The tragic murder of grunge pioneer Mia Zapata
A year before Kurt Cobain’s suicide rocked the Seattle grunge scene, another tragic death threatened to destabilise the movement. In 1993, Mia Zapata, lead singer of The Gits, was found dead by the side of the road at just 27 years old. Her life was cut short before she had the chance to truly make a name for herself as an important voice of grunge, releasing just one album, Frenching the Bully, in her lifetime.
Born in 1965, Zapata moved to Seattle, the home of grunge, in 1989, with her newly formed band, The Gits. They had initially formed in Ohio, where the members were studying at college, but they found much appeal in the burgeoning Seattle scene, where bands like Nirvana were gaining prominence. Originally, the band used a Monty Python-inspired name, Snivelling Little Rat Faced Gits, although they soon shortened it.
The next few years saw The Gits gain popularity in the scene, finding success with early singles such as ‘Precious Blood’ and ‘Second Skin’. The band were championed by their contemporaries, with Zapata bringing a refreshingly female perspective to a rather masculine genre. In 1992, The Gits released Frenching the Bully, with Zapata’s energy and fiercely commanding vocals receiving particular praise.
After the success of their debut, The Gits got to work on their second album, Enter: Conquering the Chicken, although Zapata would never live to see the final product. During the summer of 1993, Zapata was raped, beaten, and killed by a stranger named Jesus Mezquia while walking home from visiting a friend. The shock attack shook the Seattle scene, and many bands, such as Nirvana and Soundgarden, helped to raise money to fund the investigation into Zapata’s murder.
Joan Jett, who worked with the band to pay tribute to Zapata and also raise funds, told Rolling Stone, “You can imagine, this vibe that sort of came over Seattle when it happened — people just not knowing. If it was one of their friends, you know, or an acquaintance, or an audience member, you just didn’t know.” It wasn’t until a decade had passed that Mezquia was arrested and charged, finally bringing some justice to Zapata’s name.
Discussing their bandmate, The Gits said: “Mia Zapata was an extraordinary human being. She was a beloved friend, a gifted songwriter, musician, visual artist, and performer”.
Following her death, an anti-violence organisation, Home Alive, was founded by Zapata’s friends to provide people with defence tips and training. Home Alive also put on concerts in memory of Zapata, using the shows to raise money for the cause and provide vital resources.
Watch a video of Zapata performing below.
