User:Betty X/Sandbox
For Malcolm X's wife, see Betty Shabazz
Zoe Kaylor (born Zoe Pierce-Gibson), better known by her stage name Betty X[1], is an American performance artist, singer, songwriter, and activist[2]. She is best known as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X[2] and for her brainchild project Salon Betty[3].
With a background in fine art, Betty got her start in music back in 1994 when she formed the sleazy and provocative art rock band, Salon Betty. As the years progressed, Betty X's music steadily grew darker, heavier and more politically-charged. She eventually disbanded Salon Betty to focus on a solo career.[2]
Audiences and reviewers often describe her work as caustic and controversial as well as surreal. Betty X is known for mixing performance art and video installations with her live performances. She is also well known in the underground art/music scene for her guerrilla art and outrageous on-stage antics, particularly with her first project, Salon Betty[4].
Biography[edit]
1993-1999: Career beginnings and Salon Betty[edit]
In 1993 Betty X formed the sleazy and controversial dark cabaret art rock project band, Salon Betty, which received international attention and positive reviews by audiences. Salon Betty maintained a "revolving door" policy, where musicians and artists could come and go, with only two permanent members; Betty X and Hate (f.k.a. Tattoo, the Bat Fink). Betty X cites the idea as being born in Prague while she was living there during the winter of 1992, from a dream that she had about "a punk rock hair salon/and "house of ill repute"'[5][6] — A den of decadence and art, ala John Waters and David Lynch.
Salon Betty had a large local Seattle cult following. Live performances were raucous events described as one of the sleaziest, weirdest, most outrageous, and funnest circus to grace the stages of legendary Northwest venues such as Moe's, The Showbox, The Crocodile, Bumbershoot, Music West and Pride Rally[7] — gaining infamy for crazy stage antics, whipped cream, novelty toys, bubbles, blue baby dolls, blow up dolls, glitter, sausage logs, and half-nude performances in front of Bumbershoot's "family-oriented" audience[6].
In 1995, she was credited by i-Music (now Artist Direct) as the first female performer to be broadcast live on the Internet. She was also featured in the first Interactive Paper Doll on the Internet, created by Scott Blum, founder of iMusic (Artist Direct) and in association with Real World Studios. Both projects received awards and rave reviews. [4][8].
Salon Betty ultimately went on to produce three albums: The Big Hair Sex Circus[9] in 1996, Arizona in 1997 on Anti-Social Records and It Came From Planet X in 1999 after Salon Betty had disbanded.
After several independent releases and hundreds of live performances, the project went on hiatus in 1997 when Betty returned to Prague. The project was officially retired in 1998, after a special limited engagement and final farewell show at ManRay in Cambridge, MA[6].
1999-2005: Betty X and Bad Side of Love[edit]
After Salon Betty disbanded, Betty X decided to pursue a solo career, experimenting with darker themes and more experimental vocalizations, resulting in a heavier sound overall. This culminated in the 1999 release Bad Side of Love, Betty X's debut solo album. Bad Side of Love was written and co-produced by Betty X with music producer Vincent Saletto (Genitorturers) in Tampa, Florida, at the now defunct Hotter Than Hell Studios.
The album's heavy and dark industrial trip-hop vibe was a drastic change from the campy, light-hearted Salon Betty material. Betty X covered Soft Cell's song "Sex Dwarf" with producer Vincent Saletto and guitarist Bizz (Bryce Bernuis), both formerly of the Genitorturers.
2004-2006: Dystopia[edit]
Betty X's second solo release was Dystopia in 2004, an EP of six tracks plus one bonus track. This album, co-produced by Betty's silent partner, Hate, featured heavier guitar riffs and more violent sonic tones than the debut album dubbed as dystopian or dystopic rock and/or post-apocalyptic rock. It was fairly successful, gaining some national attention via an internet cult following, corporate and college radio play and also spawning a national tour.
In 2004 several of the album's tracks, including "Shoot'em Up" and "Aurora," were featured on the movie soundtrack to independent filmmaker Craig Kovach's sci-fi horror film, "Unearthed", featuring Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn) Behind the Music "Human Disease" and "Two Minutes Hate" were inspired by George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and were the inspiration for the title and concept of the EP . Hidden last track "Mon Venus" is loosely based on Homer's Odyssey and a sleazy strip-club in Tampa and inspired the creation of a Medusa and Kali hybrid demon Mons Venus, who is a recurring lyrical character throughout songs in Betty X's lyrics
Around this same time Betty X began collaborating with Martin Atkins (Pigface, Ministry, PIL), and provided a live guest performance with Pigface and vocal recording for Sheep On Drugs' Machine Sex. Martin asked Betty to join the Pigface tour in spring of 2005, but she declined because of health issues. Betty X was replaced with Hanin Elias of Atari Teenage Riot.
