Rock Chicks

by Alison Stieven-Taylor

This book profiles the hottest rock 'n roll women, spanning the 1960s to current times - from Janis Joplin, Suzi Quatro and Chrissie Hynde to Courtney Love and Pink. With perceptive biographies and in-depth music critiques, author Alison Stieven-Taylor gives an up close and personal look at the experiences, adventures and musical passions of these extraordinary and talented women whose wild vocals and on-stage antics have made them rock 'n roll legends. Through personal heartaches, drug addictions, public humiliations and private nightmares, these rock chicks have risen to take the music world by storm often facing great personal adversity - pressure and scrutiny that would have destroyed mere mortals. Rock Chicks is a highly illustrated book - which features the work of leading rock photographer Tony Mott and is designed by Aria award-winning design studio Debaser - an essential rock 'n roll bible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography

352 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tashina Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, and the writer is INCREDIBLY judgmental towards more recent performers. Not sure why she wrote a book that she claims to have curated if she seems to hate half the women she profiles. And again, very poorly written. I don't know why I finished it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick little bursts of information about some awesome females

[Bonni Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Lots of interesting information on the girls that were listed although I think I would have omitted a few that they had in the book and added a few that they didn't. Some of the girls that they listed I thought were right on. Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Suzi Quatro (who I thought for years was actually Joan Jett) Debbie Harry,Annie Lennox, Pink. Great girls I just thought they had missed a few good ones that should have been added is all. Although I like her music I don't consider Madonna to be a rock chick or Kelly Clarkson for that matter although I have nothing against their music. I would never consider Sheryl Crowe a rock chick although I like some of her songs. It's just when I think of rock music I don't think of them. Courtney Love is another one, Rock chick doesn't come to mid when I think of her.

I would have added in their places maybe Joan Jett who I think was a great rock chick out of the 70's. Patty Smyth of Scandal from the 80's I think might have made a good one if given a little more time. I don't know how Lita Ford could have been left out. Maybe she didn't have as many hits but she definitely was a rock chick in my opinion. And of course how can we forget the girls of Heart? One of my favorite girl bands were the Go-Go's but rock chicks?....maybe. To me a rock chick is up there sing at the top of her lungs, giving it all she's got, dancing around the stage, probably playing an instrument, and making sure everyone is having a great time. She's not just standing at the mike, singing a few songs, and turning once in a while. Rock chicks make you want to get up and dance,to get up and sing with them, to be them.....Me? Give me Pat Benatar, Donna Summer, or Joan Jett. I want a good show with a lot of singing and they all do a hell of a floor show. Rock on girls!!!! Your music will Rock on!!!!!! Just one woman's thought on the subject.........

[Tara van Beurden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up a few years back mostly because it had Pink in it, whom I’m an enormous fan of. I actually learnt a fair bit. It covers ‘rock chicks’ from the 1960s to about 2007 (no Lady Gaga (though I’m not sure I’d consider her as such, but Madonna is in here, so…), and Pink’s information is out of date now). I’m not a hundred per cent sure Stieven-Taylor’s definition of a rock chick flies but I wasn’t particularly concerned. I enjoyed reading about some of the older artists I’d only heard of in passing but knew little about. I’m sure there are plenty of others that could have and should have ended up in this book, and I question some of the Australian ones from the last ten years (some I’d never heard of, and others I would definitely not define as being in the rock genre) but nonetheless it was fascinating to learn about the lives of some of these women. I guess the saddest thing, especially about the earlier musicians, was just how sad and empty their lives ended up being. A fascinating read.

[Julie scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this audio novel it was a real joy hearing about all my favs from the 60s, 70s,80s,90s and todays rock chicks with Blondie, Pat Benater, Suzi Quartro, Chrissie Hynde, Madonna, Tina Turner, Joan Jett, Heart, Patti Smith, Marianne Faithfull, Annie Lennox, Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morrissette, Gwen Steffani, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavagne, Chrissy Amphlett who I loved and my all time fav Stevie Nicks who I was shocked to learn was pregnant several times and the loudmouth wannabe crazy drug addicted Courtney Love yep I can't stand her along with a few other singers that I won't mention as I've never heard of them. This biography was a great journey down memory lane❤❤❤

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

2010 8CD audio version read by Jane Clifton. Sort of a trivia book on selected female musicians. I guess it was what I expected but it would have been nice, being a CD version of the book, to have included some music of each of the artists discussed.

[Pandora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but missing a lot of vital people and includes some very questionable ones - Suze De Marchi? Maybe in 1990..