but the truth is, women have brought something completely unique to the genre: something powerful, sassy, bold, feminine, and a little angsty. they’ve given us some of the most iconic power anthems of all time.

so, i thought it would be cool to highlight a few of the women i love listening to. the ones who’ve made their mark on rock and roll in ways that deserve way more recognition.

1. stevie nicks (duh)

why she rocks

undeniably, by now, you know that stevie nicks is my favourite member of fleetwood mac, and honestly, she’s the most notable member, outside of my own personal bias. and for good reason too, she stands out as the most iconic member of a male-dominated band, in a male-dominated genre, during a male-dominated era. which is pretty significant. aside from her insane vocals, i think her standout status comes down to her passion for songwriting. though she didn’t contribute much instrumentally to the band (which of course, is a huge part of the recording and producing process), her talent shines through her uniquely powerful lyrics. most of my absolute favourite songs from fleetwood mac are written by stevie, and from my expert opinion, also the best ones. her passion for songwriting is evident and only amplified by her insane solo catalogue. all of her solo work, especially her debut solo album, bella donna, encapsulate the very best of fleetwood mac, further proving that she is fleetwood mac.

some shots from the prettiest album ever

i want to keep the focus on these women’s musical achievements rather than their appearances, but it’s impossible to talk about stevie nicks without acknowledging her incredibly groovy, witchy-bohemian dreamscape sense of style, which is so totally rock and roll at it’s finest. i absolutely love her style because it makes space for softness and strength. It’s romantic and aggressive. and ultimately she’s known for not dressing for anyone but herself, and that’s what makes her iconic.

i actually could write about stevie nicks forever (and maybe i will dedicate another post just to her), but to keep this tame, i’m going to rapid-fire other reasons why i love her so much and why she’s such an icon:

• still single and without kids at 76 years old (by choice)

• her stage presence is unmatched

• iconic hair

• insanely wild vocals

• also stevie is such a sick name (when i get my black cat it will be named it after her)

ultimately, stevie embodies a kind of feminine power that feels deeply aligned with who i am, and is obviously my top pick from this list. so if you take away one thing from this piece, let it be stevie nicks.

my favourite tracks (& songs you absolutely need to listen to)

1. gypsy, by fleetwood mac (but also listen to the live version from stevie’s 2020 solo tour— one of my favourite tracks of all time)

2. gold and braid, by stevie nicks

3. starshine, by stevie nicks

don’t be a lady, be a legend.

2. christine mcvie

since we’re so strongly on the topic of fleetwood mac, i couldn’t skip over christine mcvie, the other incredible woman in the band. christine brought the soul. her presence in fleetwood mac wasn’t as theatrical as stevie’s, but it was no less powerful. she was the calm in the chaos, the warm, grounded voice amidst all the drama and glitter. christine was the keyboardist for the band and the songwriter behind some of my other favourite fleetwood mac tracks. if you’ve ever seen daisy jones & the six (if you haven’t, go watch it right now), suki waterhouse (the loml, who i’ve met actually) perfectly portrays this quiet, yet epic superstar.

suki waterhouse (christine) and riley keough (stevie) in daisy jones & the six

why she rocks

both women of fleetwood mac had to endure a lot of drama with the boys in the band, especially since they were both in relationships with other members—with christine being married to john mcvie at one point in time. i absolutely adore christine because, from everything i’ve read about her (because unfortunately, i never knew her personally—i know, crazy right?), she takes no shit. she’s extremely solid in who she is and what she wants, and she delivers it all with that quintessential english posh elegance. she’s an absolute legend. her songwriting and musical contributions are unmatched, and frankly, fleetwood mac would be nowhere without her. christine is credited with perhaps the grooviest track on rumours, you make loving fun.

absolute diva

i love christine’s presence in rock and roll because she proves you don’t have to be loud to be essential. she held her space in a band full of big personalities with grace, skill, and quiet strength.

essential christine mcvie tracks

1. little lies, by fleetwood mac

2. hold me, by fleetwood mac

3. songbird, by fleetwood mac

3. heart

so, heart is a female-fronted band, with sisters ann wilson and nancy wilson playing key roles as lead vocalist and guitarist/vocalist respectively. you might recognize the epic fight-song anthem i’ve attached above from shrek 2, where it plays during fiona and the princesses’ attack on the castle. that scene always stood out to me as a kid. they also have another killer track featured in guardians of the galaxy vol. 3 during yet another epic fight scene, crazy on you.

why they rock

what i’m getting at, is that their discography is full of powerful anthems perfect for fight scenes, and you can only get that kind of energy from an aggressive and powerful woman singing. i’m not as invested in the lore of heart as i am with fleetwood mac, so i’m not going to pretend to have the same depth of connection to their history. i could do some research, but it wouldn’t feel genuine to me. what i do know is their catalogue is insane, and i’m particularly obsessed with their albums, dreamboat annie and magazine, because they’re masterpieces from start to finish. i’m also in love with the album art, especially for steamboat annie, because it’s so feminine and gorgeous, yet the music is packed with aggressive rock and roll anthems, a beautiful juxtaposition. and the name of the band—heart—is both feminine and epic. which is a unique factor of rock and roll only women can pull off.

