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July 19, 2002 Los Angeles, Ca |
Formerly of BUTT TRUMPET and co-founding member of BETTY BLOWTORCH, Blare N. Bitch is one hot chick. Guitarist extraordinaire, she is. Both her previous bands were known for two things: obnoxious lyrics (let's say it together "Shut up and fuck!"), and bad ass, kick ass hard rockin' songs that begged to be played on and beyond 11. But sooner than later, some fucked up shit happened that ultimately led to the end of everybody's favorite band, BETTY BLOWTORCH.
It's been an exhausting year for Blare, to say the least. Considering what she's been through it was hard to decide when it'd be a good time to ask for an interview, if at all. I mean, how can you talk to someone while tip-toeing around sensitive subjects, uncomfortable memories? You can't, so either you talk about it or you don't ask for the interview. I compromised. I waited. And waited. And then waited some more. I had a lot of questions. And there are only a couple places to get the answers.
Amongst a slew of other topics, Blare speaks candidly about the night of band mate Bianca's fatal car accident. And, she talks about how the future looks for herself and her guitar.
You have an accent that I cant quite place...
I'm from NYC, born in Queens. I don't consider myself having a strong Queens accent, don't know why. Now if you were to talk to my mom that would be a different story. I lived in Manhattan, Lower East Side, for about 8 years before moving to California. I've lived here for about 10 years now. I moved out here with my girlfriend who is originally from LA. I got pretty burnt out in NY and wanted a change - we both did. So we moved out here. I miss the LES, my friends and the food, but certainly don't miss the winters and high rent. Rent control - the good ol' days.
When you first started playing guitar did you have to play it upside down and backwards?
The teacher kept on trying have me play right-handed but I kept on flipping it around so eventually he restrung it. I think I was about 8 yrs old.
What about guitars would you want to re-design for left-handed players?
On one of my left handed guitar's the volume/tone controls are right handed, they turn as if it were a right-handed guitar. I just keep my volume turned up anyway, but that's really annoying. I would like to not have to pay more for a left-handed guitar. And I wish there were more of them around, more choices. It takes me about 10 minutes to shop for a guitar in Guitar Center in Hollywood. I basically scan all the guitars, which 99% of them are right handed. Except for the usual Strat - oh geez. There is a place in Pasadena called Route 66 that has a good selection of left-handed guitars.
Onstage, do band mates crash into you and knock you out of tune cuz your headstock is some place they're not expecting?
No I stand on the right side of the stage. My headstock is pointing away from the center.
So I guess you missed out on the Sunset Strip metal scene in Hollywood...like Bianca sings on that Betty Blowtorch song "Big Hair, Broken Heart"....
I was in NY in the 80's and pretty oblivious most of the time. But I had some good times at clubs like Max's Kansas City - I played one of my first gigs there right before it closed - and, The Mud Club, CB's, and all the other hangouts. I met Bianca through the band before Butt Trumpet, called SIN. It was a short-lived band - for us anyway.
Was Butt Trumpet a touring band?
We mostly toured west of the Rockies in the beginning, and went out as much as we could. After we got signed we toured the US - tour support is always helpful.
The crowd loved those songs the most. Besides the fact that the songs where off the wall, imagine this cute little tattooed punk girl in pigtails wailing on the mic all those meaningful words...
Butt Trumpet released one full-length album called 'Primitive Enema'. Is it something you think fans should seek out?
Sure, why not? It's a good punk record. It's funny and sarcastic, and if you're collecting stuff especially regarding Bianca then it's a must. She sings the infamous "I've Been So Mad Lately" [that's the one with the great cuss word combo extravaganza] and "Pink Gun". I don't know exactly where you would find it, but I know it's out there somewhere.
So, why did Butt Trumpet break up if three of you stuck together anyway to form Betty Blowtorch?
I think we got burnt. EMI dropped us after we told them that we didn't want to sound like The GoGo's. We were still writing and touring, but I think we felt a little lost on direction. We didn't want to really do the punk thing, but we didn't want to turn our backs on it either. It was a frustrating and confusing time for us, and I guess breaking up, or taking a break as we called it after we got back together, seemed like the best thing. When we got together for Betty Blowtorch we all wanted to rock, but we continued the humor and sarcasm from BT days.
