Las Brujas

Las Brujas are considered the first Argentine metal band composed entirely of girls. It was formed in 1987 by Gabriela Folgueras, who since then would be the rhythm guitarist of the formation.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Country: Argentina
History: 1987-1992
Status: Inactive
Style: Heave Metal

Biography:
Las Brujas are considered the first Argentine metal band composed entirely of girls. It was formed in 1987 by Gabriela Folgueras, who since then would be the rhythm guitarist of the formation.

After several lineup changes, it came the solidity with Silvia Gers as lead guitar and vocals, Alex Bass on bass and Ysa Sierra behind the patches.

Its principles were hard rock, but they were gradually transformed into a pure metal band.

After several demos and concerts in various locations in Argentina, in mythical places of the metal scene such as “Halley” or “Cemento” sharing the stage with bands the likes of Los Violadores, Kamikaze, Letal, El Reloj o Hermética, they got their first record contract.

The company who put an eye on them was Barca, with whom Las Brujas released “Me Llaman La Loca” in 1989, a record where also contributed Laura Giarruso at bass.

The LP, released on cassette and vinyl, was so well received that in 1990 the fans voted Las Brujas as the best new band in “Metal” Magazine. It consisted of eight own songs and a spanish version of the classic “Johnny Be Good”.

But in 1991 Silvia Gers left the band. Her departure and the problems with the record label led Las Brujas to disband at the end of 1992.

Lineup:
Silvia Gers – Guitar, backing vocals
Graciela Folgueras – Vocals, guitar
Alexx Bass – Bass
Ysa Sierra – Drums

Former members:
Laura Giarruso – Bass

Discography:
1989, “Me Llaman La Loca” (LP)

Related links:
Silvia Gers @ Myspace

Vixen

Jan Kuehnemund was still at high school in St. Paul, Minessota, when she decided to form a band in 1980. She called it Vixen and toured the USA to finnish settling in Los Angeles. It was during these road days when Jan recruited Janet Gardner after enjoying her voice in a Californian club.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Country: USA
History: 1980-1991, 1997-1998, 2001-Present
Status: Active
Style: Hard Rock, Glam Rock

Biography:
Jan Kuehnemund was still at high school in St. Paul, Minessota, when she decided to form a band in 1980. She called it Vixen and toured the USA to finnish settling in Los Angeles. It was during these road days when Jan recruited Janet Gardner after enjoying her voice in a Californian club.

It was 1984, the year when this early Vixen version, completed with Tamara Ivanov (rhythm guitar), Pia Miacco (bass, later Steve Vai’s wife) and Laurie Hedlund on drums, played live in a movie called “Hardbodies”. Originally made for Playboy TV, but released as a feature film instead, this R-rated movie was about beach & parties. Vixen appeared playing six songs as the on-screen band Diaper Rash.

The “classic” Vixen lineup was two members away, being the drummer Roxy Petrucci the first of them joining the formation. She was playing with her sister Maxine in Madam X, but after they splitted up Vixen sent her a demo, and after some jams together Roxy became the new band drummer.

As a four piece act they made a three track demo, fetaturing “Leave Me Alone”, “Waiting For You” and “You Oughta Know By Now”, which was sent to EMI. The company invited the four girls to a showcase, enough to seal their relation with a contract in 1988. This was the year when the classic lineup was completed, after Sharon “Share” Pedersen (discovered by Janet playing in Hollywood) replaced Pia on the bass, and the year they were interviewed by Penelope Spheeris for her film The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years. This documentary follows the heavy metal scene in Los Angeles, with particular emphasis on the glam metal sub-genre, and although Vixen were interviewed they didn’t play live neither collaborated in the movie soundtrack.

Soon after signing the record deal with EMI, Vixen began to work in their debut self-titled album, to release it the fall of 1988. It was produced by David Cole, Spencer Proffer, Rick Neigher and Richard Marx, who was the composer and keyboardist of the first hit extracted from the album, “Edge Of A Broken Heart”, which reached the 26th position in the US charts. It had a great MTV coverage, and was only overcome by the follow up single “Cryin’”, which went to the #22. “Love Made Me” was the last single coming out from this great debut album that sold more than a million of copies.

Vixen spent the next year touring the world, supporting acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, and Bon Jovi, as well as headlining their own shows. In 1989 they played at the Milton Keynes festival, headlined by Bon Jovi and with Skid Row and Europe in the folder.

