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A portrait of an artist as a young punk rocker: Mia Zapata of The Gits is still influential 30 years after her death

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On a sweltering summer day, June 27, 1993, Mia Zapata stood soaked with perspiration amidst a tightly packed crowd, preparing to perform “Second Skin,” their final song at The Gits’ set within the compact Jabberjaw Café. That evening, they shared the stage with groundbreaking riot grrrl band Bratmobile. Tragically, this would be The Gits’ last performance in Los Angeles.

At the renowned rock concert, the 27-year-old passionately sang, “I yearn for a protective layer, something to bolster me, I’m struggling to escape this rut I keep falling back into.

In a final L.A. show’s YouTube video, Zapata frequently shuts her eyes, powerfully conveying the anguish, fury, and happiness in her tunes. As described by her bandmates Matt Dresdner (bassist) and Andy Kessler (guitarist), Zapata possessed a genuine, unpretentious personality that was entirely natural and sincere. On stage, her acts transformed into a “dance” of expressing the emotions she sings about, according to Dresdner.

Dresdner stated to The Times that she believes there was no pretense in any of her actions; she was simply being authentic. Her songs were deeply personal and emotional, offering a glimpse into her true self more effectively than any words spoken about her.

In June of 1993, while a band from Seattle was in Los Angeles, they were given the option to sign with Atlantic Records. Unfortunately, The Gits didn’t have the chance to follow through on this deal as their lead vocalist, Mia Zapata, was tragically sexually assaulted and murdered 10 days later in Seattle.

Without their dearest companion, The Gits disbanded. Yet, over three decades since her passing, Zapata’s artwork and music remains impactful in the punk rock community, leaving an indelible mark on both veteran and emerging enthusiasts alike.

This coming Friday, Sub Pop Records will re-release the band’s album “Frenching the Bully” across all formats. They’re also collaborating with music charities The Vera Project and KEXP for a record-launch event in Seattle this Saturday. The festivities feature a viewing of the short film “The Gits – Live at RKCNDY,” autograph sessions with the band on vinyl records, and an art exhibition displaying some of Zapata’s artwork.

Dresdner stated, “Everyone is uniting to create this fantastic tribute to Mia and The Gits. Our manager, Rachel Flotard, has been tirelessly organizing and overcoming obstacles for years, and all of that hard work is finally paying off. At the peak of one of these challenges stands Mia Zapata, and it’s high time we honor her.

In 1986, a band called The Gits, previously known as “The Sniveling Little Rat Faced Gits,” was established by members Zapata, Dresdner, Kessler, and drummer Steve Moriarty while attending Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The name was initially chosen as a nod to Monty Python’s “Flying Circus.

What’s captivating is that its chemical connection and potency were evident right off the bat, and it continued through until the conclusion… During our college years, our collaboration was occasional, but it wasn’t until we relocated to Seattle that I believe we truly evolved into a band,” Kessler expressed.

As I recall, prior to our meeting, Zapata was someone I’d often spot around campus. She exuded an aura that left me both inspired and a tad intimidated, but I didn’t muster the courage to engage with her. However, fate had other plans, as she eventually took notice of my passive approach towards painting and boldly challenged me, providing me with guidance to kickstart my artistic journey.

He explained that she had pointed out his lack of effort, and then she proposed, “Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to the art building, and there you’ll paint,” she dared him.

After the event, Dresdner remarked that he had seen her perform at a campus open mic night following their friendship’s rapid development, and his reaction was one of astonishment at the talent he observed.

As I listened to her speak, I found myself utterly captivated by her voice and her very essence. It moved me to tears, such was the depth of her resonance and the intimacy she conveyed. In that moment, my thoughts were clear: we had to create music together, for I felt a divine inspiration to form a band around her talent.

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Born in Louisville, Ky., and of Mexican American descent, Zapata wasn’t merely a talented singer whose voice resembled that of artists like Bonnie Raitt, Patti Smith, and Amy Winehouse. In addition, friends often speak highly of her artistic skills, particularly her exceptional painting abilities, as well as her innovative works in ceramics and printmaking.

Michael Casselli, an associate professor of sculpture and installation, as well as creative director of the Herndon Gallery at Antioch College, had a friendship with Mia Zapata when they were both art students. According to Casselli, Zapata was an impassioned painter, renowned for her unique style that significantly shaped her work. In 2023, Casselli organized an exhibition at the Herndon Gallery called “Mia Zapata: A Place Within.” This showcased a selection of paintings, prints, and a sculpture by Zapata, all borrowed from the singer’s family.

According to Casselli, Mia’s artwork was significantly impacted by both abstract expressionism and the neo-expressionist movement of her time. Her artistic style is characterized by an expressive and emotional yet not overly realistic approach, with a distinctive softness in execution. This allowed her to subtly shift between slightly varied techniques, making her unique identity evident in her work.

Casselli pointed out that one particularly striking image he saw was a painting by Zapata, which depicted Mexican revolutionaries, Emiliano Zapata and his brother Eufemio Zapata.

In “Mia Zapata & The Gits: A Tale of Art, Music, and Rebellion,” the band’s drummer recounts the instance when Zapata created this portrait, touching upon family folklore suggesting that the Gits lead vocalist might be distantly related to Mexican heroes.

The drummer recalled a time when she was unable to identify the subject of the painting she had created, as it was sprawled on the floor and painted in a style reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. She explained that her intention was to peer into the eyes of the painting and attempt to unravel her own past.

In his book, published by Feral House, Moriarty celebrates the artistic talent and creative spirit of the musician, Zapata, by delving into their friendship and musical journey as vividly as he can remember. The intention behind this work, as expressed by Moriarty, was to present a unique perspective on Zapata’s life, aiming to reshape the narrative surrounding his career.

Every time I encountered articles on The Gits, it seemed like half the narrative focused on [the tragedy], and rarely did the true essence of Mia come to light. It became repetitive and frustrating to read so many accounts about the band that centered around the murder rather than the music itself. – Moriarty

Additionally, the book delves deeply into the band’s life in Seattle following college, a period when they began treating their music with seriousness, performing more concerts along the western coast.

Before ‘grunge’ became popular in Seattle, as Dresdner explained, our music didn’t fit neatly into any of the other genres emerging here at the time. We didn’t have a natural place to belong, but we were clear about our purpose and it didn’t affect us much.

Kessler commented, “We possessed a powerful identity, a sound capable of transformation, yet always kept a clear understanding of who we were and our goals.

The powerful identity that’s often reflected in Mia’s speech provides a meaningful insight into who she is and serves as a memorable impression of her personality.

Kessler mentioned that you can gather quite a bit about her personality by simply listening to her songs and focusing on her voice.

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2025-01-31 21:03

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