Punk rock has mostly been a man’s game since it was coughed out of the lungs of New York’s Bowery in 1970s at about the same time it was piercing the face of the London underground. Punk’s original leading ladies were Siouxsie Sioux and Poly Styrene, who later made room for Exene Cervenka, Alice Bag and Kira Roessler. These days, however, there are plenty of ladies in punk rock, though perhaps their (in most cases) softer personalities lend themselves to the softer sounds of pop-punk as opposed to the grinding intensity of old-school hardcore. Admittedly, we’re using the pop-punk label liberally here, but who cares. After all, someone had to teach Mike Ness how to put on eyeliner.

PUNK CHICK: Liza Graves
BAND:
BIO: Though she’d probably bristle at her band being called pop-punk, the singer of Hellcat’s Civet fills a void that heretofore never existed: tough punk rock made by pretty women. Bonus points: Was recently featured on an episode of “L.A. Ink” getting a Medusa tattoo.

PUNK CHICK: Emily Whitehurst (aka Agent M)
BANDS: , The Action Design
BIO: Putting the bomb in Tsunami Bomb and the action in The Action Design, Emily Whitehurst combines girl-next-door looks with a strong voice and has fronted two critically-acclaimed underground punkish pop bands.

PUNK CHICK: Allison Robertson
BAND: The Donnas
BIO: Dad penned a song on the “Karate Kid” soundtrack and mom worked at A&M records, but the gorgeous guitarist of the Donnas managed to join the family business and surpass the success of both parents.

PUNK CHICK: Hayley Williams
BAND: Paramore
BIO: With influences ranging from Etta James to Jimmy Eat World, Hayley’s energetic stage presence and catchy pop melodies propelled the band’s sophomore LP to go platinum, scoring a top 40 hit with “Misery Business.”

PUNK CHICK: Yula Beeri
BAND:
BIO: The Israeli babe sang and played bass in NaNuchKa before joining SFH, a band where she’s joined by fellow female punk Nico De Gaillo.

PUNK CHICK: Brody Dalle
BANDS: The Distillers, Spinnerette
BIO: Going from one punk husband (Tim Armstrong) to another (Josh Homme) has helped boost the profile of this Aussie export who has the face of an angel and the voice of the devil. Bonus punk points: Her daughter’s middle name is Harley.

PUNK CHICK: Monique Powell
BAND: Save Ferris
BIO: If Joan Holloway from “Mad Men” sang for a mid-90s ska punk she’d be Monique Powell, curvy singer for the now defunct band named after the 1986 Matthew Broderick flick “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Though rumors have circulated about Monique’s solo career, nothing official has surfaced.

PUNK CHICK: Cherie Curry
BAND: The Runaways
BIO: Though Joan Jett had a big solo career and Lita Ford dueted with Ozzy, singer Cherie Curry had a penchant for performing in lingerie — like a female Bowie… and she still looks great today. And besides, there might not be any Donnas or Distillers were it not for the Runaways.

PUNK CHICK: Stella Maxwell
BAND: Cruiserweight
BIO: Being in a band with her two older brothers means the stellar Stella always has family — and protection — around. The Austin-based band are currently on tour supporting full-length number two.

PUNK CHICK: Karina Denike
BAND: Dance Hall Crashers
BIO: One-half of the singing team (and three-fourths of the looks) behind East Bay ska-punks DHC, Karina harmonized her way through half a dozen records before going on hiatus in the mid-2000s.

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