A live gig in Düsseldorf (Germany) was broadcasted live on television on 1989 January the 5th, before they returned to the studio later this year to record “Rev It Up”. It was released in July 1990 and entered the UK Chart at No 20. Highest position on US Chart was #52, surely not the one EMI was expecting. While in “Vixen” the band members (mostly Kuehnemund and Gardner) participated in the composition process of 5 out of 11 songs, in its sophomore the number grew up to 10.

The singles “How Much Love”, “Love Is A Killer” and “Not A Minute Too Soon” were in the set lists of the tours following the album release and in the video “Revved Up”, a six clip compilation.

The tours included headlining shows, an unplugged concert for the MTV, and opening gigs for bands such as Kiss and Deep Purple. It was after their European tour with Deep Purple in April 1991 when the band called it a day due to musical differences and management issues.

In 1997 some Vixen members tried a comeback. Drummer Roxy Petrucci reformed the band again with Janet Gardner at the mic and rythim guitar and Gina Stile in the position of Kuehnemund, who later sued the band for copyright infringement. This lineup toured the States in 1997 with Rana Ross on the bass, and released an album “Tangerine” in 1998 on CMC International, with a grungy sound strongly different to the one trademarked by the original Vixen. All their songs where co-written by Gardner and Stile, and the bass was recorded by Mike Pisculli. Again they toured across their country, this time with Roxy’s sister Maxine on bass. The former bassist Share Pedersen joined her husband’s Dogs D’Amour and also formed Bubble with him.

This comeback attempt didn’t last too much, and in 1998 the band splitted up for the second time, but in 2001 it was Kuehnemund’s turn to reform the band she founded twenty years ago. The new Vixen incarnation consisted of Jan, Janet Gardner, Roxy Petrucci and Pat Holloway. But it was again not a pleasant comeback, as the lineup changed completely amid the U.S Voices Of Metal tour with only Kuehnemund holding the band’s name and quickly recruiting Jenna Sanz-Agero (Jenna Piccolo) as vocalist, Lynn Louise Lowrey on the bass and Kathrin “Kat” Kraft on the drums to complete the tour.

This lineup, currently together, in 2006 released a new studio album entitled “Live & Learn” (Demolition Records) and a live album and DVD called “Extended Versions”, recorded in Sweden Rock Festival in 2005. Before this, the classic formation reunited for a special show at VH1’s “Bands reunited” in 2004. Following its broadcast, EMI re-released the first two Vixen albums.

The current Vixen plans include recording a new studio CD and major tour promotion in 2009. A special remix with bonus tracks and a DVD of the Sweden Rock’ 05 concert, entitled “Live In Sweden” will be released in Europe.

Lineup:
Jenna Sanz-Agero (Jenna Piccolo) – Vocals
Jan Kuehnemund – Guitar, backing vocals
Lynn Louise Lowrey – Bass, backing vocals
Kathrin “Kat” Kraft – Drums, backing vocals

Former members:
Janet Gardner – Vocals, guitar
Liza Carbe – Bass, backing vocals
Tamara Ivanov – Guitar, backing vocals
Pia Maiocco – Bass, backing vocals
Laurie Hedlund – Drums, backing vocals
Roxy Petrucci – Drums, backing vocals
Share Pedersen – Bass, backing vocals
Gina Stile – Guitar, backing vocals
Rana Ross – Bass, backing vocals
Maxine Petrucci – Bass, backing vocals
Pat Holloway – Bass, backing vocals
Noelle Bucci – Vocals
Gayle Erickson-DeMatoff – Bass, backing vocals
Cindy Boettcher – Keyboards, backing vocals
Marlene Peterson – Drums, backing vocals
Nancy Shanks – Vocals

Session musicians:
Richard Marx – Keyboards on “Vixen”
Michael Alemania – Keyboards on “Rev It Up”
Mike Pisculli – Bass, backing vocals on “Tangerine”
Chris Fayz – Keyboards on “Live & Learn”
Randy Wooten – Keyboards on “Live & Learn”
Paulie Cerra – Saxophone on “Live & Learn”
Robert Lear – Bagpipes on “Live & Learn”

Discography:
1988, “Vixen” (LP)
1990, “Rev It Up” (LP)
1998, “Tangerine” (LP)
2006, “Live & Learn” (LP)
2006, “Extended Versions” (Live LP, 2006)

Related links:
Vixen official site
Vixen @ Wikipedia
Vixen @ Metalmaidens.com
Neil’s Vixen page

Videos

 
 
 
 

Mab

Mab born in Sardinia, Italy, from Psycho Jeremy (bass and vocals) and Jecky (drums). Created as an all-female band since the beginning, it’s been a rule never broken even they suffered some lineup changes. They moved to London and started playing in small venues, that became bigger as did they popularity.

