Founded in 2000, The Dead Betties are an influential queerpunk trio from New York City known for their explosive performances, sharp songwriting, and fearless provocation. Comprising lead singer-bassist Joshua Ackley, guitarist Eric Shepherd, and drummer Derek Pippin, the band has consistently challenged musical and social norms, blending punk’s raw urgency with melodic hooks and incisive cultural commentary.
The Dead Betties were commissioned by the Sam Cooke estate to cover “Cupid” for commercial purposes and by Queen’s estate to remix “Don’t Stop Me Now” for a compilation release. Frontman Ackley also served as assistant engineer for legendary feminist musician Kathleen Hanna’s archival tapes for inclusion at NYU’s Bobst Library. The band has also been featured prominently in David Ciminelli’s acclaimed book, The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock, and headlined Olympia’s legendary Homo-a-gogo festival twice.
Frontman Josh Ackley, no stranger to controversy due to his outspoken advocacy, famously weathered intense backlash from conservative media outlets during his tenure as Vice President of Communications at Girl Scouts of the USA. Rather than retreating, Ackley and the band embraced their role as musical provocateurs, releasing their critically acclaimed EP, Impossible Future, in 2024, which charted consistently on NACC’s Top 100.
The Dead Betties’ latest singles—including the politically charged “Evolution Blues,” (January 2025) and the tech-critical “Coffins,” (February 2025) – address class divides and economic struggles—continue to establish them as essential voices in contemporary rock.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of “Hot Body Contest,” which was recorded at 28 Below Studios and produced by Eric Shepherd, and is in a similar vein to those aforementioned singles. The shoegaze-inflected song carries a driving groove and droning guitar that brings to mind acts like Sonic Youth and finds the band exploring class divide and economic struggle through a queer lens. With its balance of hard-hitting and rich musical textures, and potent social commentary, the tune proves that The Dead Betties continue to be one of the more dynamic and fascinating acts in the realm of queerpunk and beyond.
LISTEN:
