Heavens to Betsy
Heavens to Betsy | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Olympia, Washington |
| Genres | Riot grrrl, indie rock, punk rock |
| Years active | 1991–1994 |
| Labels | K Chainsaw Yoyo |
| Past members | Corin Tucker Tracy Sawyer |
Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991. It was part of the DIY riot grrrl movement in the punk rock underground in the early 1990s, and the first band of Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker.
History[]
The members were fellow Evergreen State College students Tracy Sawyer on drums and occasionally bass guitar, and Corin Tucker on guitar and vocals.[1] Their first appearance was at the International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in August 1991.[2][3] For one night an all-female bill, dubbed "Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now", commanded the stage with Heavens to Betsy, Bratmobile, Jean Smith of Mecca Normal and 7 Year Bitch appearing, an event that is widely considered one of the pivotal events in the inception of the riot grrrl movement.[2]
Their first record, a split single on K Records with Bratmobile, is often considered an essential riot grrrl recording.[citation needed] The band recorded three singles, produced one LP/CD, Calculated, and contributed to many compilations while they were together. These recordings are now sought after by collectors.[citation needed] One of these compilations, Free to Fight, also included a song contributed by the band Excuse 17, of which Carrie Brownstein was a member. Tucker and Brownstein began to play together, and when Heavens to Betsy disbanded in the mid-1990s, the two women founded Sleater-Kinney.
Several of the band's songs were featured in the 2013 video game Gone Home, including the song "Complicated", which was used in the game's end credits.
Discography[]
Albums[]
- Self-titled demo, cassette (1992)
- Calculated CD/LP. Kill Rock Stars (1994)
Singles and EPs[]
- Heavens to Betsy/Bratmobile split 7", K Records (1992)
- These Monsters Are Real 7" EP, Kill Rock Stars (1992) (remastered and re-released in 2018)
- 7" Chainsaw Records (1994)
Compilations[]
- Throw compilation, CD, "Baby's Gone" Yoyo Recordings (1992)
- Julep compilation, CD, "She's the One" Yoyo Recordings (1993)
- Kill Rock Stars compilation, CD/LP, "My Red Self" Kill Rock Stars (1994)
- Free to Fight compilation, double CD/ triple LP, "Get Out of my Head" (co-release on Candy Ass Records and Chainsaw (1995)
- Yo Yo A Go Go compilation CD/LP, "Axemen", Yoyo Recordings (1996)
- Some Songs compilation, CD, "Firefly", Kill Rock Stars (1997)
Soundtracks[]
- "My Secret", featured in I Was A Teenage Serial Killer by Sarah Jacobson
- Multiple songs featured in Gone Home.
References[]
- ^ Jason Ankeny. "Heavens to Betsy Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hopper, Jessica (June 13, 2011). "Riot Grrrl get noticed". The Guardian. Manchester, UK.
- ^ "WATCH: Riot Grrrl Retrospectives - 'Girl Night' at the 1991 International Pop Underground Convention". Museum of Pop Culture. May 28, 2020.
External links[]
- All-female bands
- Punk rock groups from Washington (state)
- Kill Rock Stars artists
- Riot grrrl bands
- Musical groups from Olympia, Washington
- Musical groups established in 1991
- Musical groups disestablished in 1994
- 1991 establishments in Washington (state)
- Feminist musicians