The Girls of Rock and Roll

When talking about influential women in rock, it is impossible to ignore Hole’s lead singer, Courtney Love.

Courtney Love challenges the social norms which bind society through her association with sex, drugs and rock and roll.

Born in 1964, Love was initially named Courtney Michelle Harrison and  is best known for being a lyricist, singer, actress and the wife of the late Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer for Nirvana. She established herself as an advocate for women in rock music through playing with bands of the alternative and grunge genres, particularly in the 1990’s. These bands include Hole, Babes in Toyland and Faith No More.

Love has become infamous for drug abuse, parole violation and custody battles over her daughter, Francis Bean Cobain.

in 1994, Love’s band, Hole, performed at the Reading Festival in the UK and was reviewed by broadcaster John Peel in the Guardian. He stated:

“Courtney’s first appearance backstage certainly caught the attention. Swaying wildly and with lipstick smeared on her face, hands and, I think, her back, as well as on the collar of her dress, the singer would have drawn whistles of astonishment in Bedlam. After a brief word with supporters at the foot of the stage, she reeled away, knocking over a wastebin, and disappeared. Minutes later she was onstage giving a performance which verged on the heroic…Love steered her band through a set which dared you to pity either her recent history or that of the band…the band teetered on the edge of chaos, generating a tension which I cannot remember having felt before from any stage.”

Whilst researching for this blog, I began thinking; what are the characteristics that categorise women as ambassadors of rock music?  

• Women who compose music of the alternative, rock and grunge genres;
• Women who create a clear and distinguished separation from mainstream society through music; undergound bands and personifying the genre “rock” (which can be highlighted through clothing);
• Negative press, especially in the case of Courtney Love, who is linked to rock music through the suicidal death of her husband, her abuse of drugs and controversial song lyrics.

In a society where rock music was dominated by bands including Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails (Love’s band Hole suported each of these international grunge bands) Courtney Love has defined herself as someone who epitomises the word controversial and ultimately, an influential woman in the area of rock music.

Courtney Love’s myspace page shows pictures, blogs, music and videos which reinforce Love’s relationship with the term “rock.”

Love uses her official website as a tool for blogging as well as providing insight into her “rock ‘n roll” lifestyle. Her attitudes towards music, life and society are shown within these blogs, particularly the blog title ” 11:02:07 BIGGGG fucking elf”; “i was in the kictehn at kung fu making a collage of smashed wedding cakes and i hear this epic rumble and studio b doors opemn and its the most amazing stoner fucking rock ivbe EVER fuckimng heard, mixed and mastered, Damonb is a genius i kno that fvromm y own record but this is like Sabbath Bloody Sabbath meets Radiohead karma police meets delicacy meets slayer- its the sexiest sunset strip stoner rock ever evr rout of la and my mystical jukebox partner loves them too, hes puttong rock bnr oll contratgg somng i heard on the mystical jukebox man you gott ahear this shitt.”

Rolling Stone has called Love “the most controversial woman in the history of rock.

-Ellie