New Wave/Hardcore Punk:

By the late 1970s and early 1980s there was a proliferation of bands that wanted to stretch the boundaries of pop music. This music was commonly seen as 'post-punk' or 'new wave' and the terms were used used as a catch-all for the various styles of music that emerged after punk rock. The new wave sound was built on the ideology of punk but the music became more complex. Bands began to experiment with innovative styles and artistic forms of music.

There was still a reaction against the mass-produced, traditionally male, commercial music of the 1970s, but there were new concerns like an interest in androgyny and gender ambiguity. Musicians spoke about breaking away from the previous masculine tendencies of punk, aggression and violence. So, once again, females had a platform to play on. In Australia there was a proliferation of bands with female musicians and female singer/songwriters. Some of these bands were making the alternative charts and same were even nosing into the mainstream charts.

From September 1979 to June 1980, Shy Impostors shook up Sydney's inner city live music scene. Fronted by singer-songwriter Penny Ward. In the early 1980s Laughing Clowns featured Louise Elliot on saxophone, The Wet Taxis had Penny Ikinger on guitar and Dianne Spence on saxophone, The Go-Betweens had Lindy Morrison (pictured) on drums and Amanda Brown on violin and Cough Cough had Cathy Green on drums. Soon Cathy moved on to the ultimate rock group X in 1984.

The Moodists had Clare Moore on drums. Janine Hall was playing bass in the second version of The Saints, The Triffids had Jillian Burt on keyboard and The Reels had Karen Ansel on synthesiser.

Many bands also had female vocalists, for example Bad Poets with Jade D'Adrenz, the Jetsonnes with Margo O'Neill, The Dugites with Lynda Nutter, The Numbers with Annalise Morrow and The Kamikaze Kids with Julie Mostyn (picured)  before she joined The Flaming Hands, who were considered one of the greatest bands to come out of Sydney in the early to mid-1980s.

Stephanie Rilen was a member of post punk band Sardine V in 1980. She was a vocalist and keyboard player. Johanna Pigott formed Scribble as a synth pop band in Sydney in 1983, the year after her previous group, XL Capris had disbanded. 

Sydney band The Tame O'Mearas (pictured) were the definitive post-punk band: a do-it-yourself attitude with almost non-musicians learning instruments and making sounds and switching roles seemingly at random-do it now and then go on to something else. Members included Lindsay O'Meara, Drosma Bebris, Angela Plevey and Jill O'Meara. The band existed in 1980/81 and released several tracks including "Curl Curl", "Sweat and Babble" and "Mosquito".

Carol Anderson (pictured) was a guitarist founding member of the pioneering Aussie post-punk band Box Of Fish. Box Of Fish were one of the first Aussie bands to incorporate grunge into their music in the early 1980s. 

Coo Bennett formed the Sydney-based, post-punk outfit Toys Went Berserk in 1985.  Their debut single "Guns At My Head", released by Aberrant Records in 1986, is propelled by relentless drums, razor-sharp guitars, pounding bass and the dynamite vocals of singer Coo Bennett.

Tracey Skepper was a drummer/bass player. She played in the 1980s hardcore punk band Civil Dissident (1982-1985). Vikki Marks sang in mid 1980s Melbourne punk band End Result (1984). 

Helen Smart played drums in Buick K.B.T from 1982 -1988. The band played a cool brand of Arty swamp and Skronky stomp and were a staple of classic St Kilda venues of the day such as the Seaview Ballroom and the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. Playing alongside Venom P. Stinger, X, The Moodists, The Go Betweens (with whom they shared close history with), The Laughing Clowns & more, whilst also supporting the Dead Kennedys on their 1983 Aussie Tour, who also played at The Venue in St Kilda.

Ku Klux Frankenstein were formed in inner Melbourne in 1983 as a gothic, acid rock band. Kerrie Hickin (Kerrie Van Lewin) played bass guitar.