When did Betty Blowtorch form, and was it a conscious effort to make the band all female?
I think it was 1998. And, no, it just worked out that way.
After Betty Blowtorch released 'Are You Man Enough'in 2001, is that when the band started to really tour a lot? Becuz it seems Betty Blowtorch had a huge following, and could easily play on both coasts to full houses...
We always toured as much as possible. We did short tours up and down the coast quite a bit. We started small, up and back from San Fran a bunch of times, hitting places along the way. Going up and down to Portland. And then, Seattle and out to Vegas and Denver and back. And then, out to Texas, etc. We worked hard building up the fan base. Doing weekends, then longer weekends, and then, a week. Etc. If you're doing well, you sell a lot of stuff, and can make better guarantees each time. Plus, we already had a fan base from Butt Trumpet days.
Did the band ever leave the States to play anywhere?
No, unfortunately. Europe was our goal this year.
So, what was it like before Betty Blowtorch left for that Fall 2001 tour with Nashville Pussy? Was the band getting along, not getting along?
The future looked really good for us. We were getting really good offers and opportunities. All the hard work was starting to pay off. Most of the time that the band was together we all got along really well. I think better than most. All bands have their ups and downs but you usually get through those times and work through it for the good and the future of the band. But at that point, leading up to the tour with Nashville Pussy, the band was being divided in half by a manager we were temporarily using on a 6-month trial basis that started at the beginning of the summer. Since we usually had been a tight band we were hoping that this tour would help bring things together. The manager had brought so much crap into the band, instead of helping us work things out she just kept on making it worse. And at that point she knew Bianca and I weren't signing the management contract. So I guess she figured to hell with the band - but instead of leaving the situation she got pissed off, and kept on talking shit until the other two members quit in the shitty way that they did.
What do you think happened to make them [drummer Judy Molish and guitarist Sharon Needles] quit the band not only in the middle of the tour but in the middle of the night?
I can't read people's minds. They obviously were not happy. They choose to work with someone they met 6 months earlier - the so-called manager - as opposed to working things out with the rest of the band. Bianca, myself and Sharon had played together in Butt Trumpet, so besides the 4 years of Betty Blowtorch there was also the history with BT. I can't imagine after working so hard and coming so close to what you work for that anyone would wake up at 4am; drive off with everything - all of our gear and merch, etc...everything - and not call or even leave a note; go home and empty the bank account; screw Bianca out of her tour support - actually, her family 'cause Bianca had borrowed the money from her parents, and before her parents got the check those guys emptied and closed the account. Bianca had also lost her Day-runner a few days earlier, which contained her ID, credit cards, check book, etc., so, even if we wanted to fly home that was not an option. It was a really, really bad thing.
Okay, so your band mates quit the band in a pretty obnoxious way. Did you believe for even a second that Betty Blowtorch was finished, and that you should just go home too?
The one thing those guys didn't count on was that they were replaceable. They thought we'd go home. No way!!! We had them replaced within 48 hours. We were back on the road, playing. We had calls from all over the country from people wanting to audition. I don't think they expected that. Those girls went home, hired a lawyer and were in the process of trying to stop Betty Blowtorch from continuing on. They didn't want the band to exist anymore. How fucked up is that. Fuck us. Fuck the fans. Fuck the label. Well it wasn't going down like that.
Yeah, I know that Bianca put the word out pretty fast about needing people. I think Bianca was responsible for jamming phone lines across America for a couple days...
Yeah, Bianca was like a telephone operator - calls coming in, going out. It was crazy. I was busy finding our own lawyer and dealing with rentals, etc.
So, how did you ultimately choose a line up to finish the tour? I know you got former L7 bassist Jennifer aka Precious Finch to play guitar...