Country: Italy/UK
History: 1996 – Present
Status: Active
Style: Alternative Metal

Biography:
Mab born in Sardinia, Italy, from Psycho Jeremy (bass and vocals) and Jecky (drums).

Created as an all-female band since the beginning, it’s been a rule never broken even they suffered some lineup changes. They moved to London and started playing in small venues, that became bigger as did they popularity. Their hard work led them to open for Him at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2004.

Mab toured the UK with Breed 77, before going back to Italy to record a tribute song to a remarkable italian singer and artist called Giuni Russo.

The next big step for the band was to collaborate with Franco Battiato, singing 3 songs recorded at the Olympic Studios in London, and one for his movie “Niente e’ come sembra” (2007) which also sees MAB taking part as actresses.

After this Mab had a huge exposure in Italy; they in fact took part as guests together with F.Battiato to the greatest Italian Music event broadcasted worldwide called “Sanremo”, many other TV performances and finally a 2 months long Summer Tour in Italy followed by a Winter Tour in the most beautiful theatres in Italy and Spain.

Mab performed also at the Heineken Jamming Festival and played a special gig in honour of film Icon David Lynch after his conference about Transcendental Meditation that took place in Palermo in 2007.

After a short hiatus, Mab turned back to the stages with a new lineup, and passing from a quartet formation to a trio, keeping the Psycho Jeremy/Jecky core and addind new guitarist Elisa.

Lineup:
Alice “Psycho Jeremy” Dionis – Bass, vocals
Jecky Stella – Drums
Elisa Pisetta – Guitar

Former members:
Lisa Masia – Guitar
Marina Cristofalo – Guitar

Discography:
2007, “Decay” (EP)

Related links:
MAB @ Myspace

Videos
 
 

Diamond Beast

The first European Iron Maiden’s all-female tribute band, born in May 2008 from a common devotion to classic heavy metal.

Country: Italy
History: 2008 – Present
Status: Active
Style: Tribute to Iron Maiden / Heavy Metal

Biography:
The first European Iron Maiden’s all-female tribute band, born in May 2008 from a common devotion to classic heavy metal.

In 2009 the band stabilized on current line-up after many changes. Being a quintet, they remain loyal to the original Iron Maiden formation, and are spreading Eddie’s word and music across the transalpine stages.

Lineup:
Angie Prati – Vocals
Elisa Garbo – Guitar
Elisabetta Filippini – Guitar
Laura Mattiuzzo – Bass
Sara Tenaglia – Drums

Related links:
Diamond Beast @ Myspace
Diamond Beast @ Facebook

Dormitory Effect

Susan Wendelken and Urith Myre had already met at late nineties in a New York-based band called One Step Beyond. After parting ways they decided to contact the guitarist from Perseverance, Meredith Hermann, and Neutron Cafe’s drummer, “Gee” (Gina Ilasi) and Dormitory Effect was born.

Country: Unites States
History: 2004 – Present
Status: Active
Style: Heavy Metal

Biography:
Susan Wendelken and Urith Myre had already met at late nineties in a New York-based band called One Step Beyond. After parting ways they decided to contact the guitarist from the hardcore act Perseverance, Meredith Hermann, and Neutron Cafe’s drummer, “Gee” (Gina Ilasi) to form a cover band. Meredith contributed to the jams with songs discarded by her former band, which ended up becoming the first songs with the Dormitory Effect’s seal.

Gradually the original creations were displacing the covers, to finally have enough material to record a CD, “Wealth Of The Disease”. After its release they entered into a self-promotion, gigs and mixed events vortex. Without even realising it, it came 2007 without new songs to feed their music.

They forced themselves to compose, and soon their new creatures were born, “RJ”, “Hand That Feeds”, “To Belong” and “The Star You Are”. These songs bring a more aggressive touch to their alternative metal, to bring it closer to thrash, and they are working to release them in a CD very soon.

