In a new interview with Belgian Jasper, Lacuna Coil singer Cristina Scabbia was asked about being on the cover of Revolver’s February 2006 issue and included in the ‘The Hottest Chicks In Metal’ article.
“The thing is that I never saw the malice in it,” she admitted. “I always thought that it’s actually a very powerful thing for a woman to be feminine. I love women power. I love to be empowered by who I am, and I don’t want to hide myself because I’m a woman and if I show my legs that means I’m worth less. That’s not my problem. So when I actually went on that cover of Revolver magazine, because I was the very first woman to to actually appear on that cover, for me, it was just the biggest honor because it was the first time that a magazine, an American magazine, would give a woman the pleasure of being on a cover. So for me, it was something that blew my mind back then.”
The singer also mentioned the metal industry being male-dominated and how it affects her career. “Metal was predominantly followed by guys because it was a more aggressive and heavy sound, but I never looked at myself as the different element or I am different or I’m worth less because I’m a woman. So it was never my personal problem. It is true that perception of people — you have to deal with it. You have to expect a reaction. Everything you do, everything you say, you have to expect a reaction.
She continued, “And I would never go over the line, showing myself, but that’s because I don’t want to do it. But I don’t care about what other persons want to do, other women want to do with their body — it’s up to them, and I’m not going to judge them, but for sure you have to prepare to a reaction as soon as you do something. It’s discouraging that they only see the look of it, but I’m also sure that every woman included in those Revolver magazine ‘Hottest Chicks In Metal’ were talented as well.”
Scabbia finished off by sharing her thoughts on using it for one’s own good. “So at least we got attention back then. And I mean, it happened to ladies as well to look at a singer because he was hot or considered sexy a singer. So whatever. If you can use it as a tool to get attention and you’re okay with it, as long as it’s your decision, you can do whatever you want.”
In 2023, Scabbia shared her thoughts about whether women are taken more seriously in the metal scene now compared to 30 years ago when her band first formed. “Do I feel that things changed? Absolutely, yes. When I started, there were not so many bands with a female in the lineup. Metal was still a no-no for females, because it was a very male-dominated scene. Which it still is, but of course there are many more bands with a female in the lineup, which makes me happy even though we are still seen differently. I don’t think that it will ever happen that we are going to be seen equally, and partially it is okay like this because we’re different. I think that we are sort of a different world.”
She also shared the one thing she doesn’t like about being a woman in the metal music industry. “What I don’t like about being a female in a male-dominated world is the fact that very often we are judged by our looks, which I get it; many guys get the same. But for women, it’s kind of like… Let’s say for the guys, if they have the look, it’s a plus. For women, if they have the look, it’s a plus in terms of media attention; it’s a plus in terms of — I don’t know — people drooling with you; but it doesn’t necessarily add up to the potential you already have. And that is a shame, because people should not be judged by their looks.”
Lacuna Coil’s new album ‘Sleepless Empire’ came out only a few days ago via Century Media Records.
