Gits Movie - roots of "Home Alive" celebrate Mia's life

Tonight the Roxie will feature two sneak previews at 8 & 10 of the new 16 mm documentary being made that covers the rise and premature end of The Gits. The filmmakers are re-visiting a rare musical journey, that travelled from Antioch Ohio, to a damp Seattle basement, and eventually rose into one of the early 90's boldest rock n roll groups. Through rare archival footage, and new interviews with band members, fans and friends, we can finally gain an understanding of how The Gits became a catalyst amongst a creative community at home in Seattle, here in San Francisco, as well as abroad. The band was making a name for themselves with a blend of crunchy Stooges influenced punk rock and feisty female vocals in the early 90's. Riding the hype of the hot Seattle scene, their shows were packed & being filmed and recorded by pro crews. Upon finishing up their 2nd album, they were fielding offers from a few interested major labels, when a new type of notoriety befell them. Just as things looked their brightest for this scrappy but cocksure underground band, their fiercely soulful and energetic singer Mia Zapata was brutally raped and murdered. Despite "America's Most Wanted" T.V profiles and the outcry and publicity brought by a slew of nationally known musicians including Joan Jett, Steelpole Bathtub, 7 Year Bitch, Nirvana and more, Mia's killer remained at large. The mystery and sorrow surrounding her death, seemed frozen in time. Enter Jessy Bender & Kerri O'Kane, two filmmakers who were unaware of The Gits during their heyday. After stumbling upon their legacy and buying anything they could on E-Bay, they decided to make contact with the group. They approached the reluctant members of a long defunct band about telling their unique story. Eventually they agreed together they would dredge up the past, and numerous trips were made from L.A to Seattle and San Francisco to shoot interviews. In the process of filming, they managed to go deeper than merely the spectre of Mia's murder, beyond the subsequent formation of women's self defense organization "Home Alive" and the various galvanizing efforts and benefits held in her honor. The film revisits an era, and attempts to tell the whole story, of folks who became more than a bunch of drunk punks from a small Ohio college town. There is great never before seen 16mm live footage, numerous interviews with people involved, and a story that truly deserves to be told. It's been literally ten years since the band's last shows in town at undergound wherehouses like Studio 4 & Komotion, and bars like the Albion, CW Saloon and Bottom of The Hill. Ironically as the initial filming was completed, law enforcement simultaneously uncovered a lead on a perp through a DNA screening, finally bringing a semblance of closure to Mia's death. At The Roxie on Thursday evening, Joe Spleen the primary songwriter will be presnt for Q&A, and the whole thing is a celebration of sorts, so come on down and support this if you can. The event doubles as a reord release party for The Gits acclaimed debut album ""Frenching the Bully". Broken Rekids is re-releasing this long out of print album. The band recently bought the master tapes back from the now defunct CZ label, and set about remixing the tracks with Seattle's most prolific producer Jack "Godfather of Grunge" Endino. They came out with 22 extra thick and crispy mixes, including an assortment of rare live tracks captured at PDX's late & great X-Ray Cafe on the last show of the band's final tour... The 16mm film will be put back in the can for more retooling and interviews after this screening, so this is the only chance folks will have to check it out while it's still in progress. The event is a fundraiser to complete the flick, which they hope to have done in time to submit for Sundance 2004. As far as the suspect who DNA now links to the murder of Mia Zapata, he was extradited from Miami, and arraigned April 8th, 2003 in King County Superior Court on charges of first degree murder. 8 & 10 p.m $10 donation The Roxie is hosting all this stuff at 3117 16th St SF CA Q & A to follow with Joe Spleen & the gals behind the picture Kerri O'Kane & Jessy Bender. CD release after party at Wilde Oscars at Folsom & 15th check these links out! The Gits can be found on the web at http://www.thegits.com. More info on the film can be found at :http://www.thegitsmovie.com . order their albums: http://www.brokenrekids.com the theatre: http://www.roxie.com