Betty Ford

Websites:  No
Origin: Jasper, Alberta → Victoria, British Columbia → Jasper, Alberta, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Betty Ford was a short-lived punk band formed in Jasper, Alberta in the early 1990s by guitarist/vocalist Chris “Lettucehead” Hughes and bassist Billie Jean “BIL” Miller. After relocating to Victoria, B.C., they recruited drummer Luke Burgess and played only a handful of chaotic live shows—including one in Langford—before disbanding.

Their debut recording, a self-titled demo, was recorded at the end of 1994 on a four-track reel deck by Kent Ebb. Lettucehead dubbed each cassette by hand using a ghetto blaster, producing only 25–30 copies. Each tape was labeled with crude, handwritten messages like “fuck this... fuck that... fuck everything.” The sound was harsh and lo-fi, but the tape became a prized relic among those documenting the West Coast underground.

In 2002, the demo was remastered and released on CD by Bill Babcey. The lineup at that time included Harley on bass, Mark on drums, and Lettuce on guitar and vocals. All songs were written by Lettucehead, except “Govt Funded Anarchy,” written by Phil with lyrics by Lettuce.

The band also appeared on two Canadian hardcore compilations: Go! 47 Canadian HC Bands (1996/1998) with “When Will It End?” and Sex with Nothing (2002) with “Drinking Class Heroes.” A full-length CD titled Chicken Legs Revenge followed in 2002.

Betty Ford may have played only a few shows and released a small body of work, but their raw sound, irreverent attitude, and true DIY spirit left a lasting mark on Victoria’s punk history.
-Robert Williston

Original Lineup (1994 Demo):
Chris “Lettucehead” Hughes: guitar, vocals
Billie Jean “BIL” Miller: bass
Luke Burgess: drums

Later Lineup (2002):
Lettuce: guitar, vocals
Harley: bass
Mark: drums

Select Discography:
Betty Ford (Demo, cassette 1994; CD reissue 2002)
Chicken Legs Revenge (CD, 2002)
V/A – Go! 47 Canadian HC Bands (Fans of Bad Productions, 1996/1998) – “When Will It End?”
V/A – Sex with Nothing (Rat’s Nest/Em Tee Head, 2002) – “Drinking Class Heroes”