Heavens to Betsy
Encyclopedia
Heavens to Betsy was an American indie
-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington
in 1991. They were part of the DIY riot grrrl
movement
in the punk rock underground
in the early 1990s, and were the first band of Sleater-Kinney
vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker
.
The members were fellow Evergreen State College students Tracy Sawyer on drum
s and occasionally bass guitar
, and Corin Tucker
on guitar
and vocals. One of their first appearances was at the International Pop Underground Convention
organized by independent record label
K Records
in 1991. 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. Their first record was a split single on K Records with Bratmobile
, considered an essential Riot Grrrl recording. 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. One of these compilations, Free to Fight
, also included a song contributed by the band Excuse 17
, of which Carrie Brownstein
was a member. Corin and Carrie began to play together, and when Heavens to Betsy disbanded in the mid 1990s, the two women founded Sleater-Kinney.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
in 1991. They were part of the DIY riot grrrl
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement based in Washington, DC, Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and the greater Pacific Northwest which existed in the early to mid-1990s, and it is often associated with third-wave feminism...
movement
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
in the punk rock underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
in the early 1990s, and were the first band of Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker
Corin Tucker
Corin Lisa Tucker is a singer and guitarist, best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney.- Early life :In the early 1990s, Tucker attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied film, political economy, and social change...
.
The members were fellow Evergreen State College students Tracy Sawyer on drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s and occasionally bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Corin Tucker
Corin Tucker
Corin Lisa Tucker is a singer and guitarist, best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney.- Early life :In the early 1990s, Tucker attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied film, political economy, and social change...
on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals. One of their first appearances was at the International Pop Underground Convention
International Pop Underground Convention
International Pop Underground Convention is a live compilation documenting the International Pop Underground Convention, a six-day festival held at the Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington in August 1991. The festival was organized by Calvin Johnson, who also performs on the album as part of the...
organized by independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
in 1991. For one night an all-female bill, dubbed "Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now" commanded the stage with Heavens to Betsy, Bratmobile
Bratmobile
Bratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
, Jean Smith
Jean Smith
Jean Smith is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead singer of the Vancouver-based band Mecca Normal, as well as a painter, novelist, lecturer and filmmaker...
of Mecca Normal
Mecca Normal
Formed by Jean Smith and David Lester in 1984, Mecca Normal is a two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with feminist themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals...
and 7 Year Bitch
7 Year Bitch
7 Year Bitch was an American punk rock band from Seattle, Washington that was active for 7 years, between 1990 and 1997. Their career yielded three albums, and was impacted by the deaths of their guitarist Stefanie Sargent and close-friend Mia Zapata of fellow Seattle punks The Gits.-Career:7 Year...
appearing, an event that is widely considered one of the pivotal events in the inception of the Riot Grrrl
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement based in Washington, DC, Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and the greater Pacific Northwest which existed in the early to mid-1990s, and it is often associated with third-wave feminism...
movement. Their first record was a split single on K Records with Bratmobile
Bratmobile
Bratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
, considered an essential Riot Grrrl recording. The band recorded three singles, produced one LP/CD, Calculated
Calculated
Calculated is the only full-length record by American punk band Heavens to Betsy. It was released on January 1, 1994 on Kill Rock Stars.-Track listing:#"Nothing Can Stop Me"#"Decide"#"Stay Away"#"Calculated"#"Waitress Hell"#"Intermission 247"...
, and contributed to many compilations while they were together. These recordings are now sought after by collectors. One of these compilations, Free to Fight
Free to Fight
Free to Fight is a project consisting of a 1995 double album and booklet, and a single later released by Candy Ass Records.The release is subtitled "an interactive self-defense project." The theme of the project is self-defense for women, and it includes records featuring all-women bands and a...
, also included a song contributed by the band Excuse 17
Excuse 17
Excuse 17 was a punk rock band from Olympia, Washington that performed and recorded from 1993 to 1995.Carrie Brownstein, Becca Albee and CJ Phillips came together to form Excuse 17, a band that would only last a few years but would prove to be influential. Carrie and Becca both played guitar and...
, of which Carrie Brownstein
Carrie Brownstein
Carrie Rachel Brownstein , is an American musician, writer, and actress, best known as a guitarist and vocalist in the now-defunct Portland, Oregon-based band Sleater-Kinney...
was a member. Corin and Carrie began to play together, and when Heavens to Betsy disbanded in the mid 1990s, the two women founded Sleater-Kinney.
Albums
- Self-titled demo, cassette (1992)
- CalculatedCalculatedCalculated is the only full-length record by American punk band Heavens to Betsy. It was released on January 1, 1994 on Kill Rock Stars.-Track listing:#"Nothing Can Stop Me"#"Decide"#"Stay Away"#"Calculated"#"Waitress Hell"#"Intermission 247"...
CD/LP. Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
(1993)
Singles and EPs
- Heavens to Betsy/ BratmobileBratmobileBratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
split 7", K Records (1992) - These Monsters Are Real 7" EP, Kill Rock Stars (1992)
- Direction 7" Chainsaw RecordsChainsaw RecordsChainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
(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 RecordsCandy Ass RecordsCandy Ass Records is an independent record label run out of Portland, Oregon by Jody Bleyle, a member of the band Team Dresch as well as member of Hazel and formerly of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs....
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 KillerI Was A Teenage Serial KillerI Was a Teenage Serial Killer is an underground no budget film written and directed by "The Queen of Underground Film", Sarah Jacobson. It is a short black-and-white film of a 19-year-old girl who is sick of sexist men and kills them. It was Jacobson's first film and it was released through her own...
by Sarah JacobsonSarah JacobsonSarah Jacobson was an independent filmmaker who wrote, produced, and filmed her own movies.-Career:...