The Bangles were arguably the most commercially successful female rock band of the 1980s, with three multi-platinum albums released in the decade. Formed in 1980, the original lineup consisted of Susanna Hoffs (vocals/guitars), Vicki Peterson (guitars/vocals), Debbi Peterson (vocals/drums) and Annette Zilinskas (vocals/bass). By the time they recorded their debut album in 1984, they added Michael Steele, a former member of The Runaways, to the mix. Their top-selling singles released over the next few years include "Manic Monday," "Walk Like An Egyptian," "Hazy Shade of Winter" and "Eternal Flame." The Bangles split up briefly in the 1990s and reformed in 2000.
Formed in London as a cover band called Painted Lady, Girlschool evolved into one of the first female heavy metal acts in the 1980s. The original lineup consisted of bassist Enid Williams, vocalist/guitarist Kim McAuliffe, Kelly Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Denise Dufort (drums). The group was discovered by Lemmy Kilmeister of the band Motorhead and released several albums before disbanding in 1988. As of February 2011, the band has reformed, minus Kelly Johnson, who died in 2007. Although they achieved modest commercial success in the United Kingdom, they never achieved more than a cult following in the United States. Some of their best-known songs include "Please Don't Touch," "Race with the Devil" and "Emergency."
The Go-Gos formed in 1978 and consisted of Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, vocals), Margot Olaverra (bass) and Elissa Bello (drums). By the time their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat," was released in 1981, Olaverra and Bello had left the band and were replaced by Charlotte Coffey and Gina Schock. The band had also abandoned its punk rock roots in favor of a power-pop sound. Their biggest hits during the 1980s were "We've Got the Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "Vacation." The group disbanded after its third album, "Talk Show," and the members went on to pursue solo projects until reforming in 1999 to tour and record their fourth studio album, "God Bless the Go-Gos," in 2001.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Paula Pierce, this all-female rock group is considered by many aficionados to be the quintessential underground garage punk band of the time. The original lineup consisted of Pierce (guitar, vocals), Gwynne Kahn (keyboards, vocals), Bambi Lee Conway (bass) and Casey Gomez (drums).The Pandoras released their first album, a self-titled EP, in 1984. Some of their better known songs include "Hot Generation," "It's About Time," "That's Your Way Out" and "Haunted Beach Party." The band went through many lineup changes in its eight-year history before splitting up in 1991.
This all-female heavy metal band emerged from the British heavy metal scene of the 1980s. The original lineup consisted of sisters Jody Turner (vocals, guitar) and Julie Turner (drums), Tracey Lamb (bass) and Donnica Colman (keyboard). Although the group never achieved widespread success in the United States, it had a loyal following in the United Kingdom. The band recorded three albums before disbanding in the late 1980s. Notable songs released by the band include "Love Lingers Still" and "My Angel."
Vixen was a hard rock band founded in 1980 by Jan Kuehnemund. The classic lineup consisted of Kuehnemund (guitar), Janet Gardner (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Share Pedersen (bass) and Roxy Petrucci (drums). The band stumbled around the Los Angeles club scene for several years before finding success with its self-titled debut album in 1988, which spawned the hit "Edge of a Broken Heart." The group disbanded in 1991 while on tour supporting its second album, "Rev It Up."