Bianca knew so many people. She had no problem networking. I know she called Becky Wreck (Lunachicks drummer), and Punky (LA guitarist). We already had a drummer, Dave from Atlanta, filling in. We had asked Becky to play the New Year's show at the Whiskey - the final show of the tour. But since Dave was touring with us and had never been to Hollywood we thought it would be a blast to have him play the final show. But we were going to get together with Becky when we got back. We had asked Punky to fill in on guitar. We had heard that she is a really good guitar player, which she is. But she couldn't leave her job on such short notice. Jennifer Finch came through for us. I know Bianca talked to a lot of people and we were going to sort things out when we got back. Choices were not a problem.
Do you wanna talk about the night of the accident? Is that okay?
Yeah.
First of all, who was the driver of the speeding car that Bianca was in when it went head-on with another car?
Brian McAllister. He was a fan. He had been to a bunch of our shows over the past year.
I'd heard Bianca was afraid of high speed driving, so why would he drive so erratically?
I don't think she would have been OK with being driven home at 130 mph, or however fast he was going. She wouldn't have hung with that. I wasn't there but from what I've been told, he at some point just punched it and lost control of his car. There were quite a few cars on the road that night. He and Bianca were almost to the hotel off ramp. He was probably showing off.
Is it true that you and the rest of the band, including Nashville Pussy bassist Tracy Almazan, passed right by the accident?
That's a tough one. The rest of us left in the van to go back to the hotel room about 20-25 minutes after Bianca and Brian left. We were driving down the highway when someone noticed an accident on the other side of the highway. I couldn't look 'cause I was driving. After someone noticed it and said something there was a few seconds of silence. Then we said no way. It was clear on the other side of the highway. All those lanes of traffic plus the meridian...I think the idea of it being true was just so incomprehensible that we just kept on going.
So then, when did you finally hear about it all?
I woke up and had a couple of calls on my cell phone. I turned to see if Bianca was in the room and she wasn't. It was, like, the biggest scare went through every part of my body. When I retrieved my messages I had one from the State Police. The other person who left the message didn't leave his name but he left a message that it was urgent I call him back. I used the phone in the room to call back the State Police, and my cell phone to call the other number. The person who didn't leave his name turned out to be the coroner.
What happened to McAllister, the driver?
He pleaded not guilty and as I understand it he has one more chance to plead guilty otherwise they go to trial. There were a couple of other people who had extensive injuries but I'm not sure of the details. Brian was injured but I'm not sure the extent of his injuries. I believe he recovered. At least when I saw him in New Orleans at one of the court dates he looked physically okay. I didn't speak with him.
And your ex-band mates, Judy and Sharon...
I haven't spoken to them nor do I want to.
Betty Blowtorch singer and bassist, Bianca Halstead aka Bianca Butthole, died in Louisiana in the early morning hours of December 15, 2001. It was a devastating blow to the rock and roll community and, of course, her friends. Bianca didn't just shine onstage. She shined offstage too - just ask any of the fans that have ever met her. Two tributes on two coasts were held by musician friends to help raise money for Bianca's family. Living this precarious rock and roll lifestyle, we believe our parents will have to make the preparations for our deaths rather than the other way around. Bianca apparently made it very clear to her loved ones that when the time came she wanted to be cremated.
Rather than be placed on a waiting list for the procedure to take place in California it happened in New Orleans instead, just a few days later. There was no way Blare was gonna go home without Bianca, so she stayed too. "We had an altar in the hotel room for Bianca," Blare tells me. "Put flowers, coffee, cigarettes, a porcelain Chihuahua with a pink boa. Some candles at the accident site...."
It was Blare, Tracy, Jeremy [Nashville Pussy's drummer], Dave [Betty Blowtorch drummer], Blare's girlfriend Linda and Foodchain Records rep Kelly Spencer that attended the cremation in that southern state. The compassionate people of the crematorium allowed Bianca's friends to loudly play the perfect music for her send off: AC/DC's 'She's Got Balls'.
"We brought Bianca home to her family the next day."
Bianca hadn't even hit mid-life yet, but she knew certain things, like wanting to be cremated, needed to be discussed for a lot of reasons. One of the other requests Bianca made clear was that she be buried in a cemetery where her friends would have easy access to visit whenever they wanted. And that cemetery is the one with the perfect view of the Hollywood sign in the nearby Hollywood Hills. It's the one located right in the middle of Hollywood, in fact.