In 1988 a Sydney post-punk band consisting of four girls (Polly, Sybilla, Zeb, Dani) and a guy, had the nerve to make some noise in an underground music scene dominated by men with guitars. The band, Matrimony (pictured), had some fun and made a great album called Kitty Fingerin 1989 - a raw post-punk album crackling with youthful disaffection and an experimental sound that came well before the 1990s grunge phenomenon. 

Rock and Pop:

Chrissy Amphlett (pictured), lead singer of iconic Australian band Divinyls, has been considered a trailblazer and pioneer for women in the music industry. Her cousin is Patricia Amphlett a.k.a. Little Pattie and Christina had been in a number of bands before The Divinyls formed in Kings Cross in 1980.  

Christina was a real rebel who broke away from the constraints normally placed on girls in their teens. She wanted to be in a rock band. Her early bands included Daisy Clover, One Ton Gypsy and Steamhammer. At the start of her performing career, in the Divinyls, she wore school uniforms to shock her audiences and soon many girls turned up to her gigs wearing the same.

The Divinyls with their first single "Boys in Town/Only You" charted in the top 10 in 1981. Christina told the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, that she had written the song lyrics and melody, in the bath, and that it was about growing up in Geelong, Victoria. The band appeared in the movie Monkey Grip, based on Helen Garner's novel, as themselves. They released a six-track mini album of the music from this film in 1982. At the end of 1982 they released one of their most popular albums - "Desperate".

The Eurogliders (pictured) were formed in Perth in mid 1980, with lead singer Grace Knight, they were able to obtain a major record deal with Polygram and they recorded the album called "Pink Suit Blue Day" in Manila. The first single of the album called "Without You" shot into the Top 40. Amanda Vincent also played the keyboard in this group. In 1984 they released their biggest hit "Heaven". Grace Knight has since enjoyed enormous success with albums covering other artists.

Helen Carter and Deborah Conway (pictured) were respectively the bass player and the singer in the group Do-Ré-Mi. Helen had played in the all girl punk, group Fiction and Deborah started in a Melbourne jazz band called The Benders. Do Re Mi formed in 1981 in Sydney. They recorded two EPs on the Green Label called "Do Re Mi" and "The Waiting Room". They signed to the London based Virgin Records and recorded the album Domestic Harmony in London.. The single "Man Overboard" made the Top Five in 1985.  Musically the band could not be categorized although the influence of the new wave and its values were evident. The band broke up after a lot of pressure from the record company in 1986 and Deborah continued in a solo career.

Sandi Chick was the lead vocalist for pop/dance/R&B group The Rockmelons who were formed in 1983.  A band was formed in 1984 called I'm Talking. It was the first dance band to have their dance music chart in this country. The band played funk and groove and featured Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne (pictured) as the vocalists. I'm Talking signed to Regular Records and released their album called "Someday" in 1984. 

Sherine Abeyratne provided lead vocals for Big Pig from 1985 to 1991. Sherine was also associated with Bang, Grand Wazoo Band of 1000 Dances, The Editions, Big Choir, Bob Starkie Shape Up, Gospel Truth, Jo Jo Zep, Black Coffee, Dianna Boss and The Extremes, The Rock Party, Mercy Mercy (1991), Sherine, and Sherine's X Machine. 

The Electric Pandas with lead singer Lyn Buckfield were formed in 1984. They had a hit single with "Big Girls" which went to the Top 20 nationally and won several awards. Lyn was nominated four years in a row for the Best Female Vocalist category on Countdown. 

Jenny Morris made her Australian debut with QED. This band had some success with the single "Everywhere I Go" but broke up two years later. Jenny's next career step was as the backing vocalist for INXS as part of their international tour for the "Listen Like Thieves" LP. She released her first album called "Body and Soul" in 1987 which she co-produced. In 1989 she charted with "Shiver" and established herself as one of Australia's most popular songwriters and solo performers.

