Editor in Chief- Grace LaTourelle
Photo credits: Grace LaTourelle
I am obsessed with rock music: hair metal, glam rock, classic rock, nu metal, and any other subgenre you can think of. This year I was fortunate enough to see some of my favorite bands: Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, AC/DC, and Limp Bizkit (and a whole host of tribute bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, Poison, Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi). It was incredible to experience these legends, especially when the oldest member of AC/DC, vocalist Brian Johnson, is 78 years old.
Now, as a rock fan, I have grown pretty used to stagnant playlists. Sure, some bands are releasing new music, but if you listened to Journey’s album Freedom, released in 2022, you’ll understand why I discount it and stick to the tried and true. I’ve begun to question, however, if rock and roll really did peak in the 1980s. Surely, rock is not dead, right? So, to quote “Sweet Child O’ Mine”: “Where do we go now? Where do we go?”
Dominic Harrison, known as Yungblud, has been releasing music since his debut album in 2018 21st Century Liability. His early work could largely be described as alternative rock or pop-punk with popular songs like “Parents” and “The Funeral” highlighting themes such as social isolation and mental health struggles. However, the release of his fourth studio album, Idols, in June 2025, changed not only his genre affiliations, but also his persona: he was now a rockstar.
Idols is definitely more of an exploration in the genre of hardrock, with the first song “Hello Heaven, Hello” being almost 10 minutes long. In the aftermath of this release, Yungblud has done collabs with Aerosmith, releasing 5 songs in November of 2025, and the Smashing Pumpkins. In an article from The Guardian, titled “‘I’ve got a fearlessness to being laid bare’: how Yungblud became Britain’s biggest rock star,” Billy Cogen claimed, “I truly believe when all is said and done, he will stand up there with the greats…And it’s worth nothing that Ozzy believed this too.”
I really like Yungblud’s music. In May, I traveled to Red Rocks in Colorado with Sports editor Liv White to see him perform, and it was an amazing concert. But it has become increasingly apparent to me that Yungblud is not rock fans’ last hope and certainly not the greatest rock star of this generation. Women are saving rock and roll, not Yungblud.
The Pretty Reckless, fronted by Taylor Momsen, were the openers for the AC/DC PWR UP tour. Even just during their one hour set before Angus took the stage, The Pretty Reckless embodied the spirit of rock and roll more intensely than anything I felt during Yungblud’s Red Rocks concert. Momsen’s voice is gritty and heavy and she captivates the stage with dramatic, full body movements.
Momsen and her band explore themes of defiance against society, especially as a woman, as well as freedom in life. Songs like “Witches Burn”, “Death by Rock and Roll”, “Dear God”, “For I am Death”, “When I Wake Up”, and “Make Me Wanna Die” are dark and scream-y and are the perfect listen to release the rage you’ve been building up in your chest. Their range is truly that of a good rock group, however, with an essential mix-in of ballads such as “Standing at the Wall” and “The Devil in Disguise (Michelle’s Song).”
In 2017, the lead singer of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, tragically died. The rock band regrouped in 2024, adding new co-lead singer, Emily Armstrong, transitioning into a female fronted group. Though her joining was somewhat controversial, she is undeniably an incredible metal vocalist. Armstrong is on one studio album with Linkin Park so far: From Zero, released in 2024. The album features her nu-metal scream techniques in songs like “Heavy is the Crown”, “Casualty”, and “Two Faced”, proving her ability to carry on the band’s legacy.
Arguably more familiar to the general public is the influence of Hayley Williams from Paramore. Boasting popular songs such as “Misery Business”, “Still Into You”, and “Ain’t it Fun”, many songs are bright and pop-punky. Beyond just the music, Hayley Williams has captured the rockstar persona with her style as well as stage presence. Other female fronted bands like Evanescence and Halestorm are also important in this “rock and roll revival.” “I Miss the Misery” is truly one of my favorite songs to scream in the car and I don’t know a single person who doesn’t vibe with “Bring Me to Life.” These women and their bands understand rock— the need to release your emotions, the weight on your shoulders, and scream.
Of course, I have to pay tribute to the great women of rock: Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, and Bonnie Tyler. Their music is truly revolutionary. Joan Jett refused to change the pronouns in her cover of “Crimson and Clover,” singing about a woman she loves. Pat Benatar produced iconic songs like “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Treat Me Right” that contradicted the narrative of weak, lovestricken women. These women were truly pushing the boundaries of rock during their reign and were rewarded with countless awards and well deserved fame. So as we continue into the exploration of rock music, we need to turn back to the artistic genius of women.
Yungblud is arguably a good rockstar. He has been nominated for three Grammys and won in the category of Best Rock Performance in 2026. But there are also women that are doing rock better in many ways. Rock is about life-giving freedom, love, and energy— it’s a genre that so many have sought comfort and community in, transforming hopelessness and helplessness into confidence, power, and the ability to live life on your own terms. Women know these feelings. Women know about pushing back against societal expectations, about oppression, and about finally letting loose.