REBEL CULTURE

LIGHT UP THEIR LEGACY

Women who rock! The rowdiest, most rebellious icons in music. From punk to post-punk, goth to 2 Tone, these fierce, unapologetic women shattered expectations, shaped my identity and continue to inspire generations.

Growing up, music was a constant presence in my life. My earliest album collection included Karen Carpenter, Donna Summer, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks — each talented in their own right. But something was missing. It wasn't until I discovered punk, post-punk, goth and 2 Tone that I found the women I truly identified with. These women were powerful, iconic and unapologetically themselves. They didn't just take up space — they owned it.

Debbie Harry (Blondie), Patti Smith, The Go-Gos, Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) were among the first to break through to mainstream radio in the late 70s and early 80s. But as I delved deeper into the scene, I discovered a whole new world of fierce, fearless women who didn't apologize for their opinions, their style or their music.

These musicians were powerful, iconic and unapologetically themselves. 

Influential punk icons like Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), Ari Up (The Slits), Poison Ivy (The Cramps), Alice Bag (The Bags), Wendy O. Williams (The Plasmatics) and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) challenged gender norms and stereotypes with their lyrics, their style and their presence. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees) and Patricia Morrison (The Bags, Sisters of Mercy, The Gun Club) showed me that embracing my dark side was not just okay — it was powerful.

These women paved the way for me and countless other young women to reject society's expectations and embrace our own individuality. 

More than music — a movement

Even in 2 Tone music, a genre largely dominated by men, Pauline Black (The Selecter) and Rhoda Dakar (Special AKA, The Bodysnatchers) stood out. As Black women in a predominantly white scene, they didn't just make music — they made statements. They used their platforms to fight for racial and gender equality, proving that punk and ska were more than just sounds — they were movements.

These women were more than musicians. They were role models, teaching me to be confident, stand up for what I believe in and never conform to someone else's standards. Looking back, I see how much they shaped who I am today. They gave me the confidence to be myself — and for that, I'll always be grateful.

I am grateful for their music, their fashion sense and their fearlessness in the face of the status quo.

Their influence lives on

Today, their legacies continue to inspire a new wave of badass frontwomen, like Surfbort and Amyl and the Sniffers, who push boundaries and keep the fire alive.

Even Sonicglow is an extension of the influence. These women didn’t just inspire my taste in music — they shaped my identity, my creativity, and the way I approach my brand. So in honor of International Women’s Day, I’m not gonna pause to appreciate what punk rock women have done for our world. Instead, I’ll throw on a vintage concert tee, crank up the volume and keep creating. Because the more we talk about supporting women, the less time we have to actually make it happen.

Credits — first photo: Gus Stewart / Redferns. Pictured Lora Logic and Poly Styrene. Second photo: Michael Putland. Pictured Debbie Harry, Viv Albertine, Siouxsie Sioux, Chrissie Hynde, Poly Styrene and Pauline Black