Rock bands with female members....who was the first?

[Ray Dee Oh King]

Goldie & The Gingerbreads

 

[squidart]

Sister Rosetta didn't need no stinkin' band. The godmother of rock n roll.

 

[drumaniac]

And she was not a "band".

Ike & Tina Turner Revue was a band

 

[wolfereeno]

Check out Birtha doing this amazing cover of Dirty Work. They're amazing.

 

[drumaniac]

Shocking Blue

 

[wolfereeno]

I used to see a band in NYC all the time called the Prissteens. Great punk/pop band of tough girls.

 

[Mcjnic]

It wasn't Grace Slick. It was Signe Toly. She was Jefferson Airplanes first female singer. She was on the first album.
She was a friend of my wife's quite a few years ago.
Lots of people forget her ... kinda sad. She's no longer with us.
She was pretty darn good.
I actually liked her better than Grace in that band ... but that's just opinion.
Anyway, she was with them from around 64 or 65 I believe. She stayed with them until late 66. Quite a wonderful performer.

 

[JDA]

Velvet Underground

 

[squidart]

Formed in 1963. This actually might belong in the "flat tire beat" thread.

 

[varatrodder]

Janis Martin. 1950's rock and roll.

Wanda Jackson. 1950's country, but also early rock and roll. The Queen of Rockabilly.

 

[varatrodder]

Sister Rosetta didn't need no stinkin' band. The godmother of rock n roll.

Yes. Yes. Yes!!!

 

[lamartee]

 

[lamartee]

Janis Martin. 1950's rock and roll.

Wanda Jackson. 1950's country, but also early rock and roll. The Queen of Rockabilly.

Janis Martin! (the FAMALE Elvis)

 

[6topher]

Sister Rosetta didn't need no stinkin' band. The godmother of rock n roll.

I wouldn't include ladies who just sang in my list, just because...singers.

An argument can be made thats sister rosetta invented the genre as both chuck and mr penniman were both heavily influenced by her.

Carol Kaye was a monster bass player w the wrecking crew. As instrumental to a million hits as Hal Blaine was.

I like Melanie, Joni Mitchell, & of course Carol King is a legend.

Later faves: Chrissie Hynde, PJ Harvey, Kim Deal

If you've never seen Cherry Wainer you should

 

[Rock Salad]

Right on, yes Sister Rosetta and Wanda- rocking and rolling before there was even rock & roll

 

[lamartee]

Not sure if the O.P. was looking for all female bands or bands with female members. Regardless, it seems to be evolving into early women Rock and Rollers so in that vein:
Julie Driscoll w/Brian Auger and Trinity.

 

[el_37]

ACE OF CUPS. 1967. All female rock band. San Francisco.

beat me to it!

 

[el_37]

Jazz also has a rarity of female performers- even today with 1000x times more people attempting to get a fraction of the gigs there were in the 50's and 60's there is still very few women.

The majority that come to mind in the heyday were either pianists or organists- Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott, Mary Lou Williams, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jutta Hipp, Alice Coltrane, Joann Brackeen and Carla Bley, Dorothy Ashby the original Jazz Harpist, Melba Liston the trombonist/arranger/conductor and barring singers- I don't think I can really name anyone else from the 1950-1970 era.

 

[Vistalite Black]

The Bible doesn’t name the wives of Cain or Seth, but surely one of them — or possibly Eve herself — was a singer or played an instrument.

Can’t think of anyone earlier!

 

[Whitten]

Rock bands have been around since Bill Haley - 1954.
I always assumed the first all female rock band was that Liverpool one, as they were contemporaries of The Beatles and played similar venues (1962/63)