Due to a massive hype,the sheer volume of fan mail and the vicious
rumours circulating around the band,we feel it`s time to uncloak the
shroud of secrecy.
The band was formed in `98 or `99,no-one knows nor cares for certain,
in a grim inner-city ghetto of Lappeenranta,near the Russian border.
The bleakness of such existence moulded the sound to be naturally harsh
and violent.Apart from a life of crime,hard drugs and the icy grip of
Soviet influence,there wasn`t much to fill the days with.Time was ripe
for young hoods to swap their syringes to instruments and start
channeling their hatred on other people,through music.Black Betsy was
spawned from a freemason-like brotherhood of deranged youths called
Knock Out Crew,along with the almighty Another One Dead,their partners-
in-crime.They did a few shows together and released a split rehearsal
tape in `99.In 2000,Rawley X Productions released `Down For Life`7",with
Black Betsy,Resort To Force,Down My Throat and Past Glories.After a
promising start and a few more shows,problems started to mount.Line-up
problems and Button`s frenzied mood changes escalated to the point that,
in 2001,Black Betsy opened up for New Jersey Bloodline and it would be
their last show for the next five years.During those years,the band was
hibernating,like a beast.The only significant event in the miserable
lives of the remaining members was to move to the decadent,ugly capital
of Finland...Hellsinki.
After long years of radio silence,things started to liven up.At the
very end of 2005,in a desperate attempt to save the band from total
extinction,Button contacted Sipowicz.Once a hardcore enthusiast and an
avid punk rocker,Sipowicz had deteriorated into a petty thief and a rave
maniac,lurking in the seedy corners of all-night rave parties.Years
shook off,friendships were renewed and forged stronger than ever.After
initiation beating,Sipowicz became a made member of Knock Out Crew. A
month later,in January 2006,Black Betsy rose from the ashes and took
the stage at the 1st round of Kujavääntö (aka AlleyFight) with Another
One Dead and Cutdown,to become a proud part of the notorious Kujavääntö-
trinity.
2006-07 has been almost good to the band.Releasing a split cd with
1984 from Connecticut,playing shows frequently,even doing a tour in the
heart of darkest winter up in Lapland with Cutdown and Third Man Down,
Black Betsy continues to spread the gospel of hatred.
The only original members in the band are Button aka The Strangler and
Da Cage.Yaki aka King Kong of the Bong joined a year or so later.This
trio has been the hard core of the band (no pun intended) and they have
stuck together through thick and thin and,as a resolve,they have
sometimes been referred to as Athos,Porthos and Aramis of Hardcore.
Finding a suitable bassplayer,however,has been a constant cause of
grief and dismay,and it`s no exaggeration to say that there has been at
least 25 candidates throughout the bands existence.Again,no-one really
knows the facts.The reason for such fluctuation is mostly Button`s bad
temper and difficult personality.It is generally believed,although not
yet diagnosed,that he suffers from a severe case of paranoid
schitzophrenia.
Button - Vicious bastard with a mean streak,collects Hardcore vinyls and enjoys beating up people,almost as much as choking them.
Da Cage - Also a member of brutal-as-fuck Cutdown.Has an unhealthy
obsession with proteins and carbohydrates.
Yaki - Artist by nature and a botanical boy wonder.All round nice guy,
impossible not to get along with.
Sipowicz - Former Harry Potter-lookalike,has a rap sheet as thick as a
phone book.
ATTENTION!!!
For the time being,mustamaijarecords.com ain`t working,so don`t waste
your time.
However,you can still get to the pages by clicking the banners,if ya
wanna spend your weekly allowance on records and some shit hot hardcore gear! New
address is on its way,we`ll let ya know ASAP.
Peace out.
