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They do not just want to have fun. Diamonds are not their best friend. The women you're about to meet have derived their everlasting power from one place over the past fifty years: the land of rock. They were born there in a time before men. They came to us with their guitars and their pianos and their voices. These forty betties, chicks, punks, chanteuses and mad women from the hills represent the purest realization of rock and roll sexuality. Every one of them may have followed The King, but he could never match their swagger. Behold: the Forty Sexiest Frontwomen in Rock History. (Frontman fans — stay tuned.) Oh, and a couple of ground rules: one, points for longevity; and two, Madonna is trying too hard. — John Constantine
40) Allison Mosshart



What is it that's so sexy about a girl who might kill you in your sleep? Mosshart rocks the alluring androgyny embraced by the worlds of high fashion and punk rock alike, with a stage presence evoking a heroin-chic model fighting off Hemingway-caliber detox shakes. — Izzy Cihak
39) Beth Ditto


Beth Ditto is the prime dark-horse candidate on lists like this, but what's perhaps most appealing about her, oddly, is the strong sense that she hates lists like this and generally could not care less about her perceived sexiness. The openly gay, proudly overweight Ditto carries herself with an intimidating clarity that goes far beyond mere confidence. How many of us, body types and sexualities notwithstanding, would have the wherewithal to pose nude on the cover of one popular magazine, let alone two? It might be belaboring the point to say that that's what sexiness is, but hell: that's what sexiness is. — Joe Bernardi
38) Suzanne Vega




Sure, she's best known for the world's catchiest song about domestic violence — not exactly sexy — but watch Suzanne Vega croon "Left of Center" and you'll be swept away by her sweet voice, come-hither glances, and Molly Ringwald pixie cut. You may also feel a smidge of nostalgia, something Vega herself has little time for; she's consistently followed her muse, not fame. Beauty, brains and a bohemian fearlessness score Vega her place on this list. — Nicole Ankowski
37/36) Kate Pierson/Cindy Wilson




The B-52s always sounded like a specific sort of good time, in their thrift-store-trashy way. (Think John Waters.) And kitschy sexiness surely came naturally to a band formed in a post-Flaming-Volcano jam session. With regard to the sex appeal of the band's feminine half, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson are hard to rank. Kate may've been the more iconic one (the red bouffant, the preference for girls, the muppet), but Cindy could pull a little-girl-lost thing that — depending on your own level of perversity — either tugged your heartstrings or your loins. Or both. — Peter Smith



                          


 

61 Comments

how are we defining front women? subquestion: how are we defining rock?

dcf commented on 03/26

It looks like you have Grace Potter's picture at the top, but you don't list her. You should--she's got the pipes, the chops, the cool, the bod, the tunes, and she's sweet as country pie. But all of that doesn't begin to convey the impact she has when she belts it out. I'd put her up against any woman on your list. She's that good--and she wields her sexual artillery with ferocious intensity. Nomad

gw commented on 03/26

This list lacks legitimacy if it leaves out Kim Deal in favor of about 10 of the people in this BS lineup.

JV commented on 03/26

I made my journey from 40 to 1 agreeing with some, violently disagreeing with others, hoping the whole time to see Ms. Susanna Hoffs. Imagine my surprise when I get to number 1 without even a mention of her. How can anyone look at her eyes on the "Walk Like An Egyptian" video and not get that certain tingly feeling? But thanks for an entertaining list, nonetheless. :)

GWG commented on 03/26

How in the world does Tina Turner beat Debbie Harry??????????????

LSD commented on 03/26

YOu guys are lame.

xx commented on 03/26

Beauty and sexiness are of course in the eye (and in this case, ear) of the beholder, but you're nuts for overlooking Shirley Mason.

DER commented on 03/26

I'll ignore the fact that the majority of your frontwomen do not 'rock,' although I understand that's a loose term these days. However, I can't ignore the fact that you had the audacity to include such non-talents as Bjork and Liz Phair and omit the great Theo from The Lunachicks, Exene from X, and Brody from The Distillers. Those are some sexy, bad-ass frontwomen. As least you got Janis, Joan, Patti, Siouxsie and Tina right.

MS commented on 03/26

P.S. Where the hell is Shirley Manson? Her sexy, seething, antagonistic sultriness is far superior to Gwen Stefani's hiccup-singing. As for looks, no contest-hot, alabaster redhead trumps pigeon-toed, bowlegged bleached blonde. Never quite got on the No Doubt/Stefani train. If I want to hear real ska or dance hall, I'll stick to Bad Manners and The Specials, not a pop-faux ska band fronted by Minnie Mouse.

