Seven gender-bending tribute bands that have given tight pants and cock-rock classics a new spin

Judas Priestess

Line-up: MilitiA, Rena Sands, Josette, Gyda Gash and Hillary Blaze; formed in 2009.

Leather touch: These leather-and-chain NYC girls perform at festivals, motorcycle rallies and charity events. The opening act for doom metal pioneers Pentagram recently added a new guitarist –– Rena Sands.

Endorsed by: None other than Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford on the VH1 programme That Metal Show.

Song to know: Breaking The Law

Vag Halen

Line-up: Vee Stun, Susan Gale, Aimee Bessada, Steph Markowitz, Katie Ritchie, Jackie Mohr; formed in 2010-11

Vag rock: The girls from Toronto describe themselves as a “feminist queer art rock band” that delivers “cock-rock” numbers with a “dash of bad ass”. More than just cranking out rock classics, they do it their way, in their unique style. Vee told The Globe and Mail: “What we’re doing is very sexual. But what I’m doing on stage isn’t planned... I don’t get the luxury that men do, pulling their crotch like Michael Jackson or Prince. When a female is doing it, it’s seen as trying to be in people’s faces.”

Big outing: Venice Biennale performance in May.

Song to know: Immigrant Song

The Ramonas

Line-up: Lisa (Cloey Ramona), Hannah (Rohnny Ramona), Vix (Pee Pee Ramona), Killa K! (Margy Ramona) and Donna; formed in 2004

Hard and sweet: Wonder what Dee Dee, Joey and Johnny Ramone (of the Ramones) would have thought of their she avatars. The woman who helped form the band is AntiProduct member and bassist in Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg –– Clare Pproduct.

High point: Guess who walked into their November 29, 2012 concert? Richie Ramone (drummer Richard Reinhardt).

Song to know: Blitzkrieg Bop

The Beatelles

Line-up: Catherine Cook, Louisa Roach, Stephanie Kennedy and Sian Monaghan; formed in 2007

In Beatles land: The four Liverpudlians have the Fab Four as idols but their setlist also includes non-Beatles tracks. Last year they were booked most of the year with gigs in Sweden, Luxembourg and across the UK. They were heard by 10 million Japanese fans via a live TV link from The Cavern! And if you happen to be in Liverpool on July 10, you will hear them perform at the Beatles Day (though internationally January 16 is considered The Beatles Day), which marks the return of John, Paul, George and Ringo to Liverpool from their US tour, in time for the premiere of their film, A Hard Day’s Night.

Coming up: They hope to record at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

Song to know: I Saw Him Standing There

Guns N’ Hoses

Line-up: Erin Marsz (Axl Hose), Charlene Kaye (Gash), Emmy Wildwood (Lizzy Stradlin’), Mia Swier (Muff McKagan) and Gina Ilasi (Stephanie Adler); formed in 2011.

Sexting Hose: Short skirts and dirty jokes make this GNR she-tribute act stand out. The only dream Erin harboured since meeting Axl and Slash in a hotel lift was to do something shocking and her answer was Guns N’ Hoses, a cool NYC act. So, how do they get into a GNR act? In a recent interview the bandana-sporting Axl Hose said: “Axl Hose is in the back drinking Jack Daniels, sexting, posing in the mirror, putting on more eyeliner, doing some push-ups, making sure I’m looking hot, get out there and f***ing kick ass!”

Song to know: Welcome To The Jungle

Lez Zeppelin

Line-up: Shannon Conley, Steph Paynes, Leesa Harrington-Squyres and Megan Thomas; formed in 2004.

Lez meets Led: Paul McCartney made headlines for playing at Bonnaroo Festival this year and Lez had done the same in 2008. Their self-titled debut album featured songs from their idol’s first six albums and it was produced by Eddie Kramer, who was recording engineer on classic Led albums like Physical Grafitti and Led Zeppelin II.

India connect: The she-incarnations of the legendary group visited Mumbai in March 2009 to headline The Concert for Mumbai.

Song to know: Whole Lotta Love

Hell’s Belles

Line-up: Mandy Reed, Adrian Conner, Lisa Brisbois, Laura D and Amber Saxon; formed in 2000.

Songs and fury: Yes, there’s AC/Dshe but Hell’s Belles are a notch higher. Having done thousands of shows all over USA, Canada, Singapore and Japan, the girls can deliver Highway to Hell and Back in Black to AC/DC-perfection.

Endorsed by: AC/DC co-founder Angus Young said they are the “closest one can get without actually moving to Australia and joining AC/DC’s road crew”. Hear, hear!

Song to know: Thunderstruck

Which is your favourite all-babe group? Tell t2@abp.in