BIO

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CHUCK BETTIS
vocals, electronics, trumpet

biography

Chuck Bettis first started to get noticed for his vocals in the Meta-matics, a Washington DC-based post no-wave band that in its short existence (1993-1994) made a notable dent in the underground punk circuit. Their unusual tones combined with punk attitude prompted bands such as Bikini Kill, Fugazi, and Scissor Girls to take them on tour. The only typical DC thing they did do was tour, put out a record, and then break up.

Just before the break-up of the Meta-matics, Bettis started recording, touring, and performing solo electronics under the moniker Trance And The Arcade, which would later morph into a multi-media project, incorporating live visuals by Argentina's Jorge Castro (aka Fisternni), plus dance and performance art by Tristana Fiscella's Domestic Tar Petal. A few months later, WWIII emerged, an instrumental group with Jerry Lim (Companion Trio, Castro)-guitar, Josh Blair (Orthrelm, Supersystem)-drums/electronics, and Chuck Bettis-bass. Both projects consisted of harsh sound fields, which were an indication of things to come in his aural world, and which marked a huge departure from the music structure in which he was raised. During this time, Bettis also founded the label/show production company Mass Particles. From 1996-2001, Chuck (under the Mass Particles banner) curated shows in Washington, DC for local and international experimental musicians, which fostered an ever-growing, informed, and excited community of musicians.

While Bettis was continuing his activities as Trance And The Arcade, he was recruited for All Scars, a group with a constantly evolving set and cast of musicians, including many of DC's luminaries, such as Fugazi's Brendan Canty, Beefeater's Dug Birdzell, and Make*Up's James Canty. The All Scars sound was amorphous in nature, utilizing any and all sounds, scales, or structures into their improv/compositions as deemed necessary. Overall eschewing music genres altogether, All Scars caused many to challenge their perceptions of music and performance. This unit put out 5 records in its 6 years of existence, and toured Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

All Scars disbanded and Chuck Bettis relocated to New York in 2002. Since moving to New York, Bettis has played with John Zorn, Ikue Mori, Fred Frith, Misha Mengleberg, Toshio Kajiwara, and Afrirampo to name a few, including touring and recording with Baltimore's enigmatic Nautical Almanac, west coast freaktronics Yellow Swans and singing with Measles Mumps Rubella. 2005 saw Chuck Bettis, having releases under his own name for the first time such as an album of collaborations called "Community Of Commotion" and a new solo record called "Sonic Sigils".

Currently he is the vocalist for both Combustibles and Period (quintent with Mike Pride, Charlie Looker, Darius Jones, Sam Hilmer), works on many of his experimental projects such as Devastation Duo (laptop duo w/ Carlos Giffoni), Brown Wing Overdrive (electronic trio of Bettis, Derek Morton, & Mikey IQ Jones), in addition to improvising, recording, or composing with an array of downtown musicians.