9 FORGOTTEN CLASSICS BY WOMEN-LED BANDS

Listen to these obscure singles, deep cuts and near misses

Punk began as a reaction to both the blandness and bombast of rock’s ruling class. For a generation of women whose voices had gone largely unheard, punk’s anyone-can-doit ethos became the ultimate encouragement. The result: funky, pre-riot grrrl post punks, thrillingly artsy UK-based eccentrics and lace-gloved hit makers commingled in a sonic landscape that thrived on audaciousness. The songs below reveal a hidden history of distaff pop.