Wendy Matthews became a backing vocalist on many albums, including John Paul Young's 1983 album called "One Foot in Front", Mark Hunter's 1986 album "Communication" and 1987 releases from Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton, Gang Gajang and The Models. In 1988 she made an album with Kate Ceberano called "You've Always Got the Blues" which was the soundtrack to the ABC series Stringer.

Amanda Brotchie spent her formative years recording and touring with Not Drowning Waving, and recorded with many other bands including Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes, and the Wreckery. Marcia Howard was a member of the triple Aria Award winning Goanna Band, alongside Rose Bygrave and her brother, founding member, Shane Howard. 

Tina Cross was best known for being the lead vocalist of the new wave band, Koo De Tah, whose single "Too Young For Promises" was a top ten hit in Australia during 1985. In 1986 she formed a pop group, Chantoozies. Kathy Wemyss (pronounced 'Weemz') is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. She was a member of Chad's Tree (1989) and The Jackson Code (1989 - 1990).

Martha's Vineyard were an Australian rock band, formed in Perth by lead singer  Peggy Van Zalm.

Two of Australia's most famous pop singers who have sold millions of records worldwide are Tina Arena and Kylie Minogue:

• Tina Arena is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwide. Arena appeared on Young Talent Time in 1974 and soon became a core member of the Young Talent Team performing live on Australian national television each week, At age 17, Arena signed a record deal with Graffiti Records, which released her debut single, "Turn Up the Beat", in 1985. Following her 1985 recording, Arena sang advertising jingles and worked on the pub and club circuit to earn a living. She performed solo shows and in bands, including as a member of a nine-piece ensemble, Network. She also appeared in musicals.  In 1987, she supported American artist Lionel Richie on his Australian tour following a number of charity performances.

• Kylie Minogue (pictured) is an Australian singer and actress. She is the highest-selling female recording artist from Australia, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. Referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has been recognised for reinventing herself in music and fashion as a style icon. She began her music career in the late 1980s, releasing four bubblegum and dance-pop-influenced studio albums under PWL. By the early 1990s, Minogue had amassed several top ten singles in Australia and the UK, including "The Loco-Motion", "I Should Be So Lucky", "Especially for You", "Hand on Your Heart" and "Better the Devil You Know".

All Female Acts:

• All female group Toxic Shock released their single "Intoxicated" in 1981. Members included: Sylvie Leber (Bass Guitar), Helen Smart (Drums), Vicki Bell (Guitar, Vocals), Cahsn Foley (Keyboards), Fran Kelly (Vocals), Eve Glenn (Rhythm Guitar)

• The Jam Tarts was an all-girl band formed out of Perth in the early 1980s with Anna Gare, her sister, Sophie, and two friends, Jodie Bell and Lucy Lemann. The band was managed by their mother, Kate Gare. For ten years the Jam Tarts were a successful touring and recording band within Australia and acclaimed at international music festivals.

• The Screaming Jennies were an Adelaide band of the early 1980s who were sometimes classified as punk and/or feminist, but didn't really see themselves as either. Members were Violet Flare (vocals), Liberty Bear (guitar), Deo Demure (bass) and Chris Blades (drums).

• The Wet Ones (pictured) were a delightful Melbourne all-girl combo that played tongue-in-cheek, 1960s-inspired guitar pop (sort of like The Shangri-Las by way of The Buzzcocks and The Pandoras). The Wet Ones formed in 1984 and comprised Sue World (drums), Kelly Brimacombe (guitar, vocals), Rosi Joy (guitar, vocals) and Genevieve Hassall (bass). The band issued the gig giveaway single ''Next Summer /`Alligator'' (December 1986), the 12-inch EP 'It's a Premoistened World' (October 1986) and the albums 'We Are The Wet Ones' (Feb 1986) and 'Crack Up' (October 1988) on the Polyester label before calling it quits. The Wet Ones also contributed a cover of The Loved Ones' ''Everlovin' Man'' on record label Au-go-go's various artists compilation 'A Slab of Vic' (1986).

