HEY! In case you are finding this through a search engine - this is the old old list, incomplete and not very accurate, still around mostly for nostalgia purposes. Try here for the latest and greatest.... Thanks.
Here it is, no style yet, in progress - women in heavy bands.... "Heavy" loosely defined as metal, grind, hardcore, crossover, etc. and more exactly defined as "I know it when I hear it," and I haven't heard all these bands yet, so some of them may not end up on the final list after all. (Who am I kidding that this list will ever be finished?) Additions, corrections, and further information much appreciated - hannah@ravenousplankton.com.
Acid (Brugge, Belgium, formerly Previous Page, 1980-???) - Kate: vocals
Acid King (San Francisco, CA) - Lori Crover (aka Lori S): guitar/vocals
Acrid - Alexandra Lamoureux
Acrostichon (Netherlands) - Corrine van de Brand: vocals, bass (1995-)
Actor (LA) - Jessie (later Fire): vocals
After Forever (Netherlands) - Floor Jansen: vocals (1997-)
Aesop's Fools (Greenville, SC) - Crystal Meth: guitar
Alas - Martina Hornbacher (ex-Dreams of Sanity): vocals
Aloha (aka Hawaii, aka Vixen) (not that Vixen) - Kimo: bass; Lisa Ruiz: vocals
Ample Cleavage (Doncaster, UK) - Liz: vocals
Anarcrust
Ancient Chinese Secret - Lydia Dodge: vocals, organ
Anghell (Detroit) - Amy: drums; Hollie: guitar; Janet: bass; Andrea: vocals
Antares (1994-1995, Estonia, formerly Cross of Heaven, later Whispering Forest) - Kai: vocals
Antiproduct - Taína: vocals
Antischism - Lyz (later Initial State, .Fuckingcom): vocals
Apathemy (Apathamy?) (Michigan) - Candace Kucsulain (later Walls of Jericho): vocals
Apostasy (Kristiansand, Norway) - Cecilie: vocals; Lisa: synth
Arm's Reach
Armistance
Artrosis
Ashes - singer
Asmodina (???-1998) - Angela (later Mistress): vocals
Aus Rotten - Adrienne (ex-Spitboy): vocals
Avalon (Germany) - Petra Hasselkuss: bass
Avrigus - Judy Chiara: vocals, piano (1995-)
Babes in Toyland (Minneapolis, MN 1987-1997) - Lori Barbero: drums, vocals; Kat Bjelland: guitar, vocals; Michelle Leon: bass (1989-1991); Maureen Herman: bass (1992-1997)
Backslash - Heike Grebita: vocals
Banner of Hope
Bardo Pond (Philadelphia) - Isobel Sollenberger: vocals, flute
Betsy (1988-1990, formerly Bitch) - Betsy Weiss: vocals
Biovore - Mary: guitar
Bitch (1981-1988, later Betsy) - Betsy Weiss: vocals
Black Virgin - Cathy Burke: drums
Blood Brain Volume (San Francisco) - Jennifer (ex-Renja Aveda): vocals; Becky (ex-Renja Aveda): drums
Bolt Thrower - Jo Bench: bass
Boredoms (Japan) - Yoshimi: drums/vox/trumpet
Born Against
Bottom (NYC) - Sina: guitar/vocals; Nila: bass; Clementine: drums
the Breath of Life (Belgium) - Isabelle Dekeyser: vocals
Broadzilla (Detroit) - Rachel May: vocals/guitar; Kim Essiambre: bass/backing vocals; Angie Manley: drums/backing vocals
Buccinator - Carolynn Rue: drums
Buriel (Birmingham, AL) - Dahlia Black: bass
Butchery (later Exuviate) - April
Calloused
Carnal Tomb (later called Dismal Euphony) - Elin Overskott: keyboards, piano; Linn Achre (Keltziva) Tveit: vocals
Casket - Karin Trapp
Cassiopeia (Goes, Netherlands, formerly called Tremor) - Maaike Rijk: vocals; Marloes Matthijssen: vocals, keyboards, piano (1999-)
