Best Punk Bands With Female Singers

Avril Lavigne is a punk singer from early 2000s, the artist reciting the lyrics of her song
Avril Lavigne is a punk singer from early 2000s, the artist reciting the lyrics of her song "Bois Lie" in her International tour.( Source : instagram )

Best punk bands with female singers comprise groups like Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Patti Smith Group, and Tegan & Sara among others.

Female artists Avril Lavigne have pushed the envelope of punk rock by becoming a popular mainstream artist. She was one of the best-selling artists in the early 2010s.

Similarly, Cassandee Pope's band Hey Monday became another quick success in the Punk rock genre. It also jump-started Pope's solo music career.

Patti Smith is another renowned artist who dabbled from punk rock to pop but she is one of the pioneers in female punk rock.

The punk genre was popularized by bands like Greenday, Nirvana, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. This band's success led female singers to pursue rock music.

Best Punk Bands With Female Singers

Band NameSinger Name
Joan Jett & The BlackheartsJoan Jett
Patti Smith GroupPatti Smith
Tegan and SaraTegan and Sara Quin
Fit For Rivals Renee Phoenix
The RunawaysCherie Currie
X-Ray SpexPoly Styrene
Blondie Debbie Harry
The VeronicasJessica Origliasso
The Pretty RecklessTaylor Momsen
Pale WavesHeather Baron-Gracie


1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan Jett in
Joan Jett in "So Happy It Hurts" tour with Bryan Adams ( Source : instagram )

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts are top among bands with female lead singers. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Their song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. Throughout their career, the band released 12 studio albums and 44 singles.

Jett's most successful album in their career is her I Love Rock 'n' Roll album which was certified platinum by RIAA, ARIA, and MC. It also peaked at #2 on Billboard Hot 100.

According to Spotify, their most streamed songs are as follows;

  • I Love Rock 'n' Roll: 282 million
  • I Hate Myself For Loving You: 134 millionĀ 
  • Bad Reputation: 94 million
  • Bad Karma: 36 million
  • Crimson and Clover: 21.9 million

2. Patti Smith Group

Smith waving at her fans at Zitadelle Spandau featival in 2022.
Smith waving at her fans at Zitadelle Spandau featival in 2022.( Source : instagram )

Patti Smith Group is a female punk rock band. Led by the singer herself, Patti was a pioneer and influential figure in the NYC Punk movement in 1975.

Smith's group released five albums during their course of career. She was nominated twice for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards in 1998 and 2001.

After completing more than four decades in the music business, the band was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2021 for their album "Horses."

Patti's members include Lenny Kaye, Jackson Smith, Tony Shanahan, and Jay Dee thus the six-man band is still active and is performing in the Homecoming Festival 2023.

The popular songs of the band on Spotify include tracks like;

  • Because of the night: 208 million
  • Dancing Barefoot: 35 million
  • Gloria: In Excelsis Deo: 20 million
  • People Have the Power: 15 million
  • Frederick: 9 million

3. Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara celebrating after winning their first Juno Awards.
Tegan and Sara celebrating after winning their first Juno Awards.( Source : instagram )

Tegan and Sara are twin female punk rock singers from the band of the same name. The band is made up of sisters, Tegan Quin and Sara Quin.

Both of them are songwriters and multi-instrumentalists. The band was nominated for Grammy in 2012 for their video album "Get Along."

These female twin singers have collaborated and toured with artists like Bryan Adams, Black Keys, Holly Miranda, and Jack Johnson. The female twin singers are known for popular songs such as:

  • Closer: 83 million
  • Where Does The Good: 64 million
  • Everything Is Awesome: 46 million
  • Cloud 9: 23 million

4. Fit For Rivals

Lead singer of the Fit for Rivals (Renee Phoenix) is the founding member of the band.
Lead singer of the Fit for Rivals (Renee Phoenix) is the founding member of the band. ( Source : facebook )

Fit For Rivals is a female-fronted punk band by Renee Phoenix. The punk group was founded by Renee and Thomas Amason.

They immediately captured the hearts of punk rock fans after the release of their debut album "Steady Damage" in 2009. The band has toured extensively from Europe to the Middle East.

Both fans and critics have pegged the band to become one of the most successful punk rock bands in the future. Rivals' song "Crash" was used as the theme track for WWE's Over the Limit pay-per-view television program.

That said, the most popular tracks of the band on Spotify are as follows:

  • Damage: 13 million
  • Crash: 10 million
  • Cut off Your Hands: 3.3 million
  • Novocain: 3.6 million
  • Hallelujah: 3.3 million

5. The Runaways

The members of the Runaways posing in skin tight leotards
The members of the Runaways posing in skin tight leotards( Source : facebook )

The Runaways are an all-female punk rock band known for their iconic song "Cherry Bomb." Their lead singer was Cherie Curie.

Runaways were only active for four years, they released the tour album during the course of their career, which includes their popular albums "The Runaways" and "Queens of Noise."

Similarly, the members of the punk female group were Joan Jett, Sandy West, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Jackie Fox, and Vicki Blue. The girls were also inspired by the works of David Bowie, Suzie Quatro, and in later days Nirvana.