2006-2009: Memoirs of a Pain Junkie[edit]
Memoirs of a Pain Junkie was Betty X's third solo release and first full-length album. It is also her heaviest and hardest-hitting material to date. "Memoirs of a Pain Junkie" is based on Betty X's fictional auto-biography. Released in summer of 2006, the album features a new version of "Shoot 'em Up" remixed by Martin Atkins of Pigface on drums and Steven Siebold of Hate Dept on lead guitar. "The Snakepit" is a drug induced frenzy with demonic vocalization and screams in the vein of Diamanda Galas.
2009: Religious Reich[edit]
Religious Reich is Betty X's official fourth solo release and was released September 9, 2009. The album broaches the controversial topic of the unholy alliance of Church and State in a dystopian society where civil liberties have been stamped out. “The Group Suicide Show”, a song from the album, was previewed exclusively on KAOS Radio Austin on September 9, 2009.
2010: Satan in High Heels[edit]
Satan in High Heels was a side project of Betty X. Satan in High Heels was dark and insidious jazz with a harder edge, described as a David Lynchian death lounge trip. Satan in High Heels released three singles, “She Devil”, “Red Riding Hood” and “Bad Side of Love”
2015: Bad Juju[edit]
Bad Juju (2015) is Betty X's fifth official solo release, released September 27th, 2015 under the blood moon eclipse. The album takes a departure from Religious Reich's harsh industrial-metal to the swampy South. Sultry dark alternative David Lynch inspired blues-noir, tinged with paranormal undertones with legendary Ministry (band) front-man, Al Jourgensen working as the co-producer[10].
Other appearances[edit]
- Betty X collaborated with Jeremy Gloff and RhondaK in a live cabaret performance of Sham-Pain 2001. Her songs “Champagne Blonde” and “Bohemian Sekt” with Jeremy Gloff were selected for inclusion on the 2001 album SEVEN DEADLY SIPS: Original Cast Recording Of Sham-Pain recorded at Hotter Than Hell Studios.
- The Betty X song “Teen Dream” was included on the 2005 compilation album Down Derby Volume 1 : A Tribute to the Rat City Rollergirls Compilation by the band American School of Warsaw
- Betty X is mentioned in Martin Atkins' book Tour:Smart in 2007
- Betty X was a guest vocalist on Sheep on Drugs' 2006 song “Machine Sex” from their album F**CK.
- In 2011 the Betty X song "Shoot 'em Up" appeared on the Surge & Subside: Queensland Flood Appeal compilation, a Electronic / Industrial fundraiser compilation for the 2010-2011 flood victims in Queensland, Australia[11]
- Film Betty X has appeared in two low-budget films; "In Your Blood" (1995) and "Psych-o-tropolis" (1995) directed by Jeffro Brunk.
- She recently appeared in the 2010 black comedy film The Birthday by David Bessenhoffer that was featured in the Austin Film Society SXSW Film Fest 2011
- She was the first hostess of Go Kustom TV in 2001, and interviewed cartoonist Charles Burns, Kirsten Andersen, Art Curator/Owner of Roq La Rue, Rick Klu, Sabrina Rockarena of Cookie, and Big John Bates and The Voodoo Dollz[12].
- On May 3, 2015 Betty X made a guest appearance in Dallas, Texas at The Bomb Factory where she performed “Perfect Storm” and “Fairly Unbalanced” with Al Jourgensen and Ministry (band) and again on June 6 in Austin, at The Mohawk[13].
- Betty X is a credited contributor to the 2016 album by Al Jourgensen's Surgical Meth Machine, providing additional vocals[14]
- Betty X has also shared the stage with many notable performers, including Asesino, Prong, Patti Smith[5], Powerman 5000, Machine Head, Pigface, Aiden, Professional Murder Music, Zeke, and Tim Cridland (AKA "Zamora the Torture King").
- Film Betty X has appeared in two low-budget films; "In Your Blood" (1995) and "Psych-o-tropolis" (1995) directed by Jeffro Brunk.
- She recently appeared in the 2010 black comedy film The Birthday by David Bessenhoffer that was featured in the Austin Film Society SXSW Film Fest 2011
- She was the first hostess of Go Kustom TV in 2001[12], and interviewed cartoonist Charles Burns, Kirsten Andersen, Art Curator/Owner of Roq La Rue, Rick Klu, Sabrina Rockarena of Cookie, and Big John Bates and The Voodoo Dollz.