Cathy Ames (San Jose, CA, 1996-1998) - Fenny Perez: vocals
Celestial Season (Netherlands) - Maaike Aarts: violin, piano, synths; Jiska ter Bals: violin
Cepheus (Netherlands) - Miranda: vocals
Chaos and Technocracy (Italy, later Even Vast) - Antonietta Scilipoti: vocals, synth
Chaos UK - Becki: bass (for awhile)
Chastain - Kate French: vocals; Leather Leone: vocals (1985-1990)
Chet Arthur (Dallas) - Tuzy: vocals
Circus Lupus (Washington, DC, 1991-1993?) - Arika Casebolt: drums
Cirrha Niva
- Liselotte Hegt: bass/vocals (1995-); Simone: keyboards (1994-1995)
Civilized Society
Clone (Seattle, WA) - Elizabeth Davis (ex-7 Year Bitch): bass; Xtra Schneider: guitar/vox; Kell Fiyah: synth and samples
Coercion - singer
the Comes
Con Anima (Norway) - vocalist
Cradle of Filth - Sarah Jezibel Diva (also Therion, Mortiis, Covenant): occasional vocals
Cradle of Thorns - Tamera Slayton: vocals
the Crest
Crisis - Karyn Crisis: vocals
Cybele (Oslo, Norway, 1997-) - Monica Ruud: drums; Rachel Funderud: guitar; Elisbeth Østeby: guitar; Marthe Berger Walthinsen: bass; Hilde Wahl: vocals
Dakrua
Damad - Victoria: vocals
Darling Demoniac (New York, formerly FDS) - Jessica: vocals; Meghan: bass/backup vocals; Michelle: drums
Davaneios (Brazil, mid-'80's) - Lullaby (later Luxferre, solo): vocals
Dea Tacita (SF bay area)
Death Slayer (Illinois) - Suzanne Hearts: vocals
Demonomacy (Miami, 1991-???) - Dana Cosley: rhythm guitar/vocals; Jamie Avery: lead guitar; Lisa Antoniotti: drums; Robin Mazen (later Impure): bass/vocals
Despise You (Inglewood, CA) - Leticia Perez: bass/vocals/guitar
Destroy - vocalist (for awhile)
Détente (London/US 1984-1989) - Dawn Crosby (ex-First Attack, Allies, later Fear of God): vocals
Detestation (Portland, OR) - Kelly: bass (later Severed Head of State); Saira: vocals
Detestor (Italy, 1986-) - Paola: guitar
Dickless (Seattle, 1989-1991) - Kelly Canary: vocals; Kerry Green: guitar; Jana McCall: bass; Lisa Smith: drums
Dirt (London) - Cecile: bass
Disembodied - Tara: bass
Dismal Euphony (formerly called Carnal Tomb) - Elin Overskott: keyboards, piano; Linn Achre (Keltziva) Tveit: vocals
Disrupt - Alyssa Murray: additional vocals
Distjej (Sweden)
Divisia - Alisha: vocals
Dominion - Michelle Richfield: vocals
Doughnuts (Sweden) - Helena: bass; Linda: drums; Åsa: vocals; Sara: guitar; Sara: guitar
Drain STH (Stockholm, Sweden) - Flavia Canel: guitar; Martina Axen: drums; Anna K: bass; Maria Sjöholm: vocals
Dreams of Sanity - Martina Hornbacher (later Alas): vocals (till 1997); Sandra Schleret: vocals
Dunwich (St. Louis, Missouri) - Dee Voyles: guitar/lead vocals; Kim Fahning: lead guitar; Heather Koven: bass/backing vocals
Dying Tears (France) - Rose: vocals; Claire: cello
Edge of Sanity - Ami Nerberg: guitar
Ebola
Ebonsight (Turkey, 1991-???) - Lady-Tronos Dilek: bass; Countess Ominous Demoness: guitar; Lilith's Spell: drums
Ebony Lake (Dewsbury, England) - 2 vocalists
Elbereth
Elend (France/Austria, 1995-) - Eve Gabrielle Siskind: vocals; Nathalie Barbary: vocals
Em Sinfonia - April Domet: vocals; Mary Bielich: bass
Empire Eden (New Mexico) - bassist
En-Garde
Ereshkigal
