THE ANGELIQUES

Goteborg, Sweden's The Angeliques was formed in 1965 by Linda Nowitt on guitar and vocals, Irene Svensson on bass, and Titti Thysell and keyboard and vocals. They released two singles in 1968, "Jag Ska Mala Hela VÃ¤rlden Lilla Mamma" b/w "Tre Sma Flickor" and "Sunshine Boy" b/w "You’re Easy To Love." They disbanded in 1971. LNowitt and Thysell both moved to Malta, and then to Spain, and then Geneve. Nowitt later moved to the US.

THE BITTERSWEETS/THE BITTER SWEETS

The Bittersweets hailed from Cleveland, Ohio and were comprised of Judi Rodgers (vocals/guitar), Louie Dula (drums), Marilyn Rodgers Green (keyboards), Penny Cash (bass), and Rosi Hollo (guitar). Their debut, "The Hurtin' Kind" b/w "Summertime," was released on Tema in 1965. The same year they released "What a Lonely Way to Start the Summertime" b/w "Mark My Words" (as The Bitter Sweets) on Cameo.

THE BLACK CATS/THE WOOPS

In 1965, Laila Larsson (vocals/bass), Lisbeth Regner (guitar), Mary-Ann Micha (guitar), and Agneta Engstrom (drums) formed The Black Cats in Malmo, Sweden. After re-naming themselves The Woops, they cut "Why" which was included on a various artists EP. After disbanding, Engstrom continued to make music.

THE BUTTERFLIES

The Butterflies were formed in 1965 in Roskilde, Denmark. The founding members were Kate Sievert on vocals and rhythm guitar, Gitte Christensen on lead guitar, Anne Thorboe on bass, and Karin Borre on drums. The drummer left and was replaced by Mette Jensen in 1966. In 1968 they released "Vores Skore Sommerhus" b/w "Kom-Kom." They toured in Sweden, Norway, and the Faeroe Islands.

THE DAUGHTERS OF EVE

The Daughters of Eve formed in Chicago in 1965, assembled and managed by Carl Bonafede who was also managing The Buckinghams. Judy Johnson (lead guitar, vocals), Marsha Tomal (organ, guitar, vocals), Andy Levin (bass) and a girl named Connie (drums) who was quickly replayed by Debi Pomeroy. Their first single was "Hey Lover" b/w "Stand By Me" in 1996 on U.S.A. Records. In 1967 they released "Symphony of My Soul" b/w "Help Me Boy" and "Don't Waste My Time" b/w "He Cried," the latter on Spectra Sound. Their final single, "Social Tragedy" b/w "A Thousand Stars" was released on Cadet in 1968.





THE FAIR SECT

The Fair Sect were likely New Zealand's first all-female rock group, forming as they did in Auckland in 1965. The band members were Linda Williams (guitar/organ/vocals), Faye Reid (guitar/vocals), Val Tapene (bass/vocals), and Norma Stacey (drums/lead vocals). The released their debut single, "Kimberley" b/w "Never Again," in 1966.

When Stacey moved to the front of the band, male member Ian MacIntosh was briefly brought on board and during his short stint with the band they were renamed The Fair Sect Plus One, who so-billed released "I Love How You Love Me" b/w "Mohair Sam." In 1968 both Stacey and McIntosh left the band and were replaced by Gaylene Aro and Pat Rewai, respectively.

Rewai was replaced by Jenny Parkinson, who sang on 1968's "High Flying Bird" b/w "Big Spender." Parkinson was replaced by Mary Bradfield and in 1969 they released "Rattler" b/w "Bye, Bye Baby," which had been recorded with Rewai on lead vocals a year earlier. They relocated to Australia in 1970. Williams left and was replaced by June Littin and Bradfield left and was replaced by Kaye Wolfgramm. This line-up, with Faye Reid as the only original member, lasted until 1972.

Wolfgramm next appeared singing in the band Cruise Lane. Gray resurfaced in Noazark. Littin co-authored Maria Dallas's "Pinocchio," a Kiwi chart-topper in 1970.