• G.A.S.H or Girls Against Sexual Hype (pictured) came onto the Melbourne hardcore punk scene in 1985.  The band consisted three women - Anna, Liz and Vera - and one honourary man, Smeer), an odd pairing for the typically male dominated scene. Gash released an initial cassette in November of 1985 on the 'Hardcore House' tape label belonging to Smeer (Gash drummer, also of Depression and Liz (guitar, also Depression manager). Following decent reviews, the band approached Phil MacDougall from Reactor Records about releasing a 12". Gash supplied the tapes and the artwork, while Phil paid for the manufacturing. What resulted was 1986's G.A.S.H. LP, 16 tracks of stinging hardcore with a metallic edge. In September of the same year, Reactor released the God is Dead EP to help promote the album. The single sold out its 500 print run and was not re-pressed.

• Fiona Horne formed a punk-thrash band, The Mothers, in 1985, which started as an all-girl punk band.

• The Rum Babas were an all-female rock band from Sydney. The Rum Babas hailed from Sydney’s southern suburbs, and they were formed in 1987. Band members were Sandi Novak (vocals, percussion) Janelle Novak (bass) Michelle Kerr (drums) and Kathryn Cann (guitar). The Rum Babas were a great live band who wrote great pop rock songs. Their sound was a blend of pulsating guitar rock with a flashy percussion beat.

• Girl Monstar (pictured) were an all female Australian rock band which formed 1988 with the line-up of Damian Child on bass guitar; Anne McCue on lead guitar and vocals; Sherry Valier (aka Sherry Rich) on vocals and rhythm guitar (ex-Cactus Fever); and Sue World on drums and vocals (ex-The Wet Ones). Both of their singles, "Surfing on a Wave of Love" / "He's Hell" (1989) and "Joe Cool" (1990), topped the Australian Independent charts. They issued one album, Monstereo Delicio, in July 1992 on Timberyard Records. Child was replaced by Janene Abbott but the group disbanded in 1993. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their sound "trash pop style mixed tough guitar riffs with strong harmonies".

• Vertical Smile was a short-lived all girl punk band that was formed in 1989 by Katie Dixon, with Fiona Lee Maynard on bass.

Mid - Late 1980s:

By the late 1980s there was a growing number of mixed gender bands releasing material written by the females in the band. These bands were making the alternative charts and same were nosing into the mainstream charts. It was acceptable for women to be seen playing their instruments and even more acceptable for them to be writing their own material. Women songwriters were getting recording deals and so were bands with women instrumentalists.

Anita Lane (pictured) was an Australian singer-songwriter who was briefly a member of The Bad Seeds with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey and collaborated with both bandmates. Lane and Cave co-wrote the lyrics for "A Dead Song", which appeared on their debut album Prayers on Fire which was released in April 1981. For their second album, Junkyard, which was released in May 1982, Lane and Cave co-wrote "Dead Joe" and "Kiss Me Black". Lane was briefly a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds playing piano, along with singing backing and occasional lead vocals. She was a member alongside Cave, Harvey, Adamson, Blixa Bargeld and Hugo Race. She supplied lyrics for "From Her to Eternity", the title track of their debut album (June 1984). She left the group soon after.

Melanie Oxley debuted as a singer/songwriter in a band called The Sparklers in the mid-1980s. Falling Joys are an alternative rock band that were formed in Canberra in 1985, and were led by guitarist/vocalist Susan Higgie. 

Single Gun Theory was an Australian electronic dance music band formed in 1986. Founding mainstay members were Jacqui Hunt on lead vocals; Kath Power on vocal melodies and synthesiser. The Killjoys were an Australian pop, folk band formed in 1987 that had Anna Burley on lead vocals and guitar. They attracted a wide following in the vibrant pub scene. Their debut album, Ruby won the ARIA Award for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 1991.

• Ingrid Spielman was the pianist and Nicky Baruch (pictured) was vocalist, percussionist and flutist in post-punk band, Tactics, from 1984 to 1986. Formed in Canberra, Tactics were one of the most celebrated acts on Australia's new wave scene, boasting an eclectic sound that ranged from angular pop and stripped-down psychedelia to fractured art rock.