Lineup:
Susan Wendelken – Vocals
Meredith Hermann – Guitar
Urith Myree – Bass
“Gee” Gina Ilasi – Drums

Discography:
2005, “Wealth Of The Disease” (EP)

Related links:
Dormitory Effect official
Dormitory Effect @ Myspace

Videos
 
 

Atomic Blonde

Originally called Glass Lily, this Nashville quartet practices a commercial hard rock with quality. Their instrumental power, with some flash of sweetened garage/punk, is counterbalanced by the melodic and sometimes sensual voice of Dacia.

Country: Unites States
History: 2004 – Present
Status: Active
Style: Hard Rock

Biography:
Originally called Glass Lily, this Nashville quartet practices a commercial (in a good sense) hard rock with quality. Their instrumental power, with some flash of sweetened garage/punk, is counterbalanced by the melodic and sometimes sensual voice of Dacia. This contrast is clearly reflected in their name.

2005 winner of a competition between 12.000 bands, Atomic Blonde have appeared in publications like Metal Edge or Rolling Stone. They have also taken advantage of the resources offered by the Internet, and climbed to second place in the Myspace charts. An appearance in a promotional video clip for the contest “The Next Great American Band” (Fox) has given them some popularity, which pushed them to record their first and self titled album.

Lineup:
Dacia – Vocals, guitar
Kendra Kayne – Drums
Danielle Day – Bass
Fran Reed – Guitar

Former members:
Amber – Guitar

Discography:
2008, “Atomic Blonde” (LP)

Related links:
Atomic Blonde interview @ Metaladies.com
Atomic Blonde official
Atomic Blonde @ Myspace

Videos
 

Judas Priestess

Judas Priestess is an all girl Judas Priest tribute band from New York, formed in July 2009. Their particular Halford is MilitiA, who has performed as a lead singer with Dee Snider’s heavy metal orchestra Van Helsing’s Curse, and in other musicals as Sins of a Scarecrow or Jesus Christ Superstar.

Country: Unites States
History: 2009 – Present
Status: Active
Style: Heavy metal/Tribute to Judas Priest

Biography:
Judas Priestess is an all girl Judas Priest tribute band from New York, formed in July 2009.

Their particular Halford is MilitiA, who has performed as a lead singer with Dee Snider’s heavy metal orchestra Van Helsing’s Curse, and in other musicals as Sins of a Scarecrow or Jesus Christ Superstar.

Three of their musicians have experience with other all-female bands. “D” was Mistress Mars in the all-female Mötley Crüe tribute band Girls Girls Girls, bassist Gyda Gash was in the all-girl David Bowie tribute Ziggy Starlet and the drummer JoJo played in Missdemeanor.

Grace “Maiden of Metal” Wendroff completes the lineup with her guitar, and is the hostess and producer of “Motorbreath”, a cable show devoted to metal and rock.

Lineup:
MilitiA – Vocals
D – Guitar
Grace “Maiden of Metal” Wendroff – Guitar
Gyda Gash – Bass
JoJo – Drums

Related links:
Judas Priestess @ Myspace
Judas Priestess @ Facebook
MilitiA @ Myspace
MilitiA official site
D @ Myspace
Grace “Maiden of Metal” Wendroff @ Myspace
Gyda Gash @ Myspace
JoJo @ Myspace

Videos

Aphasia

Although Aphasia was formed in the mid-nineties, they represent those bands from the eighties who succeed mixing hard rock and heavy metal, such as Def Leppard, Dokken or Mr. Big.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Country: Japan
History: 1994 – present
Status: Active
Style: Hard Rock/Melodic Metal

Biography:
Although Aphasia was formed in the mid-nineties, they represent those bands from the eighties who succeed mixing hard rock and heavy metal, such as Def Leppard, Dokken or Mr. Big.

With a trio shaped nucleus maintained almost throughout all its history, Jun, Goe and Yumi (drummer, guitarist and vocalist respectively), they debuted on vinyl appearing on the compilation “Women’s Power FIRST”, an assimilated title that has helped to keep their name alive.

Demo after demo they were strengthening their style, until 1999 when Aphasia released “Mirage On The Ice”. After it they made their first Japanese tour, and in 2001 a successful “Wings Of Fire” which gave them a recording contract with King Records. Following the signing they were gradually guiding their steps to a more power pop style, without losing their hard melodic base. “Labyrinth In My Heart” and the recommended “Wild & Innocent” started the trend, confirmed in “Gambler”.

