Heavens to Betsy

Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991 with vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker and drummer Tracy Sawyer. The duo 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 Tucker.

Heavens to Betsy
OriginOlympia, Washington
GenresRiot grrrl, indie rock, punk rock
Years active1991–1994
LabelsK
Chainsaw
Yoyo
Past membersCorin Tucker
Tracy Sawyer

History

Corin Tucker came up with the band name Heavens to Betsy in Eugene, Oregon during the summer 1990, moved to Olympia that fall to attend Evergreen State College, and formed a band with fellow Evergeen student Tracy Sawyer in 1991.[1] Heavens to Betsy's first appearance was at the International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in August 1991.[1][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]

Heavens to Betsy is often considered an essential first-wave riot grrrl band, with Tucker on guitar and vocals and Sawyer on drums and occasionally bass guitar.[4][5][6] Their first record was a split single on K Records with Bratmobile. Heavens to Betsy 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. Tucker and Brownstein began to play together, and when Heavens to Betsy disbanded in the mid-1990s, the two women founded Sleater-Kinney.[5][6]

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

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)
  • Direction (7")|Direction 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

References
  1. Monem, Nadine, ed. (2007). Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now!. Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 978-1906155018.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Hopper, Jessica (June 13, 2011). "Riot Grrrl get noticed". The Guardian. Manchester, UK.
  3. "WATCH: Riot Grrrl Retrospectives - 'Girl Night' at the 1991 International Pop Underground Convention". Museum of Pop Culture. May 28, 2020.
  4. Jason Ankeny. "Heavens to Betsy Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
  5. McDonnell, Evelyn; Vincentelli, Elisabeth (May 6, 2019). "Riot Grrrl United Feminism and Punk. Here's an Essential Listening Guide". New York Times. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  6. Sheffield, Rob (March 27, 2020). "Riot Grrrl Album Guide: Essential LPs from Nineties rock's feminist revolution". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
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