Marilyn Delaney was a vocalist with pop/rock band GANGgajang from 1984 - 1985 and with country band The Stetsons in 1987. Kayellen Bee was also a founding member of GANGgajang and co-wrote some early songs, including "Giver of Life". She appeared on the first two albums as a backing singer and toured with the band as a percussionist and a singer until 1987.

In 1984, Genevieve McGuckin, who played keyboards, piano and organ, co-founded post-punk group, These Immortal Souls with Rowland S. Howard on guitar. A legendary figure in Australia’s post/punk scene, Bronwyn Adams was the violinist/co-lyricist in Crime and the City Solution during the Berlin lineup from 1986-1991.

Singer and bass player Fiona Lee Maynard (pictured) began her musical career in 1985 with her garage guitar pop rock bands Earwigs U.P, then in 1987 with Have a Nice Day (H.A.N.D). She was also in all-girl punk band Vertical Smile in 1989. 

in 1986 Bronwyn Addams (pictured) joined Crime and The City Solution on on violin and backing vocals.

Robyn St Clair started playing drums after she left school. She changed from playing drums to the bass, and when she moved to Sydney to attend art school and she started playing with The Hummingbirds, featuring Alannah Russack on vocals. In 1987 The Hummingbirds released their first single "Alimony" They financed this record themselves and released it through Phantom Records.

Dynamic frontwoman Mia Stone (pictured) had been performing in the Melbourne music scene since the mid-1980s. She was the lead singer of Pizza Sluts, in 1984, and the lead singer of Stone Circus in 1986. Stone Circus played modern acid rock and released a single, "Fairground" in 1990 but disbanded in the following year.

Fiona Horne (pictured) formed her first band in 1984 called Sister Sludge, which only lasted for six months until Horne moved back to Sydney from Adelaide. She then formed a punk-thrash band, The Mothers, in 1985. The Mothers started as an all-girl punk band, although the lineup changed a number of times. This was the first band with Horne performing both vocals and guitar. In October 1987, The Mothers released their first single, "Drives Me Wild"/"Get Outta My Life", which was followed in 1989 by the EP, 12-Incher, both of which were released on the Waterfront Records label. The Mothers broke up in 1989.

Jacqui Hunt was the lead vocalist of synth band Single Gun Theory who were active from 1986 - 2001. In 1988 pop-rock band Underground Lovers formed with Philippa Nihil providing vocals, guitar and keyboard. 

Singer and keyboard player, Becky Thomas has played in a number of bands since the late 1980s. Her first band, The Mavis's was formed as a post-punk band in Ballarat in 1987 with her brother singer-guitarist Matt Thomas (Matt Doll), guitarist Andrew Craw, bassist Katherine McNulty, and drummer Andrea Vendy. (More on the Mavis's in the 1990s).

Anna Burley is the lead singer of Melbourne band The Killjoys, who formed in the late 1980s. Penny Flanagan was one half of the widely acclaimed folk-pop duo, Club Hoy, who began in 1989. The duo released three EPs and the album 'Thursday's Fortune' (in 1991) before Flanagan went solo.

Bughouse was formed in 1989 in Sydney with Lea Cameron on guitar and vocals, and Genevieve Maynard on bass. Both of these women are songwriters. Julia Bourke was one of the founding members of Melbourne electro group SNOG in 1989.

Beginning in the late 1980s Brenda Gifford played saxophone and piano as a member of the indigenous band Mixed Relations with Bart Willoughby.  

Places and Spaces:

In October 1982 the NSW Women and Arts Festival granted support to a group of women musicians who staged the first Women's Rock Festival of national significance called Frock Rock. Held at the Town Hall this event featured all woman bands including The Stray Dags.  The concert was a tremendous success with over 60 all women's bands being cited as having existed in Australia at this time. Unfortunately most of these bands did not leave any recordings for the archives, but for many young women, the experience of seeing their fellow women up on stage playing music was a life-changing experience. 