Ethereal (Italy, formerly Sleep of Right, later Lacuna Coil) - Cristina Scabbia: vocals
Even Vast (Italy, formerly called Chaos and Technocracy) - Antonietta Scilipoti: vocals, synth
Exuviate (formerly Butchery) - April
FDS (later Darling Demoniac, New York) - Meghan: bass; Michelle: drums
Famous Monsters - Sean Yseult (ex-White Zombie): bass
Fear of God - Dawn Crosby (ex-Allies, First Attack, Détente): vocals
Femme Fatale - Lorraine Lewis: vocals
Fire - Jessie (ex-Actor): vocals
Fireparty (Washington, DC) - Nicky Thomas: drums; Amy Pickering: vocals; Natalie Avery: guitar/vocals; Kate Samworth: bass/vocals
First Attack (London 1983) - Dawn Crosby (later Allies, Détente, Fear of God): vocals
Fistfull - Brita Amundsen: vocals; Carol Dalrymple: bass, vocals
Fisticuffs Bluff - Summer Mastous: vocals
Lita Ford
Former Members of Alfonsin (SF bay area) - (ex-Q Factor)
Freshfish (NYC) - Miss Kelly Webb (ex-Thrust)
.Fuckingcom - Lyz (ex-Initial State/Antischism): vocals?
Gaia (Tokyo, Japan) - Gana: voice; Yumirrin: guitar; Jhappy: bass; Luzy "Tattoo Baby": drums
Gaia (Europe) - Sharon Den Adel (also Within Temptation): vocals
the Gallery
Garden of Shadows (Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1995-) - Mary: guitar/vocals
Garmarna (Sundsvall, Sweden) - Emma Härdelin: vocals
GASH (Australia)
Gasp (La Crescenta, CA) - Cynthia: bass
the Gathering (Netherlands) - Anneke van Giersbergen: vocals, guitar; Martine van Loon (ex-Orphanage, later Lords of the Stone): vocals
Genitorturers - Gen: vocals
Girlschool (UK) - Kim MacAuliffe: guitar/vocals; Enid (Di) Williams: bass/vocals; Kelly Johnson: guitar/vocals; Denise Dufort: drums
the Gits (Ohio/Seattle) - Mia Zapata: vocals
Godless
Grave (Sweden) - Ola: lead guitar
the Great Kat - the Great Kat (aka Katherine Thomas): guitar, vocals
Gush (Japan) - Tarow: vocals; Satchan: guitar; Sasuke: drums; Fumio: bass
Hagar the Womb
the Haggard (Portland, OR) - Emily: guitar, vocals; sts: drums, vocals
Harum Scarum (Portland?)
Headline
Heart - Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson
Hellion - Ann Boleyn: vocals?
Hemorrhage - Ana
Hers Never Existed - all
Hole
Holy Moses - Sabina Classen: bass
Human Waste Project - Aimee Echo: vocals
Hypnosis (France) - vocalist
Ice - Sherry Salazar (later Killer Instinct): guitar
Ice Age (UK, Sweden, 1988-???) - Vicky Larson: bass; Sabrina Kihlstrand: guitar/vocals (1988-1989); Pia Nystrom: lead guitar; Tina Stromberg: drums; Debbie Gunn (ex-Sentinel Beast, Znowhite): vocals (1989-???); Isabella Fronzoni: guitar (1989-???)
Idle Hands - Meaghan: vocals
Impure - Robin Mazen (ex-Demonomacy): bass, Audra: vocals
Indecision - Rachel Susannah Rosen (also Milhouse, Most Precious Blood): guitar
Initial State - Lyz (ex-Antischism, later .Fuckingcom): vocals
Instant Girl - Karin, Dominique, Todd
Insurgence
Internal Autonomy
Ipsum (Switzerland, formerly Black Magic) - Sarah: guitar, bass; Sandra: synth
Jaded Lady (LA, 1984-???, formerly Obsession, Leather Angel) - Danelle Kern: guitar (1984-1986); Cathy Amanti: bass; Terry O'Leary: vocals; Kerri James (ex-Tantrum): drums (1984-1986); Mary Jo La Roche: drums (1986-???); Silvia Cei: guitar (1986-???)