THE FEMINE TOUCH

The Feminine Touch were formed around 1965 in Winnipeg, Canada. Vocals were handled by Dalannah Gail. Shortly after forming they opened for The Monkees and on many more occasions, for a great Canadian band, The Guess Who. After disbanding, Gail went on to sing with The Colored Rain. Now known as Dalannah Gail Bowen, the singer continues to perform.

THE FREUDIAN SLIPS

The Freudian Slips formed in Palo Alto, California in 1965. The members -- Wendy Haas, Gayle Hayden, Mimi Bluford, Lynda Walnum, and Teda Bracci (drums) -- were all then students at Woodside High School. The played locally, especially at The Ark in Sausalito.

After disbanding in 1967, Bracci went on to join the Los Angeles cast of Hair. In 2007 she released an album, Teda Bracci. Haas went on to perform and record with Santana and Azteca, among others. Hayden joined the New York cast of Hair and more recently performed in Portland's Big Mama Gayle and Her Sugar Daddies.

LES GUERRIERES

Montreal's Les Guerrieres were formed in 1965 when Fugere, formerly of Les Beatlettes, joined Murielle Bougie, Diane Gouin (bass), Solange Dessailly (keyboards) and Monique Geoffrion (drums). They disbanded in 1966.

LES INTRIGRANTES

Les Intrigrantes hailed from Quebec and were comprised of Diane Gallichand (guitar), Carole Boutin (guitar), Claire Gallichand (bass), and Ginette Douville (drums). They released songs including "Le Seuil du Soleil,” “Sans Toi,” and “Goodbye Baby.” The were active from 1965 until 1968.







MANDY AND THE GIRLFRIENDS

Mandy and the Girlfriends were from Hull, where they formed in 1965. Mandy was Mandy Smith, who'd previously played in Mandy and the Moonrakers with her brother. Mandy's girlfriends were Hilary Morgan (drums), Lesley Saxil-Neilson (bass), Karen Baker (guitar), Lynda Harrison (vocals), and Margaret Wedgner (guitar). Baker quit the group and was replaced by Merle Pryor. After playing locally and in London (where they shared a bill with The Animals) they relocated to West Germany in 1967. There they entertained troops and and released an eponymous album on that country's Kerston Records. After Morgan left the group in 1968, the remaining members went their separate ways. Harrison pursued a solo career and Wedgner and Pryor formed a duo called The Honeys and later, Sugar and Spice.

THE MOPPETS

The Moppets were formed in 1965 by Phyllis Hess (organ), Beverley Rodgers (lead guitar), Alisa Damon (bass guitar) and Kathie Ross (drums) at Mount Holyoake College in Massachusetts. The recorded just one single for Spirit, a cover of The Beau Brummels' "Cry just a little" backed with Holland - Dozier - Holland's "Come see about me."

THE PLOMMONS

The Plommons' first release was a 1966 cover of The Searchers' "Hungry for Love" and "Last Train to Liverpool," written by member Maddan Lindqvist. Two more singles followed and the played abroad in Denmark, Germany and Finland before disbanding in 1967.

THE POOR GIRLS

Akron, Ohio's The Poor Girls were formed in 1965 by Susan Schmidt (daughter of Marjorie H. Schmidt of The Co-eds), Deborah Smith, Pam Johnson, and Esta Kerr, when all were students at Litchfield Junior High School. They continued playing together whilst enrolled at Firestone High School and opened for bands including Cream and Steppenwolf. In the mid-1970s, Schmidt and Smith played with Cinderella's Revenge and Friction and later co-founded Chi-Pig.





QUINS (aka QUEENS)





Quins (sometimes billed as Queens although, confusingly, there was another Danish, all-female band with that name) formed in Holstebro in 1965. The members were Jette Selmer Noes (drums), Ingelise Mogensen (guitar), Jeannette Mouritzen (vocals), Birthe Mogensen (bass), and Lucia Padersen (guitar). Soon after forming , Padersen was replaced by Margit Holmgård and the band continued until 1970.

QUEENS

The other Danish band called Queens also formed in 1965. Their members were Vivi Ryding (drums), Lis Nørrevig (bass), Linda Hansen (guitar), and Ulla Hansen (guitar).

