Every year Revolver, a bi-monthly rock and metal magazine, releases its “Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock” calendar. Though hard rock and metal can seem like a man’s world, these talented women are creating a name for themselves amongst the legends of the field. This calendar showcases this year’s best female singers, songwriters, and musicians, and also contains trivia about their music. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing one of these lovely ladies live (Lzzy Hale forever), but I was excited to learn more about the others. Even if you’re not a fan of hard rock or metal as musical genres, perhaps their music will inspire you to listen more!
January: Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless
Momsen, perhaps best known for playing Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, now acts as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for The Pretty Reckless. Known for her heavy black eye makeup and provocative clothing, Momsen has already penned two full studio albums, 2010’s Light Me Up and 2014’s Going to Hell. They’ve even toured with Marilyn Manson and Guns N’ Roses. Now, you can catch them on the Carnival of Madness tour with Halestorm.
February: Simone Simons of Epica
Simons has fronted the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica since 2002 and has put out six full studio albums. Simone also created her blog Smoonstyle to write about her interests in fashion, beauty, and cooking. She worked as a makeup artist for other singers such as Elize Ryd and Marcela Bovio and writes great makeup reviews. Epica is currently performing on The European Enigma tour.
March: Kristen May of Flyleaf
May replaced Lacey Sturm as lead singer in 2012 and has since worked with Flyleaf on their album Between the Stars. While there’s a huge amount of pressure in replacing a vocalist, May has proven her dedication and appreciation for the music. Currently, Flyleaf is on tour with Adelitas Way on the SnoCore Tour.
April: Ash Costello of New Years Day
Founded in 2005, New Years Day built a reputation through self-promotion on MySpace. Described as “formed out of heart break and hell bent on revenge,” their name symbolizes a new start for its members. The band has penned two full-length albums, including 2013’s Victim to Villain. Ash herself, despite appearances, is incredibly down-to-earth and friendly in her videos. New Years Day will soon begin their Beyond The Barricade Tour with Motionless in White and Ice Nine Kills.
May: Diamante
Teen rocker Diamante has written her own songs and taken the Best Rock Record Award at the Indie Music Channel Awards two years in a row. She has multiple EPs out including Savage and Bite Your Kiss. At only seventeen years old, she has a long career to look forward to.
June: Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil
Scabbia has fronted Italian metal band, Lacuna Coil with Andrea Ferro since the 90’s. Together the band has released seven full albums, with songs such as “Our Truth” being featured in games like Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour. Lacuna Coil will be a part of the Graspop Metal Meeting in June, alongside icons such as Alice Cooper, Godsmack, KISS, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Slash, Slipknot, and Within Temptation. What a festival!
July: Elize Ryd of Amaranthe
Ryd is a Swedish singer known for her work with the American band Kamelot and her current work as a songwriter and vocalist for Amaranthe. Born into a family of musicians, Ryd performed for the public by age 4, and was studying music theory, theater, singing, and dancing at a performing arts school. She also participated in Timo Tolkki’s metal opera, Avalon. With Amaranthe she has put out three studio albums and is now touring in Europe on the Massive Addictive Tour.
August: Nadja Peulen of Coal Chamber
Born in Germany, Peulen currently serves as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the Los Angeles nu-metal band Coal Chamber. The group, formerly managed by Sharon Osbourne, has put out three studio albums and toured with Lacuna Coil, as well as performing at Graspop in 2013. Coal Chamber will be embarking on a North American Tour in March.
September: Lzzy Hale of Halestorm
A personal favorite of mine, Lzzy Hale is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award-winning band, Halestorm. After years of writing and performing music with her younger brother Arejay, the two formed Halestorm and have since played with Evanescence, Chevelle, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, and Trapt. Lzzy has also lent her vocals to Shinedown, Eric Church, and Lindsey Stirling. As if that wasn’t cool enough, Gibson guitars released a special “Lzzy Hale Explorer” in September 2014. Halestorm has produced two studio albums, with their third, Into the Wild Life, slated for April 3. They will also be going on the Carnival of Madness Tour with The Pretty Reckless so you could kill two birds with one stone by getting tickets!
October: Uliana of Cilver
Though formed in New York, leader singer Uliana was born and raised in Romania, where she says she “learned how to read tarot cards, palms, and even the bottom of a coffee cup.” With Cilver, she’s produced the In My Head EP and was part of The Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock Tour alongside Sick Puppies and Lacuna Coil. Still largely up and coming, the band will perform at Shiprocked 2015 in Miami.
November: Jill Janus of Huntress
As the lead singer of the American heavy metal band, Huntress, Janus is known for her frequent screaming, but she is also professionally trained in opera. Before her time with Huntress, Janus played DJ gigs under the pseudonym “DJ Penelope Tuesdae,” and in order to stand out she played topless. With Huntress, she has put out two studio albums and two EP’s. She is currently on a European tour with the Swedish melodic death metal band, Amon Amarth (which, for you Lord of the Rings fans, is the name of Mount Doom in Tolkien’s invented Sindarin language). See, reading is cool!
December: Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies
The Butcher Babies’ name pays homage to Wendy O. Williams’ song “Butcher Baby,” which was a single by The Plasmatics. At one point in their careers the Butcher Babies were known for their dramatic stage appearances, specifically only wearing tape over their nipples. Concerned about their stage costumes overshadowing their music, however, Harvey has stated, “we didn’t want our look to hinder people going to buy the album, or going to hear our music.” Together Harvey and Shepherd have released one full album, Goliath, and two EPs.
Other amazing women include Amy Lee of Evanescence (who made me cry when I saw her live), Maria Brink of In This Moment, Tarja Turunen and Anette Olzon both formerly of Nightwish, Floor Jansen who is currently with Nightwish, Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation, Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez of Eyes Set to Kill, and so many more. Even if hard rock and metal still aren’t your genres of choice, it’s worth noting the achievements of these rock goddesses.
Photos: Header / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12