Janitor Joe (Minneapolis) - Kristen Pfaff (later Hole): bass, vocals
Junction - singer
Kalashnikov
Kali (Kassel, Germany)
Killer Instinct (Hollywood, CA) - Jenny Danger: voice, guitar?; Sherry Salazar (ex-Ice): guitar, vocals
Kittie (Canada) - Mercedes Lander: drums; Talena: bass; Fallon Bowman: guitars/vocals; Morgan Lander: vocals/guitars
L7 (Los Angeles) - Suzi Gardner; Donita Sparks; Jennifer Finch: bass; Donita (Dee) Plakas: drums; Gail Greenwood (ex-Belly): bass; Janice Tanaka (Stone Fox): bass
Lacrimosa (Germany) - vocalist
Lacuna Coil (Italy, formerly Sleep of Right, Ethereal) - Cristina Scabbia: vocals
Lake of Dracula - Heather M: drums; Jessica Ruffins: bass
Leather Angel (LA, 1981-1983, later Jaded Lady) - Cathy Amanti: bass; Terry O'Leary: vocals; Krissie North: drums; Debbie Wolf: guitar
the Lee Aaron Project (later just Lee Aaron, 1980?-1994) - Lee Aaron: vocals
Left Hand Solution (Sweden) - Kicki Höijertz (later Siebenbürgen): vocals (1992-1994); Mariana Holmberg: vocals (1995-)
Life, But How To Live It? (Belgium)
Lincoln - bassist
Lords of the Stone (Netherlands) - Martine van Loon (ex-Orphanage, the Gathering): vocals
Lost Goat (San Francisco) - Tina, Erica
Lullaby (Brazil) - Lullaby (ex-Davaneios, Luxferre): vocals
Lunachicks - Theo: vocals; Gina: lead guitar; Sindi: rhythm guitar; Squid Sid: bass; Becky: drums
Luxferre (Brazil, 1987-1990) - Lullaby (ex-Davaneios, later solo): vocals
MacBeth
Madame X - Roxy Petrucci (later Vixen): drums
Madder Mortem (Norway) - Agnete Kirkevaag
Madhouse
Mahavatar - Lizza Hayson: vocals; Karla Williams: guitar
Makara - singer
Malcriada (singer and bassist)
Man is the Bastard (Claremont, CA) - Bettie: vocals
Mankind? (Waterbury, CT) - Stacey: vocals
Manumission - Ani: vocals
Mask - Suzanne: vocals
Masque (Leicester, UK) - vocalist
Maudlin of the Well - Maria Stella-Fontonlakis: vocals
Meanstreak (New York) - Bettina France: vocals; Marlene Apuzzo: guitar; Diane Keyser: drums (???-1988); Yael Devan: drums (1988-); Lisa Pace: bass
Medicine
Meldrum - Moa Holmsten: vocals; Frida Ståhl: bass; Michelle Meldrum Norum (ex-Phantom Blue): guitar
Melt-Banana (Japan) - Yasuko M.: vocals
Melvins (Seattle/San Francisco, NYC, Hollywood) - Lori (Lorax) Black: bass
Milhouse - Rachel Susannah Rosen (also Indecision, Most Precious Blood): bass
Misdemeanor (Sweden) - Jenny Möllberg- guitar; Jenny Lindahl: bass; Mia Möllberg: drums; Sara Fredriksson: guitar; Vera Olofsson: vocals
the Missing: (NYC) - DM: vocals
Mistress (1998-) - Angela (ex-Asmodina): vocals
Morwen (Germany) - Nicole Kreuser: vocals
Most Precious Blood - Rachel Susannah Rosen (also Indecision, Milhouse): guitar
Mourn and Witches
Mudwimmin
Mukilteo Fairies (Olympia, WA) - Rebecca: guitar
Multi Facet (Oakland, CA) - Jenean: vocals
Naked Aggression - Kirsten Patches: vocals; Kamala: drums
Nasty Habits - Emmi Canyun (later She-Rok): vocals
Nausea - Amy: vocals
Necronomicon
Nightwish (Kuopio, Finland) - Tarja Turunen: vocals