THE SANDOVAL SISTERS/THE GIRLS/THE MOONMAIDS/FOUR QUEENS

The Sandoval Sisters (aka The Girls aka The Moonmaids aka The Four Queens) were formed in East Los Angeles by sisters Diane (guitar and vocals), Margaret (lead vocals and drums), Rosemary (vocals and lead guitar), and Sylvia (bass) - who raged at the time from 12 to 17 years old. Their first recording was a live version of "Last Chance" for Valentine Sound. They changed their name to The Girls in 1965 and released a cover of Mann/Weil's "Chico's Girl" on Capitol Records. Margaret penned "My Baby," which b/w "My Love" was their second and last single. Thye performed for troops in Asia, toured North America and appeared on Hullabaloo and Hollywood A-Go-Go.





SANJALICE

Serbia's Sanjalice played their first show on 29 December, 1964 in Belgrade's Pionirski Grad. The original members were Ljiljana Mandi (vocals, guitar), Slobodanka Misevi (guitar, vocals), Ljiljana Jevti (bass), Vojislav Veljkovi (drums), and Radomir Vukovi (keyboards). In 1966 Veljkovi? joined the army and was replaced by his then-girlfriend, Snezana Veselinovi. The only remaining male member, Vukovi?, left soon after and thus, in 1965, they became Yugoslavia's first all-female rock band.

In 1967 they won first place in a battle of the bands, performed in Romania, and released their first two EPs, Idem u svet and Marioneta. In 1968 they released their third EP, Marijana. In 1969 they retired the band to focus on studies.





SHE FIVE

She Five formed in Fox Valley, Wisconsin. They included members Patsy Yingling, Dar Ryba (guitar/vocals), Audrey Reffke, Pam Hurst, and Cheryl Young. The formed in 1965, played for troops in Vietnam, and disbanded in 1970.

THE SHE TRINITY

The She Trinity, a Canadian band, were formed by Robyn Yorke, Shelley Gillespie and Sue Kirby around 1965, when they moved to the UK. On Columbia, in 1966, they released "He Fought The Law" b/w "The Union Station Blues," "Have I Sinned b/w "Wild Flower," "Wild Flower" b/w "The Man Who Took The Valise Off The Floor Of Grand Central Station At Noon," and "Yellow Submarine" b/w "Promise Me You'll Never Cry." They released "Across The Street" b/w "Over And Over Again" on CBS in 1967. Their final single, "Hair" b/w "Climb That Tree" was a split single with The Onyx released on President in 1969. Over the course of their existence there were several membership changes and their final line-up was Eileen Woodman, Robyn Yorke, Pauline Moran and Inger Jonnsson.

THE SHE'S

The She's featured Marilyn Reed, Maureen O'Connor, Cammy Davis, and Pam Thompson. O'Connor, who co-wrote the band's January, 1966 International Artists single "Ah Gee!! Maurie" b/w "The Fool," later resurfaced with New Math and is still active in music today.

THE TERMITES

The Termites released "Tell Me" in 1965.

1966

ACT IV

Act IV were a Long Island band comprised of Missy Wolcott (keyboards/bass, Peg Porter (guitar/bass), Sandy Klee-Phillips (drums), and Fran DiCicco (keyboards/bass) where were inspired to form a band in 1966 after witnessing a concert by Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs. They later (after a line-up shuffle) became the second version of a pre-existing all-female band, The Enchanted Forest.

BEETHOVEN'S 5th

Beethoven's 5th formed in 1966 in South Florida. The members of the band were Gloria, Marla, Polly, Rocky, and Lesley Kluchin (second from left), who supplied me with this image.

THE BELLES

The Belles were from Miami, Florida. The members included May Perez (guitar), Debbie Teaver (rhythm guitar), Marina Perez (bass), and Pam Kent (drums). In 1966 they recorded cover versions of "Sleep Walk" and "La Bamba." Their second single, "Melvin," was a gender-swap cover of Them's Gloria.

THE BOMBSHELLS

The Bombshells formed in Houston, Texas. In 1966 they released "Treat Him Right," which I think was a gender-shifting version of Roy Head's "Treat Her Right."

