She’s known as ‘The Queen of Heavy Metal’. Hailing from Dusseldorf Germany, she made a name for herself fronting one of the biggest bands in the region ‘Warlock’. The band hit a stride with some stateside success and she hit international fame. Doro Pesch, one of the great women of metal. Not only that, but simply one of the best voices of the genre.
Unlike many of the women in hard rock in the 80’s, Pesch went for more of a demons and wizards style of metal. The kind of classic metal that we associate Dio and Judas Priest with. Also, Pesch avoided the sex symbol stigma that ravaged women in hard rock/metal or really any other popular genre at the time. And she did it with pure raw power, excellent stage presence and an unreal voice to boot.
Doro started her rise in 1984 when her first band, Warlock, released their classic ‘Burning the Witches’ album. The album was a hit in Europe but didn’t attract much buzz in the states. Their next three albums ‘Hellbound’, ‘True as Steel’ and ‘Triumph and Agony’ all had similar fates. However, despite not being a massive success in the states, Warlock did have quite a cult following. Even touring with the likes of Megadeth and Dio. It can be argued that the timing was just a centimeter off of what it needed to be. Warlock arrived on the scene when it started to become over saturated. Every metal band on the planet was being signed. So by just simple numbers, it was a tall order for any band not from England, Ireland, Aussie or the U.S. to rise to mega stardom.
In the late 80’s Doro replaced Warlock with her own line-up and appropriately entitled the band ‘Doro’. With more of a focus on classic hard rock instead of the demons and dragons style metal of Warlock. For a time the band didn’t even release stateside material. Despite recording and residing there. Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer even produced the 1990 self titled album. Unfortunately it wasn’t the smash success that everyone hoped it would be. And it does suck a bit because she is so talented. But despite the lack of mega success in the states she certainly remained a popular figure in her native Germany. As well as all over Europe. Doing shows with the Scorpions too. Once metal started to gain some notoriety in America, Doro did start releasing her material stateside once again.
And since then she’s remained a cult phenomenon. In my opinion though she should be a mega star. One of the most overlooked talents of the past 50 years without question. And not just in hard rock and metal. But really any other genre for that matter. And she’s inspired so many women to take up the microphone for metal. That’s really important because it makes metal more interesting and diverse. So our hats go off to you Doro Pesch, the queen of heavy metal. HORNS UP!!
Doro was one hot babe in the 90s !
She’s still got it.