Noothgrush (New Granada, CA) - Chiyo Nagawa: drums
Not for the Lack of Trying
November Grief (Canada) - Stephanie: vocals; Vero: guitar; Annie: drums
Nuclear Death (Phoenix, Arizona) - Lori Bravo: vocals, guitar, bass
On Thorns I Lay - Ionna Doroftei, Elena Doroftei
108 - Kate-Oh-Eight: bass/vocals
Opera IX (Italy, 1988-) - Cadaveria: vocals
Ordination of Aaron - singer
Orphanage (Netherlands) - Martine van Loon (later the Gathering, Lords of the Stone): vocals
Otyg (Sweden) - Cia Hedmark: vocals, violin
Oxiplegatz (Sweden) - Sara Svensson: vocals
Pain Teens (Houston, TX) - Bliss Blood: vocals/percussion
Painted Lady (UK) - Kim MacAuliffe (later Girlschool): guitar/vocals; Enid (Di) Williams (later Girlschool): bass/vocals
Doro Pesch
Phantom Blue (1988-) - Dyna Shirasaki; Tina Wood: guitar; Josephine: guitar; Nicole Couch; Michelle Meldrum (Norum) (later Meldrum): guitar; Lucienne Thomas: vocals; Linda McDonald: drums; Mary Jo Godges: bass
Picasso Trigger - Lisa M. "Darlene Connor" Cooper: guitar, vocals; Kathy "Krappy Oi'dexter" Poindexter: vocals, trumpet
Piss (Japan) - Miyuki: vocals; Takako: bass; Tomoko: drums; Noriko: guitar
Plasmatics - Wendy O. Williams: vocals
Poison Dollys (Glendale, CA) - Roulette: vocals; Mef Manning: bass; Laura Left: guitar; Danielle Kern: guitar; Alice Uiguhart: drums
Population 361 - Jan Kuehnemund (ex-Vixen): guitar
Portrait Susan ???: viola
Potential Threat
Power Symphony (Italy) - Michela D'Orlando: vocals
Powers Court - Danie Powers: vocals/guitar
Precious Metal - Susette Andres (later Wyld Heart): drums; Mara Fox: guitar; Leslie Knauer: vocals; Alex Rylance: bass
Previous Page (Brugge, Belgium, later Acid, ???-1980) - Kate: vocals
Project Hate (SF CA bay area, 2/97-5/97) - Alexia, Carrie, Dominique (also Spitboy)
Purusam (Sweden) - Anna-Lena: vocals
Q Factor (SF bay area) - (later Former Members of Alfonsin)
Quintessence (Brazil) - Cristina Müller: vocals, keyboards, piano, bass
Redscare - Elizabeth: vocals, guitar
Rock Goddess (England, 1980's)
Rockbitch
Rodan (Louisville, KY?) - Tara Jane O'Neill: bass/vocals
Romantic Gorilla (Kanagawa, Japan) - Akiko: guitar; Gori: vocals
Sacrilege - Tam: vocals
Sangre Amado
Sanguis et Cinis
Saraya - Sandy Saraya: vocals
Satarial (Russia) - Morana: vocals
Scorned
Season of Mourning - Erica: violin, vocals
Sentinel Beast (Sacramento, CA, 1985-1988) - Debbie Gunn (later Znowhite, Ice Age): vocals
Septic Flesh (Greece) - Natalie Rassoulis: vocals
Septimus (Calgary, Canada) - Pamela Bryan: vocals/guitar
Seven Year Bitch (Seattle, WA) - Elizabeth Davis (later Clone): bass; Val Agnew: drums; Selene Vigil: vocals; Stefanie Sargent: guitar (1990-1992); Roisin Dunne: guitar (1992-1996); Lisa Faye Beatty: guitar
Severed Head of State - Kelly: bass (ex-Detestation)
Sexpod - Karyn: guitar, vocals; Alice: bass; Wylie: drums
She-Rok (Northridge, CA) - Emmi Canyun (ex-Nasty Habits): vocals (???-1990); Pam Rydling: vocals (1990-); Lisa Lichtenstein: drums; Mary Kay: bass; Gerre Eddinger (ex-Tough Love): guitar
