Rock ‘n’ Role Models

I would like to thank Lorraine Ali and The Times for the article on women in the music industry (“Women Rockers--the Sound and the Fury,” April 10).

Bands like Hole, Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, 7 Year Bitch and Babes in Toyland have inspired other women, including myself--they are the reason I picked up a guitar and attempted to play in the first place.

I am glad that these great female leaders are getting the spotlight. Let’s hope that they will inspire other women to start bands and look into the female revolution. It’s not every day that you can open a newspaper and see a good, open-minded article about female bands.

COURTNEY HAMILTON

Van Nuys

Ali and those she quotes fail to mention one of rock’s great voices and an “intelligent, strong, different” woman (to use rock critic Evelyn McDonnell’s criteria) who has been writing and performing for more than 10 years.

L.A.’s own Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde has shown herself to be an independent and creative songwriter as well as an artist (she’s opened the Lucky Nun Gallery in her Silver Lake neighborhood) and contributor of her time to AIDS awareness and other causes.

Although I’m sorry that Concrete Blonde is calling it quits, perhaps Napolitano’s future solo work will bring her the recognition and attention her fantastic voice and talent deserve.

TIM PACHECO

Atascadero

Notably absent from your article was the absorbingly hypnotic Hope Sandoval, lead singer of Mazzy Star. Her bluesy, inaccessible, psychedelic strangeness reminds me of Jim Morrison. Or maybe Stevie Nicks on LSD.

A buddy with whom I recently saw Sandoval’s band thought she was demonic (I disagree), capable of possessing people. And yet he couldn’t quit talking about her.

Quoting one of her songs: “She’s just like lightning. She goes right through you.”

STEVE KNIGHT

Rosemead