DOWNPIPERS





The Downpipers were from Kongens Lyngby, Denmark and formed in 1966. The members were Sys Ammentorp (guitar), Charlotte Bentsen (bass), Inge Eriksen (guitar), and Birgit Rasmussen (drums). Ammentorp and Bentsen later went on to play in Girls Group.

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

The Enchanted Forest formed around 1966 in New York. The group was comprised of Judy Hunter (keyboards), Carol Hunter (guitar/bass/vocals), Laurie Stanton (tambourine/vocals), Sanna Groseth (bass/vocals), and Sally Halbert (drums). They scored a contract with Amy and released “You're Never Gonna Get My Lovin'” b/w a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” on in January, 1968. A review of one of their performances at Le Hibou in Ottawa mentions that their repertoire also drew from the Beatles and the Stones. Several of their songs were products of the partnership of Mort Schuman and Kenny Lynch, who replaced all of the original members for another version of the band after their stint in Canada. After disbanding Hunter went on to join Neil Diamond’s band.







The second line-up of Enchanted Forest consist of Missy Wolcott (keyboards/bass), Peg Porter (lead guitar/bass), Sandy Klee-Phillips (drums), and Fran DiCicco (keyboards/bass) – who’d previously played together in Act IV, another all-female New York (Long Island this time) band that had formed in 1966. Porter soon left the band and was replaced by Marilyn Pollack. In 1969 they released two singles on Variations – both with “The Word Is Love” as the A-side (The B-sides were “Cold Winds” and “I’m Not That Kind of Girl”). In 1970 they backed Tiny Tim for a tour that included a performance of The Ed Sullivan Show. They broke up the same year and Wolcott continued with another all-female band, The Maiden Voyage.

FEEBEEZ

Feebeez apparently cut one single, "Walk Away" b/w "Season Come," on Albuquerque's Stange Records -- owned by Edward Stange Jr., apparently his daughter was the band's drummer.





FEMININE COMPLEX/THE PIVOTS

In 1966, at Maplewood High School in Nashville, Tennessee, Mindy Dalton (guitar, vocals), Judi Griffith (tambourine, vocals), Lana Napier (drums), and Jean Williams (bass) formed The Pivots - the nickname for the high school basketball team for which all of them played. In 1967 they added Pame Stephens (keyboards) and changed their name to The Feminine Complex. In 1968 they signed to Athena Records and recorded their debut, Livin' Love. They broke up in 1969.

GIRLS GROUP





Girls Group were formed in Copenhagen in 1966 by Marianne Wrona (guitar), Hanne Mattson (guitar), and Pia Wrona (drums). In 1967 the Wrona sisters quit the group (Marianne next appeared in The Crazy Women) and were replaced by Sys Ammentorp and Charlotte Bentsen – both formerly of The Downpipers. They split up in 1968.





THE ID/THE HAIREM

The Id were formed around 1966 by guitarist/songwriter Nancy Ross in Sacramento, California with her younger sister Sally on organ. After changing their name to The Hairem, they never officially released any material. However, after morphing into She, they released a single single in 1970 and in 1999, five recordings by the Hairem surfaced on a She CD compilation, Wants a Piece of You.

THE HEARTBEATS/THE HEART BEATS

The Heartbeats (sometimes "The Heart Beats") were an all-female band, formed in Lubbock, Texas in 1966. They were led by Linda Sanders (drummer/vocals) who was joined by younger sister Debbie Sanders (guitar), Debbie McMillan (bass), and Jeannie Foster (guitar/keyboards), who initially met one another in a music class when all were pre-teens. They were managed by the Sanders family's matriarch, Jeanne Sanders. They gained attention in 1968 when they appeared on Happening Now and won a battle of the bands with their version of The Outsiders' "Time Won't Let Me." Their mother subsequently turned down an offer to sign with ABC Records because she wanted them to stay in school. They recorded a cover of Mouse & the Traps' "Crying Inside" at Robin Hood Brian's Studio in Tyler, Texas which became their biggest hit. They played regionally until the 1980s.