MS commented on 03/26

You omitted Grace Slick. You missed Marriane Faithful. How dare you. You think Bjork is sexy? She's cutesy. You think Patti Smith is sexy? Laurie Anderson has her beat by a mile. At least you got Liz Phair and Nico right. All the singers I mention above I've seen them all perform live except Bjork - I saw her in an airport - have you? I'm afraid your development of the intersection of the higher and lower pleasures is yet undeveloped.

TFT commented on 03/26

Neither of the women from Heart were included because...

CVP commented on 03/26

eh... you bitch about Bjork's looks and presentation and yet there is no commentary on Ms.Ditto, Peaches or Janis' unconventional looks? COME ON... Peaches, Regina, and Feist aren't even frontwomen or are Tori or Fiona frontin bands?? I think not, but the list is more solid than liquid or gas. I applaud editors for getting in some talented women of color as we know how Rock n' Roll in the past has been defined by caucasian songstresses (some far less talented than others but noted)... but shame indeed on no Shirley... or Sheryl.

CT commented on 03/26

Where is Grace Slick????

GS commented on 03/26

Are you fucking kidding me leaving Ani Difranco off this list? For serious?

al commented on 03/26

lucinda williams listen to her lyrics, her song scream of lost love and hot sex

ge commented on 03/26

Rindy Ross (Quarterflash), Anne Wilson in the mid-70s, Nancy Wilson up to the mid 90s, Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons), Teri Nunn (Berlin). You missed some good ones.

SRK commented on 03/26

How the hell isn't Courtney Love on your list?!!! Frontwoman with more to front than Kurt Cobain when they met. So Kathleen Hanna's scrawlings on a wall turned into a really famous Nirvana song but we all remember what Kurt Cobain publicly said about Courtney's bedroom abilities I think! I second complaints about the Kim Deal omission & add my voice to the Shirley Manson supporters.

LHC commented on 03/26

You left out Grace Potter!

JHO commented on 03/26

and where is julie miller.. ... she rocks harder than all of these, it's true.

tc commented on 03/26

Is there anyone who doesn't hate this list? Where are the Wilson sisters? Where is Grace Slick? Where is Belinda Carlisle? Where is Ronnie Spector? What the fuck is Nico doing on this list? As far as I can tell you just made up a list of skinny white girls - with the exception of Tina Turner. It seems pretty clear that women who have bodies like normal women (Anne Wilson, Slick, Carlisle, Courtney Love) were excluded. Do you really want to perpetuate awful female body stereotypes?

commented on 03/27

grace slick? who cares? the sexiest thing she ever did was "we built this city on rock and roll." you missed tracey thorn though. not a rocker per se, but silkyyyy smooth.

GT commented on 03/27

Ah...Kim Deal? No?

mh commented on 03/27

courtney love is way too opportunistic to be sexy. but kim deal should definitely be on here.

fff commented on 03/27

Here's the third mention of Grace Potter. I mean seriously, this is a big oversight. You've got a few sexy women with no talent, a few talented women who aren't sexy and only a bare minimum of sexy+talented. If Grace ain't on that list I'm canceling my non-existent subscription.

qed commented on 03/27

I have to include Martha Davis of The Motels in this list. Although her chanteuse-y days of "Suddenly Last Summer" qualify, it's the earliest Motels of "Counting", when she slinked around the stage in a leather jacket that really should guarantee her appearance here.

ew commented on 03/27

Whither Wendy O Williams of the Plasmatics?

pxxx commented on 03/27

You missed Jennifer Arroyo formerly of Kitty... she's HOTT!!!

GSM commented on 03/27

Dale Bosio Exene from X Sushana Hoffs from the Bangels should be top freaking 5 Kelli Ali from the Sneaker Pimps sexiest lips ever Shirley Manson from Garbage Belinda from the GoGos was in Playboy for chrissakes Dale Bosio

EDK commented on 03/27

Some good selections on this list and some very appalling omissions. I join those who have cited the Wilson sisters, Rindy Ross, Grace Slick and Shirley Manson. To this I would also add Annette Strean, who can inject so much personality and effusive delight into any lyric, and Annie Haslam. For me, a great and powerful voice makes it hot. Attitude, of course, counts for even more.

dcb commented on 03/27

Shirley Manson - Suzi Quatro - Rindy Ross - Kate Bush.

gac commented on 03/27

How does Emily Haines of Metric not make this list?

mda commented on 03/28

Grace Potter has to be #1. Have you ever seen her in concert? That was a bizarre oversight, since you had her pic at the top. And I'm with all the people who also mentioned Shirley Manson.

fb commented on 03/28

You missed Jason Mraz.

