For years since her shocking rape and murder in Seattle in 1993, Mia’s story (and that of her amazing band, the Gits) was always framed as a tragedy - which it WAS, one that tore an emerging Seattle music scene apart - rather than the story of one of America’s great indie rock ‘n roll bands, perched on the cusp of a breakthrough before this senseless crime stopped them in their tracks.
Thanks to Sub Pop reissuing the sole album recorded during the band’s time together, we have come a long way in giving Mia - whose music was kind of a cross between Patti Smith’s warrior poetry and Ann Wilson’s throaty belting (and that clearly inspired Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers) - her voice back.
The NYT wrote about the story late last year: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/arts/music/the-gits-mia-zapata-reissues.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
but the remaining Gits just played some reunion shows in Seattle to celebrate the occasion and “now” is always a good time to watch the band’s documentary via YouTube.
I caught them live in Portland way back in the day and they were a revelation. Mia was a force of nature and a performer who would have grown exponentially before our eyes, had her life not been taken away.
I am so delighted to see her/their MUSIC being given its rightful due.