Women Who Rock

Carlene Carter. Her Musical Shapes album was produced by Nick Lowe (whom she married and divorced. She then moved on to Howie Epstein, bassist in Tom Petty's Heartbreakers), her backing band on the album Rockpile (in which Nick was the bassist. Guess Carlene prefers bass players ;-). Killer Rock 'n' Roll!

That "short list" comment, while probably intending to be humor, went out with Polish jokes.  It's enough.

Mia Zapata

Polly Styrene

Lita Ford

All of Sleater Kinney, Luscious Jackson, jeez lots of bands

Courtney Love

@jji666 + 1

My 2 are on the extreme side of rock, not sure if both have been mentioned?

Kittie-Female extreme metal band from London Ontario. With 6 studio albums they have enough material and notoriety to make the list. Currently there could be a heavier all female band but they were the first(extreme metal band) to my knowledge.

Martha Davis(The Motels)-Sophistication with a distinctive vocal elegance.