Happy Birthday, Mia Zapata, wherever you are!

[Withywindle]

I get maudlin whenever I think of you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Zapata

I was a transfer student to Antioch College in '87 when the Gits (known as Sniveling Little Rat-Faced Gits at the time) were just another student band. But you were SO GOOD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xaqgZPNDxc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byexHYmXaOU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6mQdnr6dm4

When you left Ohio and moved to Seattle, I was rooting for all of you so hard. It looked good for you guys.

Then, in July '93, when I was a Chicago newbie, I heard the news. That your raped and strangled body had been found on the street. It took 10 years to find your killer. He was caught in Florida, when he killed you in Washington. Thank all the gods for DNA.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/103842_zapata11ww.shtml

Even with a Loooooong rap sheet full of harm to women and children against him, it still took another trial to actually commit him to the 37 years he was originally sentenced to for snuffing our your voice:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/398055_zapata30.html

Mia, I miss you and I miss the music you would have made. You were 27 when you were killed; you'd be 45 today. That's a lot of good music the world has lost. Take comfort in knowing that no one gives a fuck what that piece of shit who robbed you has to say, but we will never get tired of hearing what little we have left of YOUR voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKUwTNvzwAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xstzdTr6xek&feature=related

[SeattleGirl]

1. Happy Birthday, Mia

I remember when that happened, and also when they caught the SOB who murdered her. It took a long time, but at least he was finally caught.

I am not really a fan of the type of music the Gits played, but I will say, Mia had one hell of a voice!

[Withywindle]

2. she was the Janis Joplin of grunge.

If her voice hadn't been violently silenced, she would have been 45 years old today--that's 18 years of her music that the world has lost.

I miss her, so much. But I do take comfort in the fact that everyone who reads this story wants to hear more of Mia's music---and also understands that the rapist/murderer who silenced that awesome voice has nothing positive to contribute to the world. Let him in rot in prison until he dies. Good people add to the amount of joy in the world. Bad people subtract. We know which was which.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kq2wn6Bh2g

[abq e streeter]

3. I don't know what to say, except that as I read your words, and listened to her sing,

and witnessed her power and life force on those videos, the tears started welling up. I can't imagine, hard as I try to, what kind of darkness and hate made this man do this to her, or makes anyone ever do such senseless (is there any other kind) brutality to another human being. I just wanted to reply, and add something here, even if it's not very coherent or well thought out; I didn't want you to post this and think that almost no one cared or remembered.

[Withywindle]

6. I don't think her killer knew or cared about anything about her.

He didn't know how many friends and fans she had; he didn't know how gifted she was, and he didn't care. He just saw a young woman walking alone late at night and saw an opportunity to rape and kill, so he did. She did put up a hell of a fight, I know that.

But when it comes down to it, destroyers do what they do: destroy. And creators like Mia do what they do: create. That is why her name and work will outlive his; creators always outrank destroyers. If she hadn't been cut down so soon, her voice would be projected all over the world--she was just that good. The best way to pay honor to her memory is to keep the sound of her voice being heard.

[REP]

8. No; he's just a piece of shit the world doesn't need

Even if Zapata wasn't as talented and beloved as she was, it would have been just as ugly an act, but because of who she was, it hurt a lot of people - her friends (she had tons) and those who loved her singing.

I'll just say I hope that shit stain lives a long long time in general population in prison. Or solitary. I'm easy.

[REP]

4. I remember when that happened; everyone just knew her ex killed her

Not the shortly before, my friend Phil Bury (Buck Naked of Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys) was murdered walking his dogs in Golden Gate Park. They were never going to be big, but they were finally moving up. He was a sweet guy, completely not like his onstage persona.

[Withywindle]

5. But that wasn't true.

She was attacked on the street by someone she didn't know. He was a drifter. When he was finally caught 10 years later, it was in Miami.

I'm sorry about Phil.

[REP]

7. I know it wasn't; but at the time, everyone "knew" it was the ex

There was a lot of proof back then he was innocent, but people were still talking trash about him.

I'm glad they finally caught the scum sack who killed her. At least other women are safe from him. Better than nothing.

[Withywindle]

9. I understand.

Most of the time when a woman is murdered, it IS an acquaintance or ex or partner. (Mia's case was the SECOND time a friend of mine was murdered; the first time it was a case of domestic violence). It's just true that stranger attacks DO happen, and friends need to look out for friends, which is what Home Alive was about.

Thank the fucking gods he's locked up. Hopefully until he dies.