DISCLAIMER: This is a fan site devoted to the late Mia Zapata and the collaboration between Joan Jett and the remaining members of the Gits - this profile is not managed by either Joan Jett or anybody associated with the Blackhearts or the Gits.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -On July 7, 1993, Mia Zapata, the lead vocalist of The Gits, was brutally raped and murdered. Royalties from this project will help to fund the ongoing investigation into Mia's death.
Thanks,
Matt
- from Evil Stig album liner notes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -EVIL STIG (Gits Live, as in give, backward) was a collaboration between Joe, Matt and Steve of THE GITS and Joan Jett of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. It all came about when Steve wrote Joan a letter asking if she and her band would be willing to play a benefit concert for the account funding the private investigation into the murder of Mia. Joan and her manager Kenny Laguna had been in Seattle working on a project during the summer Mia was killed and were deeply moved and saddened by the whole situation. Joan and Kenny responded quickly and all the parties met in Seattle over drinks to discuss the options.
They decided to form a new band together and rehearse some of THE GITS songs as well as some songs by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The result was brilliant. Raw, punked-out versions of Joan’s rock and roll hits like; “Crimson and Clover†, “Bad Reputation†and “Cherry Bomb†(the Runaways) mixed in the set with THE GITS’ “Spear and Magic Helmetâ€, “Sign of the Crab†and “Another Shot of Whiskey†among others.
Benefit concerts were scheduled in Seattle and Portland as the four rehearsed in Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York. The shows went off very well and Kenny had the foresight to record the concerts live to 24 tracks. The result was the basic tracks for an EVIL STIG single and album that would later be released by Warner Brothers in 1995. Proceeds to go to the investigation account.
The whole thing kept snowballing. More shows were set up in Seattle and New York at C.B.G.B.’s. These shows went so well that an entire U.S. tour was booked and EVIL STIG went on the road. It was a great live show!
The concerts set up in the major cities on both coasts were largely sold out. The crowds were great. There was a ton of press and radio interviews. The people seemed to grasp the concept of the band and why they were out there. However middle America and Texas weren’t quite ready to see their classic rock icon get back to her punk roots. Those show were fewer and lamer.
Warner Brothers executives were also less than enthusiastic about the project. They didn’t support the release very well and failed to even keep the CD in print in their catalog.
- from The Gits' official website- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
'Second Skin', Evil Stig
'Seaweed', The Gits
The Gits Movie Trailer!