THE HONEY BEATS (aka THE HONEYBEATS)

The Honeybeats formed after Italian-born Marta Cion met a female folk trio in Munich and convinced them to form a four-piece with her. They found their lead singer, Daisy Winters, busking in Birmingham and released the German-language "Frag' Nicht Soviel" b/w "Vergiss Es Nie" on Metronome in 1966. Winters was replaced with a Scottish singer, Norma Green, and released the Italian-language "Di Piu', Di Piu', Di Piu'" b/w "Fa Un Po Quello Che Vuoi" on Ricordi International in 1968.

THE NURSERY RHYMES

Swedish band The Nursery Rhymes was comprised of Birgitta Nordgren (drums ), Elisabeth Alexandersson (bass), Gunilla Karlow (bass/vocals), Inger Jonsson (guitar/vocals), Marie Selander (vocals), Noni Tellbrandt (guitar, vocals), and Wiveca Sawen (bass). The released three singles: "Peaches And Cream" b/w "Nowhere To Run" and "Heat Wave" b/w "Dancing In The Street" (both on Odeon in 1966) and "We're Gonna Hate Ourselves In The Morning" b/w "Jiving Teen" the following year. They disbanded in 1967.





RAG DOLLS

Rag Dolls were from Odense, where they formed in 1966. Their membership included Lillian Hansen (guitar), Jonna Madsen (guitar), Lone John (bass) and Yrsa Holst (drums). In 1967, Hansen was replaced by Margit Nelleman (formerly of Les Filles).





























THE RUMS & COKE

The Rums & Coke released one single, "Glad All Over" b/w "Apple Blossom Time" on Bram in 1966. The members were listed as Sherry (drums), Mary, Ginger, and Coke (vocals).

THE WHAT FOUR

The What Four were formed in Manhattan and comprised of Elizabeth Burke (drums), Cathy Cochran (guitar), China Girard (rhythm guitar) and Diane Hartford (bass). They signed with Columbia in 1966, where they released "Baby I Dig Love" b/w "It's Hard to Live On Promises" and "I'm Gonna Destroy that Boy" and "Ain't No Use in Crying, Susan."

THE WILD THINGS

The Wild Things were formed by Linda Myers (drums and vocals), Robin Reading (guitar and vocals), Martha Potter (guitar), and Vicki Yaklevich (bass) in Columbus, Ohio around 1966. Myers was the daughter of guitarist Al Myers. Reading moved to California and remains active in music. She was replaced by Daphne Cornelius. They appeared on several local television programs including WCMH's Dance Party and Splash Party before ceasing to be active around 1969 although they did reunite for a show in 2000.



1967

ACE OF CUPS

The Ace of Cups were formed in San Francisco, California in 1967 by Mary Gannon (bass), Marla Hunt (organ, piano), Denise Kaufman (guitar, harmonica), Mary Ellen Simpson (lead guitar), and Diane Vitalich (drums). All had played music for some time and Kaufman had previously-fronted the all-female Denise and Company. After several line-up changes, including the addition of male members, the band broke up in 1972.

THE ALL GIRL TOPLESS BAND

The All Girl Topless Band formed in 1967 and accompanied comedian Godfrey Cambridge at the Aladdin Hotel. They were said to be talented musicians but with the members' names not appearing anywhere I can find, the fact that they played top-free was presumably the primary draw.

ARIEL

Ariel was formed in 1967 by Anne Bowen, Pamela Brandt, Helen Hooke, Gretchen Pfeifer and Beverly Rodgers in Northampton, Massachusetts. They disbanded in 1970 and Brandt, Bowen and Hooke went on to re-form in 1974 as The Deadly Nightshade.









BLOWFLIES

Blowfies formed near Holstebro, Denmark in 1967. The members were Jyette Enghol, Lillian, and Lizzy (family names unkown).

LAS CHIC'S

In 1967 Mexico's Las Chic's they released “La Muneca Dice No" (a Spanish-language cover of Michel Polnareff's "La poupee qui fait non"). Their producer, Carmen Circi, was female too.