The Stray Dags (pictured) did commit themselves to vinyl. A single called "Self Attack" made it into the alternative charts for three weeks in 1982. They released "Lemons Alive" in 1983. The group disbanded in 1984, but vocalist and guitarist, Tina Harris, went on to play in many other bands such as Sticky Beat, Crash Cups with Jules Van Dyke, See Jane Run and then the Famous Girls.

Other female Singers/Musicians/Acts of this era include: Amanda Fox, Amanda Vincent, Andrea Croft, Barb Waters, Bernadette Holloway, Carol Rohde, Carolyn Polley, Cathy Courtenay, Cathy Atthow, Cathy  Webb,  Christina Calero, Cindy Grimwood, Debra Manskey Di Levi, Doris Dazed, Emma Jane, Fran Gibson, Glad Reed, Glenys Osbourne, Jackie Love, Jane Stewart, Jen Anderson, Jillian Birt, Joanna Urbanik, Jodie Petersen, Judy Stapleton, Julie Conway, Karin Jansson, Karen Steains, Kit Quarry,  Leanne Chock, Linda Buckfield,  Lisa Maxwell, Liz Crago, Lucy Desoto, Louise Elliott, Madeline Chase, Mae Parker, Mara Kiek, Mandy Pearson, Mary Wyer, Megan Bawden, Melanie Shanahan, Melinda Johnstone, Melissa Webb, Miriam Williamson,  Monica Trápaga, Nikki Nicholls, Penny Drops (Quarry), Penny Hewson, Rachel Hannaford, Rebecca Hancock, Sally Ford, Sandy Evans, Sharron Weatherill, Shirley Barrett, Simone Dee, Susie Beaucham, Tess McKenna, Vivienne Gay, The Gottani  Sisters.

Interesting Facts:

• 1988 "A Say, A Choice, A Fair Go" - the Government's National Agenda for Women was released.

• In 1988 the Australian Women's Contemporary Musk Inc (AWCIVI) was formed by Vicki Gordon and Barbara Alien to improve the professional skills, employment -opportunities and and status of women in all areas of the music industry.

• AWCM projects have included: Fast Forward: an all girl Rack Festival highlighting all girl bands, SCRATCH: a 16 week training program to teach women the skills required for radio broadcasting, and Open Eyes: the first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Contemporary Music Festival.

Photo Credits: 

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons.

• Lindy Morrison, c.1980 - Source: Women of Aussie Music

• Julie Mostyn, c. 1982 - Source: Women of Aussie Music

• The Tame O'Mearas, 1980 - Source: Discogs

• Carol Anderson, c. 1982 - Source: Expired

• Matrimony, 1988. L-R: Polly, Sybilla, Zeb, Dani and Michael. Photo credit: Matthew Bright. (From the collection of Polly Williams) - Source: Tone Deaf

• Chrissy Amphlett, c. 1981 - Photo by Tony Mott - Source: Placenote

• Grace Knight, 1980 - Source: Australian Music Database

• Deborah Conway, c. 1986 - Photo by Tony Mott - Source: Deborah Conway

• Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne, c.1984 - Source: Pinterest

• Kylie album cover, 1988 - Source: Wikipedia

• The Wet Ones, front stairs, The Seaview Ballroom c.1984 - Source: Sue World

• G.A.S.H, 1985 - Source: Punk Journey

• Girl Monstar, 1988 - Source: Sue World

• Anita Lane, c. 1981 - Source: Alchetron

• Nicky Baruch, c. 1984 - Source: Women of Aussie Music

• Bronwyn Adams, c.1986 - Source: Discogs

• Fiona Lee Maynard, 1985 - Source: Fiona Lee Maynard

• Mia Stone, 1986 - Source: Marina Perkovich

• Fiona Horne, The Mothers, 1985 - Source: Fiona Horne

• Stray Dags, late 1970s, Source - NME