Betty Blowtorch Drummer Judy Molish Speaks
By
Frank Meyer,
Contributing Editor
Thursday, December 20, 2001 @ 3:26 PM
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Judy Molish Issues Statement Regarding Death Of Betty Blowtorch Bandmate Bianca Halstead
Betty Blowtorch drummer drummer Judy Molish contacted KNAC.COM to issue a statement regarding the death of her bandmate Bianca Halstead (a.k.a Bianca Butthole).
Her statement reads:
In this very difficult time my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to Bianca's
Family, Blaire, Linda and all her friends and fans. I will forever hold my personal memories of Bianca deep in my heart. And although we have been through our share of up's and downs I will always remember her as the person I saw through my eyes...
She was the one who helped me put on my make-up, she would buy me little gifts from truck stops then leave them on my van seat, she was the one who made me eggplant on my birthday then made me wear a party hat, she was the one who brought me homemade soup when I was sick...
We have lost a loving friend.
I hope we will all take a moment to remember how Bianca has touched our lives AND to remember that each moment you spend with someone is truly precious.
May she rest in peace.
All my love,
Judy
Molish and guitarist/vocalist Sharon Needles left Betty Blowtorch during their tour with Nashville Pussy earlier this month and have been the subject of much negativity among press and fans in the last couple of weeks. However, one must realize that the inner-band turmoil that resulted in their sudden departure has NOTHING to do with Bianca’s death. As her longtime friends, bandmates and partners in crime, they too are devastated by this tragedy.
Halstead and guitarist Blare (a.k.a Blaire) continued on with tour, recruiting a drummer named Dave from the Atlanta band Bitch and former L7 guitarist Jennifer Finch. Tragically, Halstead was killed in a car accident on December 15th in New Orleans. The driver of the car, Brian McAllister, offered Bianca a lift home in his ’86 Corvette after a night out on the town with friends. They were driving on the I-10 near Kenner (near New Orleans) when McAllister lost control of the wheel and the car spun around, jumping the median and heading into oncoming traffic. They were sideswiped by another car on Bianca’s side and she was killed instantly. Witnesses estimated McAllister's speed at more than 100 mph and police said he had been drinking. McAllister is be held by New Orleans police and is facing criminal charges.
A public memorial will be held at 6pm Saturday at the club Dragonfly in Hollywood for Betty Blowtorch’s Bianca Halstead (a.k.a Bianca Butthole), who died Saturday morning in a car accident in New Orleans. Located at 6510 Santa Monica Blvd. In West Hollywood, the club served as a breeding ground for Betty Blowtorch, who played there frequently.
Funeral services will be private.
Bronx, N.Y.-born Bianca’s first band was Sin, which included the guitarist Bitch. Both women also played in the group Butt Trumpet and later performed with Humble Gods before forming Betty Blowtorch in 1998. The band released a Duff McKagen produced EP before issuing their full-length debut, Are You Man Enough?, earlier this year through Foodchain Records. They had been touring to much acclaim ever since and headed out on a national trek with Nashville Pussy to promote the effort, their biggest tour yet. The six-week tour was supposed to conclude with a New Year's Eve show at the legendary Whisky on the Sunset Strip.
Halstead is survived by her parents, Angele and Gerry Woolery of Coupeville, WA, her sisters, Selina Smith and Victoria Roberts, and her brother, Andrew Wilson, all of Los Angeles.
We at KNAC.COM send our deepest condolences to Bianca's family, friends and bandmates.
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