THE CRAZY WOMEN (aka THE SUNNY GIRLS aka THE FUNNY GIRLS)

The Crazy Women formed in Viby, Denmark in 1967 as The Sunny Girls, but changed their name to The Crazy Women when they became aware of the pre-existing Danish band with the same name. Guitarist Marianne Wrona had previously played in the all-female Cheetas and Girls Group. The other members were

Their repertoire included

Carrie Ann," "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Hey Joe," "I'm a Believer," "Little Bit of Soul," and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling," all of which they recorded.

Upon discovering that Wrona was suffering from real mental health issues, the crew again changed their name, this time to The Funny Girls. Wrona was soon replaced by Lissi Dam Ottosen and then, in 1969, Gitte Svensson. As a trio of Ostergaard, Glymov, Werge, the Funny Girls continued until 1970, after with Glymov and Ostergaard toured with Michael Julin's Maniacs.







THE HEARBY

The Hearby included Jill DeMarco and Kathy Penland. DeMarco later joined The Oxfords. In 1967 they released DeMarco's "The Harm I Do (By Being Me)" b/w Penland's "Make You Dream" on Union Jac.

THE FATIMAS

The Fatimas were a California band who released "Sandstorm" b/w "The Hoochy Coo" on Original Sound in 1967.

THE MOD 4

The Mod 4, from Aledo, Illinois, ‎released two singles at Davenport, Iowa's Fredlo Custom Pressing -- "Funny Little Clown" b/w "Midnight Hour" and "Open Up Your Mind" b/w "A Puppet" (both produced by Tab Talkin) in 1967 and '68, respectively. Vocals were handled by Nellie Hastings and Kathy Talkin. The other two members are "Barb" and "Alice Appleton."

THE PLAYMATES

The Playmates were a foursome from Trondheim, Norway comprised of Rigmor Ostmo (vocals), Inger Lise Rasmussen (guitar), Berit Lange (bass), and Irene Lund (drums). The Playmates released “Gi Ikke Opp” b/w "Bare Ga" on Continental records in 1967 before disbanding the following year. The Playmates reconvened in 1975 and recorded and released Meet the Playmates before breaking up permanently.

THE SAME

The Same were from Arlington Heights, Illinois and were made up of Judy Selman (lead guitar), Debbie Reiss (rhythm guitar), Vicki Selman (bass), Donna Smelak (drums), and Vicki Hubly (vocals). The played mostly in the Chicago area although they recorded "If You Love Me, Really Love Me" (an English cover of Edith Piaf's "Hymne a l'amour") b/w "Sunshine, Flowers and Rain" at Herb Alpert's Studio in Los Angeles and released on Barrington Records in 1967. After their dissolution, Smelak continued in the all-female band, The Chips. Selman plays in Straight Ethyl with Charlotte O’Neill and Donna Smolak, both formerly of the all-female band, The Chips.





THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER

The Significant Other were from Maine and were comprised of Shirley Dillon (vocals and guiltar), Bonnie Holmes (vocals and keyboards), Diane Withee (bass), and Pam Withee (drums). Holmes and Withee were from Swan's Island. They released one single, "What is the Reason?" b/w "Ode to Carabassett Fats" in 1967 on Critique Records, a tiny label owned by their manager Carl Strube. They performed shows in Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, opening for the likes of 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and Vanilla Fudge.

SUZIE & THE SUNNYGIRLS/THE SUNNYGIRLS

Suzie & the Sunnygirls formed in 1967 and were comprised of Suzie Watson (vocals), Helena Thunholm (guitar), Annika Degermann (drums), Maud Lindqvist (bass), and Carina Fredriksson (keyboards). Watson (nee Maria Pereboom in the Netherlands) soon left to pursue a solo career and they continued simply as The Sunnygirls. Thunholm was replaced by Carina Leijd who also handled lead vocals and two saxophonists – Ann-Christine Carlsson and Ninnie Andersson – joined. They performed in Mexico and the USA and more line-up changes followed. At some point in the 1970s, Leijd and Fredriksson formed a new group, Mixed Six. Watson, the band's original vocalist, released 31 singles, including “Walkin' Back To Happiness,” before retiring.

1968