Global EditionPremium world briefings with timeline, impact, and future-watch analysis.
‘We never apologised for our rage or revenge-seeking’: riot grrrl legends Heavens to Betsy reunite
Culture & SocietyThe Guardian20 Aug, 09:15 amAtlasHour
Culture & Society

‘We never apologised for our rage or revenge-seeking’: riot grrrl legends Heavens to Betsy reunite

Alongside Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, Corin Tucker and Tracy Sawyer created a feminist punk vernacular that’s still inspiring the likes of Olivia Rodrigo. They recall the clarity and conviction of their historic teenage exploits Back in June, a cut-and-paste photocopied flyer began appearing on telegraph poles around Portland, Oregon, promoting a DIY show by an apparently defunct band at an intimate community space. The band hadn’t mentioned it online, but hopeful fans bought every ticket anyway. Their bet paid off: the gig really was the first in 32 years for Heavens to Betsy, the pioneering feminist punk duo of drummer Tracy Sawyer and singer-guitarist Corin Tucker – the latter’s band before Sleater-Kinney unleashed her visceral vibrato unto the world. Tucker proudly made the flyer herself. Heavens to Betsy were barely out of high school when they played their very first show, 35 years ago this week, in Olympia, Washington, a two-song set as part of a now-mythical indie fest dubbed the International Pop Underground Convention. The festival also featured the likes of Fugazi, Bikini Kill and Melvins; meanwhile Heavens to Betsy had practised only a couple times. Before an audience of about 100, Sawyer was so terrified that all she could think was, “This has to be over soon.”..

Source-linkedAtlasHour DeskThe Guardian20 Aug, 09:15 am

What happened

Alongside Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, Corin Tucker and Tracy Sawyer created a feminist punk vernacular that’s still inspiring the likes of Olivia Rodrigo.

Why it matters

AtlasHour context: this story may affect public policy, global affairs, business confidence, technology direction, energy security, or civic life.

Global context

The story is being tracked through Global Markets.

Who is affected

Global Markets

What to watch next

Readers should watch official responses, local reaction, source updates, and whether the story changes the next decision cycle.

Read the original source
Why It Matters

The consequence layer

AtlasHour context: this story may affect public policy, global affairs, business confidence, technology direction, energy security, or civic life.

Watch Next

What To Watch Next

Key Facts

Three facts to keep in view

1Source

The Guardian

1 min readRead time

Designed for a concise world-news brief.

1Context tags

Used for editorial story mapping and source context.

Read Next

Related Stories

AtlasHour updates articles as new verified information becomes available. Corrections and source context can be sent to the newsroom.