"Bianca is buried at Hollywood Forever, in the Garden of Legends."
And yet more tributes to Bianca are still ongoing. But, they are in the form of tattoos. Several of her friends, and also her fans alike, have shown their love for Bianca by getting some sort of tattoo that represents Bianca and her rock and roll life.
Well, I'm glad you're finally playing music again. I know you've got at least two projects going on both coasts. Let's talk about L.A. first...
When things started to settle down a bit I was encouraged to keep on playing. I didn't really know what I wanted to do if anything at all. I called up Punky and Becky to see if they wanted to jam. It seemed like the thing to do since we - Bianca and myself - were going to jam with them anyway. We made some good noise and had fun jamming so we kept it up. Eventually, Leah (bass) was added. Through mutual friends of Punky we found out Leah was available, so we asked her to come on down. Leah was also a friend and co-worker of Bianca's. We were calling ourselves Bad Betty but we changed the name to The Blare Bitch Project.
I know all y'all have been taking turns at being lead singer - you, Punky, Becky. Any plans to add a sole lead singer?
That's a definite possibility for the future but we're not in a hurry. We're always open to possibilities, but for now we're working on writing.
I'd heard Selene Vigil of 7 YEAR BITCH was gonna come down and sing for the band. What happened with that idea?
I didn't speak to her first hand, so I'm not really sure. Selene can definitely kick ass so it seemed like a good idea. But, right now, things between the four of us is working out just fine.
Do you wanna give an over all vibe of what the fans can expect to hear from this new band? It seems you all have a different music history...
It's a combo of punk & rock. Punky loves Aerosmith. Becky can play anything and loves all different kinds of music, but she does come from the hardcore punk scene. Leah is a straight up bass player. I think she's been listening to Velvet Underground lately. And, me, I just love a good melody or hook, and some ripping leads. We all love a good jam.
Tell me some song titles you've all been working on
Song 1. Song 2. Song 3, or Becky's song. Punky's song. [Then, Blare comes up with the non-rehearsal titles] "Wait for Me", "I Hate You", "Walk Away", "Make Up Your Fucking Mind", "Rock In Heaven". Punky's song - which I still can't remember the name of. Sorry, Punky. I think we should just call it "Punky's Song".
So when will The Blare Bitch Project start playing out?
I'm hoping early September. I'd thought maybe the end of August, but Leah went out of town for a couple of weeks. Good for her. Vacations are always nice. Maybe next time she'll take the rest of us. Who knows, maybe your Breast Cancer Benefit will be our first LA show.
[Thanks for the plug...this benefit will be September 20, 2002 with confirmed appearances by Butcher Holler, The Blare Bitch Project, Bantam and Texas Terri.]
When will this line-up record?
As soon as we start playing out I think we can start making plans for an EP.
Okay, your NYC project with [now ex-Nashville Pussy bassist] Tracy Almazan...what's it called, who else is involved...
It's called SUCKER. So far, Derek from B-Movie Rats, and we had been talking with other people but nothing concrete. It's one of those things that when it's ready to happen you ask people if they wanna join in.
So you met Tracy recently while on tour with Nashville Pussy?
I met Tracy when I lived in NY. She played drums in my band. Tracy and those guys in NP helped us (Betty Blowtorch) out big time. Nashville Pussy kicks major ass!
Tracy Almazon has many talents, doesn't she. What is she playing in SUCKER?
Primarily guitar, but in the studio if needed she could play drums and bass too. She can do it all. She's even a lawyer.
With Tracy in NYC, how do you two collaborate?
Internet, mail, tapes, CD's...
Will Sucker be a touring band as well?
It's a studio project, but it's on hold right now. Shit happens.
Hey Blare...will you autograph one of your guitars and just give it to me for free even though you need it and love it more than anything? Or else, will you just help me get in touch with Tracy Almazan?
Now let me see: Tracy or my guitar. I think Tracy is worth my guitar, amp AND pedal board.
You're kind of a quiet, reserved person but when you play guitar you speak very loudly. You play guitar behind your neck. You get all rowdy and reckless...and even at rehearsals! You kick ass! So I'm wondering, do you think people expect you to be just as unruly offstage too?
