January 16, 2002 — A New York benefit concert for the family of Bianca Halstead (aka Bianca Butthole, singer/bassist of Betty Blowtorch) is set for Tuesday, February 12th, at Club Luxx in Brooklyn -- the venue which hosted Betty Blowtorch's last NY show.

All proceeds from the show go to assist Halstead's family with funeral and burial arrangements.

Bands to perform include Firegods (featuring Sean from the Toilet Boys), Bantam (featuring Gina of the Lunachicks), Candy Ass, the Humanoids, Supagroup, Angel Rot, Bad Wizard, the Munts and a special re-union show by Helldorado (featuring Nashville Pussy bassist Tracy Almazan and Blare N. Bitch of Betty Blowtorch). Other special guests to be added.

Tickets are $8 at the door (21 and over). Show starts 8 pm.

Halstead, age 36, died in a car accident, December 15, 2001. She was a passenger in the car driven by an intoxicated fan. The car went out of control at high speeds when the two were returning to the band's hotel. Betty Blowtorch were on tour with Nashville Pussy and had played a show at the Howling Wolf Club in New Orleans that evening. The driver was hospitalized. Halstead died at the scene.

An additional benefit concert was held at the Dragonfly Club in Los Angeles last night. The show was attended by Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister.

The Superbees, Motochrist, Texas Terri & the Stiff Ones, Faster Pussycat, Coyote Shivers and the Pleasure Seekers performed.

To end the evening's performance Blare N. Bitch of Betty Blowtorch fronted an all-star band featuring Jeremy Thompson (Nashville Pussy), Frank Mayer (Street Walkin' Cheetahs), Jennifer Finch (ex- L7, OSP), Texas Terri, Casper (Pleasure Seekers), Derrick (B-Movie Rats), Charlie Paulson (ex- Goldfinger), Danny (Motochrist), Taimie Down (Faster Pussycat/Newlydeads).

The all-star band performed two Betty Blowtorch songs, "Shut Up And Fuck" and "Hell On Wheels" and also covered some of Halstead's favorite songs: The Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog," The Ramones' "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do," AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and L7's "American Society" which featured Jennifer Finch on lead vocals. The band also performed Motorhead's "Iron Fist" with Texas Terri on lead vocals -- to the delight and amazement of audience member Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, who gave it the thumbs up. Between bands, DJing was provided Halstead's nephew, Soup (member of the British-based band, Autonomy).

Bianca was in the band Butt Trumpet before forming Betty Blowtorch in 1998. Betty Blowtorch's CD Are You Man Enough? was released May 2001 on Foodchain Records.