Shiva (Germany, late '70s/early '80s) - vocalist
Siebenbübergen (Sweden) - Kicki Höijertz (ex-Left Hand Solution): vocals (1999-)
Silent Stream of Goddess Elegy (Czechoslovakia) - Zuzana Zamazalova: violin, vocals
Silverfish (UK) - Leslie Rankine: vocals
Sin 34
Sinergy - Kimberly Goss: vocals
the Sins of Thy Beloved - Anita Auglend: vocals; Ingfrid Stensland: keyboards
Sink (Japan) - Yuki: drums; Fumio: bass; O-Shima: vocals; NoGAN: guitar
Sisters Grimm (NYC, 1988-) - Victoria Violet: guitar; Marissa Magneta: vocals; Lisa Kaos: drums; Dawn McGrath: drums
Skyclad - Georgina (George) Biddle: fiddle, viola, keyboards, piano, Hammond organ, backing vocals (1995-); Cath Howell: violin, keyboards (1994); Fritha Jenkins: violin, mandolin, keyboards, backing vocals (1992-1993)
Slang Girl (New Jersey, later Superthrive) - Sue Karlik
Sleep of Right (Italy, later Ethereal, Lacuna Coil) - Cristina Scabbia: vocals
Smashed Gladys - Sally Cato: vocals
Smut - Estelle Thielen: drums; Dawn Miller: guitar; Germain Walseth: bass; Germaine Gemberling: vocals
Society Gang Rape (Avesta, Sweden) - Marie-Louise (Mackan) Gunnarson: guitar/vocals; Katarina (Kattis) Lamml: guitar; Susanne (Sussie) Berger: bass/vocals
Sofa Head - Claire: vocals
Spitboy (Berkeley, CA) - Paula: bass/vocals; Adrienne: vocals; Karin: guitar/vocals; Dominique: drums (sometimes)
Spite - Becki: bass
STP (New York City, 1989-1990)
Starkweather - bassist
Storm (Norway) - Kari Rueslåtten (ex-Unchain): vocals
Submission Hold - Jen Throw Up: vocals, piano
the Submissives - vocalist
Subvert - vocalist
Synoptia (France) - Ambre: vocals (1999-)
Taiho (Japan) - Oyumi-San: drums
Take it for Granted - Netty Driessen: bass/vocals
Tantrum - Kerri James (later Jaded Lady): drums
Theatre of Tragedy (Norway) - Liv Kristine Espenæs (ex-Atrocity, also The 3rd and the Mortal): vocals
the 3rd and the Mortal - Kari Rueslåtten (ex-Unchain, later Storm): vocals (???-1995); Ann-Mari Edvardsen: vocals, keyboards (1995-); Liv Kristine Espenæs: vocals
13 (NYC, 1992-???, formerly Thunderpussy 13) - Alicia Non Grata: vocals; Liz: guitar; Ellen: drums
Thorr's Hammer (Seattle, later Burning Witch) - Runehild Gåmmelslatter: vocals
Thrust (NYC) - Black-E, Viva Knievel, Ilona Molten Maiden of Metal, Gash, Tara Ball, Miss Kelly Webb (later Freshfish)
Thunderpussy 13 (NYC, 1990-1992, later 13) - Liz: guitar; Ellen: drums
Tough Love - Gerre Eddinger (later She-Rok): guitar
Tourettes (Berkeley, CA) - Janelle: vocals; Phyllis: drums; Molly: bass; Hollie: guitar
Tozibabe
Trail of Tears - Helena Iren Michaelson: vocals
Transcendence
Tremor (Goes, Netherlands, later called Cassiopeia) - Maaike Rijk: vocals
Tribe 8 (San Francisco) - Lynn Breedlove: vocals; Leslie Mah: guitar; Lynn Flipper: guitar; Lynn Payne: bass; Slade Bellum: drums
Tristania (Sokndal, Norway) - Vibeke Stene: vocals
Tura Satana - Tairrie: vocals