They latest release “Sweet Illusion” features a new vocalist, Luka.

Lineup:
Luka – Vocals
Sumiko “Goe” Ishikawa – Guitar
Jun Takeda – Drums

Former members:
Noriko Takahashi – Keyboards
Kyoko “Kyon” Morita – Bass
Ten – Guitar
Junko Suzuki – Bass
Myu – Bass
Sho – Bass
Satoko Mizoshita – Guitar
Yumi Kondoh – Vocals
Saki – Bass
Maki – Keyboards

Discography:
1995, “Demo” (Demo)
1997, “Aphasia II” (Demo)
1999, “Mirage On The Ice” (LP)
2001, “Wings Of Fire” (LP)
2003, “Labyrinth In My Heart” (LP)
2004, “Wild And Innocent” (LP)
2005, “Mirage” (EP)
2006, “Gambler” (LP)
2009, “Sweet Illusion” (LP)

Related links:
Aphasia @ Myspace
Aphasia official site

Tags: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Drain STH

November 13, 2009 por metaladies  

Write a comment

This band could have been born both in Stockholm or Seattle. Geographically they did in the Swedish capital, but musically they were inspired by the grunge world capital.

Country: Sweden
History: 1993 – 2000
Status: Inactive
Style: Grunge/Heavy metal

Biography:
This band could have been born both in Stockholm or Seattle. Geographically they did in the Swedish capital, but musically they were inspired by the grunge world capital.

Flavia Canel and Martina Axen had previously played in several punk bands such as Livin’ Sacrifice. They endured the style change from punk to hard rock, but when it became poppy they decided to go their own way. The duo formed Rag Doll, joined by Anna Kjellberg. The lineup was completed with Maria Sjölholm in 1993, and after signing with MVG Records in 1994 the band was renamed Drain.

In 1995 they started recording and in less than a year had published the EP “Serve The Shame” and the album “Horror Wrestling”. The singles “I Don’t Mind” and “Crack The Liars Smile” introduced them to the world.

Drain included in their album “Freaks Of Nature” a song co-written by the Swedish group and the famed guitarist Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), entitled “Black”.

The band made their way to North America, getting to perform in a secondary stage at Ozzfest, and changing their name because it was used in the U.S. by a punk band. They renamed to Drain STH, officially Drain “STockHolm” but also interpreted as “Straight To Hell”.

Despite a big hype, the band suffered the year 2000 effect and split this year.

What happened to …

Mari Sjölholm is currently withdrawal from the music business, and married Tony Iommi.

Martina Axén sang in Snake River Conspiracy, and has launched her solo career.

Flavia Canel has abandoned her guitar duties to be manager of bands such as Sonic Syndicate and Skiller.

Anna Kjellberg plays her bass for Opiate For The Masses.

Lineup:
Maria Sjöholm – Vocals
Flavia Canel – Guitar
Anna Kjellberg – Bass
Martina Axén – Drums

Discography:
1995, “Serve the Shame” (EP)
1996, “Horror Wrestling” (LP)
1999, “Freaks Of Nature” (LP)

Related links:
Drain STH @ Myspace
Drain STH @ Facebook

12►

Videos
 

Tags:

Sukuba

November 2, 2009 por metaladies  

Write a comment

Súkuba is a nu-metal band from the Quinta Región in Chile. Born quite recently, these four metal girls started they activity back in March 2007.

Country: Chile
History: 2007 – Currently
Status: Active
Style: Nu-metal

Biography:
Súkuba is a nu-metal band from the Quinta Región in Chile. Born quite recently, these four metal girls started they activity back in March 2007.

With no time to loose, they recorded a self-titled demo few months later, in December 2007, which features singles such as “Reaction” and “instincts”, shinning because of their throaty vocals and heavy rhythms.

With this good visit card it was not difficult to convene more and more fans at their concerts, which began in the year of its founding.

After recording two video clips, now they divide their time between the creation of new songs and they scenario addiction.

Lineup:
Daniela Varas – Vocals
Marcia Gutierrez – Guitar
Alejandra Muñoz – Bass
Shantal Andrada – Drums

Discography:
2007, “Súkuba” (Demo)

Related links:
Sukuba @ Myspace
Sukuba @ facebook
Sukuba Fotolog

12►

Videos
 

Tags:

Next Page »