That said, the best songs of the band from Spotify include tracks like:

  • Cherry Bomb: 167 million
  • You Drive Me Wild: 5 million
  • Dead End Justice: 4 million
  • I Love Playin With Fire: 3 million
  • Queens of Noise: 2.6 million

6. X-Ray Spex

X-ray spex lead female singer Poly Styrene alongside her band members.
X-ray spex lead female singer Poly Styrene alongside her band members. ( Source : facebook )

X-Ray Spex is one of the oldest female-led rock bands. The lead vocalist of the band is Poly Styrene.

They gained mainstream popularity from their 1977 single "Oh Bondage Up Yours!"

Spex is known for its distinct vocals and powerful screeching sound in the metal. Poly and her band worked on two studio albums Germfree Adolescents and Conscious Consumer.

The England-based punk band took multiple hiatus, but despite their short tenure, their influence in metal music cannot be denied.

To celebrate, the band's work a documentary titled "Poly Styrene: I am a Cliche" was released during the 40-year anniversary of their debut album.

Most streamed songs of the female metal band include tracks like:

  • I am a Poseur: 4 million
  • Germfree Adolescence: 4.7 million
  • Identity: 2.2 million
  • The Day the World Turned Dayglo: 1.5 million

7. Blondie

Debbie Harry (left) and Iggy Pop (right) recorded a duet titled
Debbie Harry (left) and Iggy Pop (right) recorded a duet titled "Well Did You Evah!" in the 70s( Source : instagram )

Blondie is an American rock band founded by lead singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stien. It is a female-fronted band from the 70s.

The Grammy Hall of Fame inducted their single "Heart of Glass" in 2016. They are a four-time Grammy-nominated punk band.

They won their first music academy award in 1981 for the single "Call Me" in Best Rock Performance by a Group.

Blondie garnered commercial success after the release of their third studio album "Parallel Lines." The band's best-selling single was Heart of GlassĀ which sold more than 20 million copies.

Similarly, "Parallel Lines" is considered to be 140th on the list of "500 Greatest Albums of all Time." That said, the best songs from the NY-based bands are as follows:

  • Call Me: 358 million
  • One Way Or Another: 274 million
  • Heart of Glass: 360 million
  • The Tide Is High: 66 million
  • In the Flesh: 3.7 million

8. The Veronicas

Lisa Veronica (left) and Jessica Veronica (right) are the Veronicas performing at Sydney fest
Lisa Veronica (left) and Jessica Veronica (right) are the Veronicas performing at Sydney fest( Source : instagram )

The Veronicas are a popular Girl Punk band who are known for their best single " Untouched." It consists of two twin sisters Lisa and Jessica Orgliasso.

Untouched reached sixty-two on Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at the #2 position in their home country Australia. The single is certified platinum with more than 1 million paid downloads.

Similarly, they are popular artists who have branched out from singing to entertainment by starting their own TV shows. But, the artist mostly shines in singing.

Their most streamed tracks include the following:

  • Untouched: 151 million
  • 4ever: 36 million
  • If you love someone: 24 million
  • You Ruin Me: 35 million

9. The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen lead singer of the band The Pretty Reckless, promoting her performance at Pointfest in May 27th and 28th, 2023.
Taylor Momsen lead singer of the band The Pretty Reckless, promoting her performance at Pointfest in May 27th and 28th, 2023.( Source : instagram )

The Pretty Reckless is a female punk rock band from the 2000s. The lead singer of the band is Taylor Momsen who is also an actress in the TV series Gossip Girl.

Momsen and her group are five-time nominees for "Rock Artist of the Year." The band was successful in winning the 2021 award of iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Moreover, their best-selling single "Goin to Hell" was featured in the number five position on Billboard 200. It sold more than 35,000 copies over the course of the week.

Similarly, the most streamed songs of the band according to Spotify are as follows:

  • Make Me Wanna Die: 89 million
  • Heaven Knows: 99 million
  • Death By Rock and Roll: 30 million
  • Just Tonight: 37 million
  • My Medicine: 36 million

10. Pale Waves

Pale Waves singer Heather Gracie after performing at Glastofest. She seems to be working at new songs for her next project.
Pale Waves singer Heather Gracie after performing at Glastofest. She seems to be working at new songs for her next project. ( Source : instagram )

Pale Waves is an English punk rock band led by Heather Baron Gracie. They were formed in 2014 and practice genres such as indie pop, rock, and synth-pop.

Waves debuted their first studio album "My Mind Makes Noise" which featured at 8th position on the UK charts. It peaked at #1 in the UK Indie charts. Also, the album sold more than 10,000 units.

Notably, the band also won NME under-the-radar awards in 2018 after the debut of their first album. The band joined hands with Interscope Records in 2018 after the popularity of their hit singles.

The list of songs of Pale Waves is as follows:

  • PMA: 19 million
  • Jealousy: 5.5 million
  • She's My Religion: 8.8 million
  • Television Romance: 19 million
  • There's a Honey: 10 million

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