also, i know i said i wasn’t going to do research, but i had to include this little gem: the band is back on tour after ann wilson’s recovery from a battle with cancer last year, and she’s performing in a wheelchair and a sling. how rock and roll is that?

some of my favourite tracks

1. crazy on you

2. white lightning and wine

3. magazine

4. pat benatar

you might not know her by name, but if you’re into classic rock at all, you’ll definitely recognize this iconic guitar riff.

why she rocks

pat benatar is credited with one of the most iconic rock and roll songs of all time (at least in my eyes). i’ve always been obsessed with this song because it’s featured in guitar hero on the wii, which was (and still is) one of my favourite games. it’s one of the first tracks in the storyline, and it’s relatively easy to play, yet it makes you feel like an instant rockstar. hit me with your best shot always stood out to me because it was one of the few songs by a woman in the game. and, of course, my avatar was a woman, so it was amazing to play a song where it felt like my character was rocking out to her own track. my love for this song has now transferred to my real guitar playing, all thanks to it being sung by a woman (regardless of the fact that it’s an epic song). learning it on my electric guitar, while rocking cute outfits and cool hair (channelling my inner guitar hero), has been a full-circle moment for me.

my guitar hero avatar

my love for this one song was so strong it led me to listen to the entire crimes of passion album (how sick is that title too). and ever since, i’ve been hooked. the whole album carries the same vibe as her top hit, and her lyrics are incredible. i just love a powerhouse woman who sounds like she hates you.

songs you need to listen to

1. treat me right

2. i’m gonna follow you

3. hell is for children (insane title, okay.)

5. joan jett

this name might be more familiar to you, or at least her hits will be. joan jett is the mastermind behind some very popular songs, including i love rock and roll (so put another dime in the jukebox baby!!!) and bad reputation. actually, for a while, i thought she sang hit me with your best shot and that she and pat benatar were the same person, oops.

why she rocks

joan jett was a part of two iconic bands: most notably, joan jett and the blackhearts, but also the runaways. you might know their iconic song cherry bomb (another banging female anthem featured in guardians of the galaxy). the runaways are actually pretty integral to rock and roll history as they were the first all-female band to make a serious impression playing loud, straight-up, guitar-driven rock & roll. however, their existence in the genre was often dismissed as a marketing gimmick before eventually growing in stature and becoming legendary.

joan jett is an absolute icon (following the theme of this list). she is pure rebellion in leather. she’s the growl, the snarl, the swaggering eye roll of rock and roll—and she never asked for permission to exist. her presence in rock and roll proved that women could be loud, raw, and unapologetically in charge. she represents a side of femininity that’s still too rare: fierce, aggressive, and fun. there’s no need to soften the edges, she leans into them. she made space for women to be angry, ambitious, sexual, and gritty without having to explain themselves. all of her major hits are anthems of autonomy, great reminders that you don’t need to “smile and be desirable” (even though i think she is incredibly desirable) to be a legend.

essential tracks

1. i love rock n’ roll, by joan jett & the black hearts

2. crimson and clover, by joan jett & the black hearts

3. bad reputation, by joan jett & the black hearts

4. cherry bomb, by the runaways

6. sheryl crow

sheryl crow is a little bit in a different category than the rest of the classic women i’ve mentioned, yet she still makes the list because it’s my list and i make the rules here. plus, she is a rock and roll hall of fame-er, so she’s undeniably meant to be on this list.

why she rocks

you may know sheryl crow from her hit on the cars soundtrack, real gone—one of my childhood favourites (again, an anthem filled with so much sass and power). or, you may know some of her more 90s pop-like hits like soak up the sun and all i wanna do. but for me, her self-titled (1996), genre-bending, mostly rock-edged album is my ultimate reason for loving her. i am obsessed with that album. there are so many great tracks, and again, another amazing album front to back. i can never get enough of her warm, raspy, and raw vocals, especially in the song if it makes you happy. which actually makes it into every one of my playlists somehow, no matter the vibe (i also have a piece coming out about the significance of that song at some point, so it’s a big deal). the imagery and storytelling she does in her songs is always grounded and relatable, and i can feel every emotion she sings.

sheryl crow blends country and rock in a way that feels effortlessly cool. her music has an easygoing, relaxed feel, but there's a lot of strength and confidence behind it. she’s thoughtful, unafraid to speak on real issues, and she knows exactly who she is. she’s an incredible role model too. not just for her talent, but for the way she’s built a long, meaningful career without compromising herself. her voice is warm and a little rough around the edges—like someone who’s been through a lot but still finds joy in the little things, and i love her for that.

some of my favourite tracks

1. real gone

2. if it makes you happy

3. love is a good thing

of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list, there are so many other talented and monumental women i could include. but these are the ones that matter most to me, the ones i truly love listening to and who’ve made an impact in my life. i hope that through this you discovered a new song or artist that speaks to you (yes, even if you’re a man).

fortunately for you guys, i made a playlist that includes all of the iconic artists and songs i mentioned throughout this piece, so you don’t have to go searching (which i know no one was going to do anyway). i also threw in a few other legends i didn’t touch on here, leaning more into 90s alt-rock and branching a bit from the classic rock theme. overall, it’s a very powerful, very epic playlist. notable mentions include: blondie, hole, no doubt, patti smith, and a few others—check them out for yourself!

love you xx thank you for reading ★