She came to fame as co-lead vocalist of the blues rock group Stone the Crows,[1] and was described as the UK's closest counterpart to American singer Janis Joplin.

From a musical family, she sang from her teenage years, leaving school at the age of fifteen, to work as a window dresser by day and singer at night.

[8] Bell then tried to capture past blues rock glories by fronting Midnight Flyer,[9] who were a popular live act but their sole eponymous album released in 1981 was not a commercial success.

[11] Bell sang the end credits theme for the late 1970s ITV detective drama Hazell, with lyrics written by Judy Forrest and music by Andy Mackay.

In 2009, she provided the singing voice of rock singer Esme Ford (played by Joanna Lumley) in the episode "Counter Culture Blues" of the ITV series Lewis.

[12] After living in the Netherlands for twenty years, Bell returned to the UK in early 2006 and joined The British Blues Quintet, sharing lead vocals with Zoot Money.

In January 2016, the Hamburg Blues Band featuring Maggie Bell and Krissy Matthews, performed at the Quasimodo Club in Berlin, Germany.