- Betty X is mentioned in the Nick Cave song "More News From Nowhere" on his 2008 release Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!![15]
- Betty X interviewed various bands and artists: Hanzel und Gretyl; Raymond Watts of PIG; Curse Mackey of Pigface, Grim Faeries, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and Evil Mothers; cartoonist Charles Burns; illustrator Krysztof Nemeth of Charm School for various periodicals and magazines such as The Sinner, The Seattle Underground, The Stranger, The Rocket, and the Hypercult E-Zine.
Influences[edit]
Betty X has cited Nina Hagen , B-52's, The Cramps, Gavin Friday, The Creatures, Blondie, Tom Waits, David Lynch, Cocktail-Kitsch Lounge-Core Movement, Sci-fi/Horror Films as having influenced her during her early days in Salon Betty.[5].
Genre[edit]
Betty X's earlier sound with Salon Betty has been described as gothabilly, death lounge, dark cabaret, punk cabaret, new wave, or, most commonly, art rock. Jamie Hook, a reviewer for the The Stranger described the music as, "Neu-Wavo Ranchero" and referred to the fans as "Bettephiles."
Her current self-titled solo project is much heavier and darker than previous material; with heavy, loud and grinding guitars, breakneck tempos, apocalyptic distortion and noise, moody sound-scapes and extremely aggressive, distorted vocals. The music is best described as industrial metal.
The newer songs cover a range of genres, however: "Human Disease" has the totalitarian/Orwellian flavor of Marilyn Manson, "Dystopia" is a poppy, bass-driven tune à la Nine Inch Nails, "Mons Venus" is a dark and sultry rock piece akin to P.J. Harvey, and most of Memoirs of a Pain Junkie could be considered straight-forward alternative metal in the style of Ministry's Psalm 69.
Equipment[edit]
Electric violin, bass, 1950's accordion, cheap old chord organ, Gibson Les Paul hollow body Diablo rockabilly guitar, keys, drums, big rusty sawblade, skeleton "Day of the Dead" maracas and a variety of percussion instruments[5].
Appearances[edit]
| Artist | Title | Format | Year | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salon Betty | The Big Hair Sex Circus | Album | 1996 | iMusic | |
| Arizona | Album | 1997 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| It Came from Planet X | Album | 1999 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| Betty X | Bad Side of Love | EP | 2002 | Anti-Social Records | |
| Dystopia | EP | 2004 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| Memoirs of a Pain Junkie | Album | 2006 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| Bad Juju | Album | 2015 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| Satan in High Heels | "She Devil" | Single | 2010 | Anti-Social Records | |
| "Red Riding Hood" | Single | 2010 | Anti-Social Records | ||
| "Bad Side of Love" | Single | 2010 | Anti-Social Records |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "In Your Blood" | Director: Jeffro Brunk | |
| 1995 | "Psych-o-tropolis" | Director: Jeffro Brunk | |
| 2001 | Go Kustom TV | Hostess | |
| 2010 | "The Birthday" | Director: David Bessenhoffer |
References[edit]
- ^ eMinor. "BETTY X | Alternative from Austin, TX". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ a b c "ABOUT | Betty X | Official Site". www.bettyx.com. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ "Best of Salon Betty, by Salon Betty". Salon Betty. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ a b Gutenberg, Project. "Betty x | Project Gutenberg Self-Publishing - eBooks | Read eBooks online". self.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ a b c d "Salon Betty". SoundClick. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ a b c "Salon Betty Lyrics, Song Meanings, Videos, Full Albums & Bios". SonicHits. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ "Salon Betty Profile". VampireFreaks.com. VampireFreaks.com. 4/9/2010. Retrieved 12/19/2016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help) - ^ "Brian Castillo". Wikipedia. 2016-08-20.
- ^ The Big Hair Sex Circus by Salon Betty, retrieved 2016-12-19
- ^ eMinor. "BETTY X | Alternative from Austin, TX". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ "Surge & Subside: Queensland Flood Appeal by Various Artists on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ a b "Go-Kustom TV - Official Site". www.go-kustom.com. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ^ Betty X (2016-09-09), Betty X with Ministry - Bomb Factory, retrieved 2016-12-19
- ^ "Surgical Meth Machine". Wikipedia. 2016-07-12.
- ^ "Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds:More News From Nowhere". LyricWikia. Retrieved 2016-12-19.