Interview With Betsy Weiss - BITCH

March 3, 2015

By Londa R. Marks | Interview

Published By Tempi-Dispari, Rome, Italy and 

Rock Legend News Firenze, Italy

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Heavy metal vocalist, Betsy Weiss with Hollywood’s own, BITCH

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Rock Legend News: Betsy, what has been your musical influence and your approach to the music?

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Betsy Weiss: I've always maintained that my influence as far as wanting to front a rock and roll band is Alice Cooper. He's the epitome of a front-person playing a character, as I do with "Betsy Bitch". And even though I adore Alice's interpretations of songs, my true vocal influence is Robin Zander, lead singer of Cheap Trick, the best rock & roll vocalist EVER, in my humble opinion. I also have to give some credit to The Runaways, who I saw in concert before I began singing in bands. I remember looking up at Cherie Currie onstage and saying to myself "Hey, I can do that too!"

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Rock Legend News: You formed rock band Bitch in 1981 and were the first that signed with Metal Blade Records. What are a few of your fondest memories of those days?

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Betsy Weiss: Bitch was actually formed in late 1980, just for the record. The whole 80's metal scene was so much fun. There was something going on every night of the week at clubs in Hollywood and in the San Fernando Valley. We were all one big metal family. Often times you didn't even have to go into a club in Hollywood - there was just this big party happening out on The Sunset Strip; bands milling around, doing their P.R., putting up flyers. The gigs were great, featuring awesome never-again line-ups, like Bitch, Armored Saint and Malice - and the after-parties were monumental, a lot of which took place at my house that I shared with my Mom at the time. She partied right along with us! (and also managed the band, by the way).

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Rock Legend News: Bitch was one of the first rock bands with a female singer. A lot of females are interested in playing rock music and role model after someone like you. What would you like to tell females who are considering playing in a rock band regarding any difficulties you may have discovered?

 

Betsy Weiss: You're right, I was one of the few women fronting a metal band back in those days. As far as running in the same circles as the male musicians, I was kind of fortunate in that I felt very accepted by them, always kind of felt like "one of the guys". In terms of critics, reviews, press coverage, etc. - it was mixed. I largely was not taken seriously at first, but then when the music was actually listened to, it lent to the band's credibility when it was discovered that my/our image was backed-up with talent and kick-ass material. My advice would be