FU commented on 03/28

Pretty sure that's Jenny Lewis at the top, not Grace Potter.

prn commented on 03/28

Clearly written by a 40-something Nick Hornbey wannabe, or a committee of people who felt the need to pay homage to certain icons who are great singers but the opposit of sexy (Janis Joplin - sweet jesus; and how is janis there and not Rickie Lee Jones??), this list falls tragically short. This is not an undertaking to be trifled with or riffed like an editorial. Fiona Apple at 29? Chan Marshall at 31? No Shirley Manson, Beth Gibbons, Tanya Donnely, Amanda Palmer, Aimee Mann, Hope Sandoval, Jennifer Charles...I'm debating canceling my Hooksexup membership. Total disaster.

AM commented on 03/29

You've never heard of Ronnie Spector or Mary Weis from the Shangri-La's? Or Lorrie Collins of the Collins Kids?

BL commented on 03/29

Certainly another example why the Indie bias of music writing is terribly lame. You can't get past the lap fondue critics get over anything Lou Reed touched or women who can hold a tune yet raided Beacon's Closet.

GTO commented on 03/29

How anyone could compile this list and not put Grace Slick on is mind boggling.

mo commented on 03/29

Not bad, but you utterly missed Shirley Manson from Garbage and Christina Amphlett from the Divinyls.

SB commented on 03/30

Thank you for ommitting Madonna. She's about as arousing as dipping your genitals into a glass of cold listerine.

jj commented on 03/31

Melissa Etheridge? C'mon....

stfu commented on 04/02

I could bitch about the content of this list, but instead I will only point out one factual error that I spotted. Nico died in a CYCLING accident. As in pushbike. She fell off her bike while riding and and struck her head, which caused a brain hemmorrhage. Mototcycle crash sounds sexier, but the real details are just sad.

DM commented on 04/03

No Grace Slick? You lost me there...

JH commented on 04/04

Or what of Wendy James of Transvision Vamp? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ygvg3E54mg&feature=related Her nice-but-slutty bottle-blonde in a short skirt look was the very epitome of Rock-chick sexy. She was the stuff of many wicked teenage fantasies in the late 80's.

AJ commented on 04/05

hanna should have been no. 1. As soon as she started screeching that lovely sound it was 1994, i heard bikini kill for the first time and I was in love w/ a girl who would want me for about 7 seconds and then want me no more. Goddam.

sj commented on 04/05

This is an exceptionally amazing list....with one HUGE, glaring ommission. Where is Pat Benatar??? Also, Dusty Springfield? Pat Benatar should be in the top 5 (as should Annie Lennox) and she kicks Chrissie Hynde's bony ass in jeans, sorry. Great choice for number one, Tina Turner is immortal!!!

MRG commented on 04/07

WOW. Beth Fucking Ditto. No Shirley Manson? No Emily Haines? Hooksexup has been irrelevant for a while now, but this really, REALLY seals the deal. I hope this shit collapses. And to think I once fucked in that office. And only now do I feel dirty having done it.

TM commented on 04/08

Where are the rest of the black and woman of color frontwomen (Diana, Aretha, Donna, Betty Davis, Vanity, MeShell, Sheila E., etc.)? This list is so not sexy.

jc commented on 04/09

No Christina Martinez from boss hog? .. your logic is flawed

Sw commented on 04/11

All so true but I can't believe the Indigo Girls aren't on this list!!!

les commented on 04/15

This is the most retarded list I've ever seen. Liz Phair is a hack and not sexy AT ALL (not to mention can't write a song to save her own life) and somehow she's above Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks and into the TOP FIVE? Puhlease. The people at Hooksexup need to learn about the history of Rock n' Roll, not kowtow to their lame instincts to enshrine trendy hipsters as rock legends. The vast majority of the women in the list all gained prominence in the last few years and a number of them are completely insignificant. What about Tracey Thorn? What about Sarah McLachlan? Ronnie Spector? Dianna Ross? Grace Slick? FAIL.

MF commented on 04/17

Every Aussie male who read this list is crying. You missed THE greatest - Christina Amphlett of the Divinyls. Not only did the Divinyls pioneer the Australian rock scene Chrissie was the epitomy of SEX.

AAA commented on 04/22

Where is Brandi Carlile?!

EFHW commented on 04/24

where the fuck is natalie merchant !!!!!!!!??????????

mmb1 commented on 05/01

What about the Wilson sisters..... They where hot

IN commented on 08/30

Where is ALANIS MORISSETTE??????????????????????????????? SHAKIRA - LATINA ROCK GODDESS???????????????????????????????? STRANGE, VERY STRANGE LIST....

234 commented on 09/21

DOLORES O'RIORDAN OF THE CRANBERRIES?????????????????

SFUH commented on 09/21

Kate Bush??????!!!!!??????? WTF

SLU commented on 12/10

no Brody Dalle????? and Alison Mosshart deserves to be MUCH higher in the list. most of these aren't even rock n' roll

jno commented on 12/13

No Brody Dalle? Seriously? You people suck. D:

Ray commented on 01/21

KATE BUSH

KATE commented on 03/06
 

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