All Women Should Check Out These Badass Rock Lady Photos

When Carole King released her first solo album , Tapestry , in 1971, the industry changed forever. Tapestry went on to become one of the decade's most commercially and critically successful albums, spending 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 40 and winning four Grammy Awards. In an era where recognition and appreciation of female solo musicians is relatively new, King has become a beacon of female musical independence with her confidence and calm personality. You'll find that same independence and strength in these 23 photos of female rock singers from the past decade.

As the 1970s continued, a group of passionate and talented female musicians took over the decade's music scene. Joni Mitchell, who has since been regarded as one of the greatest music writers of her generation, took King's place with her painstakingly honest album Blue . Carly Simon enters the scene with her feminist theme "You're So Vain." And it doesn't stop there. During this decade of political change and social activism, female musicians were not afraid to use their albums and performances to express themselves. Each of these artists changed the face of the American music industry and paved the way for other female musicians to be unapologetically talented—but perhaps more importantly, also paved the way for themselves the road. Take a look.