Ulver (Oslo, Norway) - Stine Grytøyr: vocals
Unchain (Norway) - Kari Rueslåtten (later Storm, the 3rd and the Mortal): vocals
Unexpect
Vandemonium (Seattle) - all
Ved Buens Ende (Bergen, Norway) - Katrine S.: vocals (1995)
Vixen - Janet Gardner: vocals/guitar; Jan Kuehnemund: guitar; Roxy Petrucci (ex-Madame X): drums; Share Pedersen: bass
Walls of Jericho - Candace Kucsulain (ex-Apathemy): vocals
Warlock - Doro Pesch (later solo): vocals
Wench (Queens, NY, 1988-1993) - Yana Chupenko: vocals; Liz Brockland: guitar; Meryl Hurwich: guitar; Ally Gamble: bass; Laura Marando: drums
Whispering Forest (Estonia, 1995-) - Katrin: keyboards, vocals
White Skull (Italy) - Frederica de Boni: vocals
White Zombie - Sean Yseult (later Famous Monsters): bass
Witches (France, 1986-) - Sybille Colin-Tocquaine: guitar/vocals
Within Temptation - Sharon Den Adel (also Gaia (Europe)): vocals
Witness - Debbie Davis: vocals
Wormcast (Japan) - Barbie: vocals; Pel: guitar; Ayako Chan: bass; Hiko: drums
Wormhole (Pittsburgh, PA) - Deb: vocals; Mary: bass
Wykked Wytch (1992?-) - Demoness Ipek: vocals
Wyld Heart - Lisa Renfree: vocals; Susette Andres (ex-Precious Metal): drums
Yeah Right - Rinat: bass/vocals
Yellow Machinegun (Japan) - Kyoko Moriya: guitar; Kaori Okumura: bass/vocals; Tamami Ookado: drums
Zed (Philadelphia, PA) - bassist
Zed Yago
Zelpha Trippe (Minneapolis, MN) - Shelly, Wendy, Teresa
Znowhite (Chicago 1983-1988, later Cyclone Temple) - Nicole Lee: vocals (1983-1988); Debbie Gunn (ex-Sentinel Beast, later Ice Age): vocals
Honorable mention (women involved w/heavy music but not in bands):
Katherine Ludwig - editor of Metal Maniacs magazine. Elliott: "Katherine definitely had a vision, and was very keen on the really underground grind scenes- during her reign, the magazine provided me with my first exposure to such (then) way-underground and relatively unknown acts as Spazz, Eyehategod, Dystopia, Neurosis, Candiria, Human Remains, which was a big deal for a high school dork such as myself, around the years 92 to 95. I'd go so far as to say that it was the coverage of bands at this time that had the single greatest influence on the bands I now know about and like, even more so than KZSU! Katherine also caught a lot of flack (and a lot of praise) for infusing her commentary and coverage with her own political agenda, that being the promotion of veganism, anti-homophobia, women's issues, and other otherwise leftist-leaning politics, which was quite the nusiance to the typically moronic Pantera and Slayer fans who unfortunately are the predominant readership of the mag."
THANKS: Andy Radin, Mike Howes, Elliott Lange, Dave Farrell, Justin Davisson, Madamadam, Josh Queenie Hidalgo, Endemoniada, Keir, Metal Maidens, Rai Sue, Jessica B-Wax, Billy Dead, Kathy Ushiba, Gabe Bereny, Jai Young Kim, the Iron Chef, Lindsay Keach, Chanel Wheeler, E Rex, Jane Oglesby, Jessy Wills, Ricky, Erin, and the incomparable KZSU music library