Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant – all synonymous with rock n roll ‘cool’, and feature in the top ten ‘Greatest Artists of all time’ polled in Rolling Stone magazine. The characteristics of the genre - the fuzzy, over amplified guitars, and lyrics celebrating women and cars lend themselves to an inherent masculinity. Notably, the only female representative in the top ten was Aretha Franklin. Bayton stresses that females are more prominent in pop music, where they take the lead of the vocalist. Are women simply less talented, or under represented due to the male dominance in the rock industry? Certainly music journalism influences our understanding of the rock genre. The discrimination of female rock artists is prevalent, focussing largely on discrediting them for their private lives as opposed to their musical success; Courtney Love has been continually slandered by the press for her drug addiction and child welfare dispute. Conversely, when the private lives of male rock artists such as Ronnie Wood and the Gallagher brothers are displayed in the media, it’s often dismissed as simply ‘the sex, drugs & rock n roll’ lifestyle.
There are some interesting points made here. The issue of double standards in the way male and female artists are reported on is particularly interesting.
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