THE (Sniveling Little Rat Faced) GITS:
Andy Kessler (a.k.a. Joe Spleen): guitar
Matt (Fatty) Dresdner: bass
Mia Zapata: Vocals
Steve Moriarty: Drums
DANCING FRENCH LIBERALS OF '48: THE GITS add Julian Gibson: guitar
EVIL STIG: add Joan Jett
My name is Steve... and I am a Sniveling Little Rat Faced Git.
I played drums in THE GITS among other bands for a long ass time. Not all the bands were that great but THE GITS were. We formed THE GITS in 1986. I was not the first drummer. Bob Lee of L.A. bands: ClawHammer, Mike Watt and Lazy Cowgirls. In '86 I was better than he was, I hung out a lot with Matt, Mia and Andy so I got his job. We originally called the band The Sniveling Little Rat Faced Gits, stolen from a Monty Python episode, this was the only name which could describe our dorkiness and general lack of social grace. We shortened it to THE GITS to fit on our demo tape, which eventually became the Kings and Queens CD.
We wrote songs and played shows. Mia and Andy wrote most of the songs but I was always there to help with rhythms and arrangements. Mia and I could sync up effortlessly and that became true of all of us as a group.
Oh a BIO. I get it... let me see...we started in Yellow Springs Ohio. There we played shows and recorded the aforementioned demo. In the summer of '89 we moved to Seattle for no particularly good reason. A whole group of our friends moved as well and we rented the Rathouse. It was where we lived, rehearsed and communed with other gits and misfits.
We played live as much as we could and hatched many a scheme for touring. No one stepped up to to finance or publicize our projects or tours so we played the clubs up and down the West Coast of the U.S. relentlessly.
During that time we played the scene with small up-and-coming bands like: Nirvana, Beck, Sublime, No Doubt and Green Day.
THE GITS were never as financially successful as any of those bands. The most we ever made at a gig was $500. All the money we made went into maintenance and gas for our 1976 GMC van. It ran on (very green) leaded gasoline. We lived out of that van on tour. We just wanted to play and tour. We were purists and we loved what we were doing.
In 1991 we booked a tour of punk squats and community centers across Western Europe and Scandinavia. We loved playing in Europe and the people we played for loved us too. Energized by the tour, we came back to the states and played with a mission and rage like no other band out there. ANd there were a lot of bands in Seattle at the time. We recorded our first album, "Frenching the Bully", which ended with the song that seemed to have something special. That song was Second Skin.
It was our fan's version of a hit. Not in the top 40 sense, but in the realm of human connection and universality. I have been told more than once that "Second Skin" saved some one's life.
"Frenching the Bully" was very well received in the press and got widely reviewed around the world. The album got unprecedented reviews for such a relatively unknown small band. Even the snobby English press like N.M.E. and Melody Maker gave it great write-ups. So we continued to play live as much as possible, and went into the studio to record a second album. We had finished most of the music tracks and decided to do a tour before putting on the finishing touches.
On that tour we played flawlessly. Intent on showing the L.A. record executives (a.k.a. Hollywood Pinocchios) that if they wanted anything to do with us, they had to catch up. In other words, we weren't playing their games, and we would continue to tour and put out records independently.
But after a pair of well attended shows in L.A. the record companies did take notice of our band. An A&R dude at Atlantic Records drew up a contract to offer to us. We never got the offer because on July 7, 1993 our friend and singer Mia was brutally raped and murdered by a stranger on the street in Seattle.
There's a lot more to this story and much of it can be decifered in our music after Mia died...
thanks for your interest and support for female musicians! please check out all the bands on this profile and tell you that violet from foxcore sent you! :)
We thank you for the add. We’re just a small band, but we’d be delighted if you listened to our Garage Rock songs and you sent us any kind of comment!! If u couldn’t we’ll be happy if you just let this comment be shown, so that ur fans & friends get to know us. ☠ we're true The Gits and Mia Zapata followers!!
Thank you! Love you....and hope you got merch back? Talk soon through the bi ways along some lonesome highway. hahahahaha too many whiskeys and bad pool my friend.Hope its all good and a good day to end.Hope its been a good one...I know a rough month.And Viva Zapata lives on!!!! One yellow rose. The goodness rings on!!!!!! Smiles still make miracles:)
What's goin down, this is an auto message to let you know that is goin down tonight @ Brittannia Arms Cupertino...live hiphop featuring myself, PL9, Jason the Argonaut and more...check the page for flyer
I just ordered Seafish Louisville because I just HAD to have that awesome version of Precious Blood from your playlist. I won't say that now I can die peacefully, bur right now it feels rather close to that. Thanks a bunch you guys.
Hi Steve, what's up? Next wednesday, may 27th at 7:00pm (GMT+1) on www.radio.celra.cat there will be a special show about The Gits, we really love your music, and we'll try to make a homage to Mia and the Band. Take Care Amigo!
pd: you can see the flyer here: http://www.fotolog.com/cloroxboy/63389761 Take Care Amigo!
Just stopping by to say hello and listen to some of The Gits music. I am at work. If I were at home, I would put on one of the CDs. Such great stuff! Mia’s voice is one of a kind! I bought The Gits film and it is incredible!! I am glad someone had the presence of mind to record some of The Gits concerts. You have to know that The Gits will touch people forever! The music is that powerful!!
Online Now!![ALIEN ROAD [in studio now]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/92/s_6a89dca5bc6142fc9e5863905f88ea95.jpg)
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