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. 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. 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)
• 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

• "My Secret", featured in I Was A Teenage Serial Killer by Sarah Jacobson
• Multiple songs featured in Gone Home.

External links

• Kill Rock Stars factsheet