Oh, look, it’s Heidi Shepherd, once again proving that in the rock world, being the sole frontwoman is just a step up from being one of two. In a recent episode of Knotfest’s “She’s With The Band,” hosted by Tori Kravitz—who’s clearly on a mission to make sure women in music are heard, because apparently they weren’t loud enough already—Heidi sat down to discuss what it’s like to finally ditch the “co-lead vocalist” title and stand alone after Carla Harvey’s departure in 2024.
Heidi, who apparently runs the entire BUTCHER BABIES empire out of her living room (because why not, right?), said she’s just been collecting wisdom for 20 years like it’s Pokémon cards. “Being a co-lead vocalist, I think that each of us had our own identities in this as well,” she said, probably while petting a cat named Henry (Flury, the guitarist, not an actual feline). “I’ve run this band, this business out of my living room for the last almost 20 years.” So, congrats on the promotion, Heidi—from co-leader to supreme overlord of the living room stage.
But don’t worry, she’s not alone. She’s got her team, including a lawyer who’s been around for 17 years—longer than some marriages last, apparently. “This isn’t just me,” she said, as if we were all about to assume she was cloning herself to handle all the work. “There are people who feed their families off of what we do.” Yes, Heidi, we know—you’re basically the CEO of BUTCHER BABIES, Inc., and everyone’s on the payroll, including the guy who makes sure your pyrotechnics don’t accidentally singe your hair.
And speaking of hair, Heidi’s also been reading the comments—or at least, she says she hasn’t been. “Oh, really? I didn’t read them. [Laughs] I don’t read comments,” she said, before immediately diving into how great the live reactions have been. Sure, Heidi, we believe you. Just like we believe you’ve never googled yourself. But hey, the shows have been “really fun,” and there’s a “fire” in the band right now. Not just from the pyrotechnics, but from the whole team, including the lawyer, who is apparently so fired up that he’s ready to sue anyone who dares question the band’s direction.
Heidi also took a moment to address the whole “public perception versus reality” thing, which apparently required therapy. “People, are they even gonna believe in me?” she wondered, as if the world was just waiting for her to slip up. Her therapist, clearly a saint, told her to stop making up stories in her head. “Why don’t you think that people are going to look forward to this new chapter instead of closing the book?” the therapist asked, probably while Heidi nodded vigorously, ready to take on the world with her newfound positive thinking.
Meanwhile, Carla Harvey, the woman who used to share the stage with Heidi, had a slightly different take on her departure. In an interview with AL.com, she mentioned a serious eye injury and the feeling of being “squeezed out” of the band she helped build. “I couldn’t do a tour because I had a serious eye injury,” she said, probably while giving the side-eye to whoever thought it was a good idea to keep going without her. And in another interview, she talked about how being on the road 10 to 12 months a year became too much to handle, especially with a stepdaughter waiting at home. It’s almost like being in a band isn’t all glitz and glamour—who knew?
But don’t feel too bad for Carla, because Heidi and her team are charging ahead with a new album, produced by the legendary Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of THREE DAYS GRACE. Because what’s a new chapter without a little bit of over-the-top production, right? The album is “dunzo,” according to Heidi, and it’s coming out later this year, following the release of two new singles, “Lost In Your Touch” and “Sincerity.” Because nothing says “moving on” like a couple of new tracks to remind everyone that BUTCHER BABIES are still very much alive and kicking.
So, here’s to Heidi Shepherd, the sole frontwoman of BUTCHER BABIES, who’s ready to take on the world with her team of lawyers, managers, and pyrotechnics experts by her side. And to Carla Harvey, who’s probably out there somewhere, still giving the side-eye and wondering what could have been. In the end, it’s all just rock and roll, baby—full of drama, egos, and enough fire to keep everyone warm at night.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