Rock & Roll is not about just standing up on stage for 30-45 minutes. It's about energy, passion, and living out the part of you that is just screaming to be heard. It's gotta come from the gut not from the head. A lot of the time offstage people thought I was Bianca....but then Bianca would show up and blow the whole thing!
So how long did it take you to become such a bad ass on guitar?
I probably started to get good on guitar when I stopped shooting dope. Nodding out on stage was cramping my style.
Do you always hear music, and, y'know, have song ideas just ready to spill out?
I hear melodies in my head when I'm writing or listening to music. Sometimes when I'm falling asleep I hear melodies. A good time to hear things is after a rehearsal - go someplace quite and listen to the ringing in your ears! Nothing like those ringing overtones for inspiration.
Pick a song that you've recently written and tell me what it's about...
It's called 'Walk Away':
"If all the evil people dropped dead today
Would you still be left standing
I can't change the world and I can't change you
So I'll think I'll walk away."
I'm going through a period of introspection. I was trying to write the most depressing song I could. I think I actually did a good job.
Do you write music with instruments other than guitar?
My favorite instrument to write on is bass. With the bass carrying the hook the guitars can play off the hook. I love playing bar chords but with a good hook you can leave the bar chords and play off of that melody and add to it.
Do you work on your own guitars when something's busted?
I don't work on my own guitars. I don't have anyone that I go to regularly. As long as it stays in tune, why bother.
What do you do when not playing guitar? Like, do you have a hobby?
I love hanging out. I've prided myself at times as being a professional hanger-outer. I've tried painting. I'm a terrible painter but I love doing it anyway. And sometimes I just love doing nothing. It's easier to hang out and do nothing in NYC because they have stoops there.
What were you doing at the LA Weekly Music Awards in June?
I was asked to hand out the People's Choice Awards. I didn't want to do it alone, that's kinda depressing. So, I asked the girls if they wanted to join me, do a band thing. It was a lot of fun. I didn't know Punky had stage fright (laughing).
[NOTE: I've known Punky for 20 years - don't forget she's my webmaster, too - and I promise you, Blare, the stage fright only lasts through the first verse of the first song at the first gig... I promise.]
If you had to pick between covering the Beatles or the Stones, which would you choose?
STONES. Now, if you ask me between Stones and Aerosmith, I would have to really think about that one. Probably early Stones, and later Aerosmith. I'd have to run that by Punky.
Did you go to any of those Lilith Fair concerts? And if yes, why???
No, should I have? Actually, I never really gave it much thought. I have no idea who played or who didn't play.
Don't you think Loudith Faire is better than Lilith Fair?
Loud is always better then Lil' !!!
Hey, is that hard to find Betty Blowtorch EP ever gonna be re-released?
The EP is called 'Get Off'. We were working with an indie called Foil Records, which no longer exists. They weren't really into working with Foodchain in re-releasing the EP. Don't know why, but that's just the way it turned out. Foodchain will be releasing a live CD that will include tracks from the 'Get Off' EP as well as other fun memorable times and performances. It might even date back to the later days of Butt Trumpet.
What about that documentary that was being filmed on that last Betty Blowtorch tour? Will it ever see the light of day?
Tony Scarpa is the filmmaker. Tony started to make the documentary about 1 1/2 years ago. He started to film our shows. He went on the road with us a few times - recorded us being in the studio, interviewed us, etc. Some of the stuff is hilarious. But, unfortunately, things happened the way they did and the purpose the documentary is to not only show the life of the band but it's turned out to be more of a tribute to Bianca. He was looking for end of the year or beginning 2003 release date but he said he didn't want to rush it.
What do you want to say to the Betty Blowtorch fans?
Thanks for being there. Thanks for all your support through every thing!!!!!! It's been a hard year for a whole lot of people and the best thing to do is to give each other support. Keep in touch...and let's rock !!!
myspace.com/blarebitch
myspace.com/bettyblowtorchmusic
www.bettyblowtorch.net (a fan site)
www.myspace.com/blarebitchproject
www.foodchainrecords.com
bettyrockers@aol.com (email Blare here)
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