Bianca “Butthole” Halstead was one of two badass bass-playing broads in the controversy-courting band Butt Trumpet. In 1998 she quit Butt Trumpet and started all-girl group Betty Blowtorch with Butt Trumpet cohorts Blare N. Bitch (lead guitar) and Sharon Needles (rhythm guitar, bass). Betty Blowtorch lived up to its name, astonishing concertgoers with raw intensity and a home-made pyrotechnics set that sent club owners into paroxysms of panic.

Can’t think of a better showcase for Bianca and her unique brand of showmanship than the “Betty Blowtorch Anthem”:

Sadly, Bianca Halstead was killed in a car crash December 2001, effectively ending Betty Blowtorch. A documentary film, “Betty Blowtorch and Her Amazing True Life Adventures” was released in 2003.

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Kira Roessler replaced Black Flag bassist Chuck Dukowski in 1983, redefining their sound with a prog-rock proficiency. She held the beat while Ginn and Rollins self-destructed, then split the band in ’85, going on to form Dos with Mike Watt, whom she married in ’87. Today, Kira and Watt are divorced, but still make music together. And Kira’s an Emmy Award-winning dialogue editor for movies like Sucker Punch, Twilight: New Moon, and John Adams.

Here’s a recent interview with Kira Roessler: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2011/07/interview_dos_kira_mike_watt_black_flag.php

And here’s a full Black Flag show from 1984. Kira, rocking a Green Lantern T, provides a taut low-end tightrope for Rollins’ onstage antics.

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Best known as the bassist for White Zombie, Sean Yseult has also played in Germs tribute band Ruined Eye, all-girl surf rock band Famous Monsters, and punk crooners Rock City Morgue. Her father was noted Hemingway biographer Michael S. Reynolds. In addition to music, Sean is an artist, designer, photographer, and author. Her photo memoir I’M IN THE BAND is highly recommended.

At about the three minute mark in this clip, you can watch Sean rocking the thundering 6/4 bassline of White Zombie’s “Black Sunshine” steady as the pistons in a 400HP Mustang… while headbanging. Trust me, that takes serious talent.

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