The Seattle rock scene of the late '80s/early '90s is strewn with musicians whose promising careers were cut short. But one of the most tragic stories was that of Gits leader Mia Zapata, who was murdered just as her band seemed to be receiving the attention it deserved. Zapata was born on August 25, 1965, and grew up in Louisville, KY, where she picked up the guitar and began singing early on. But it wasn't until college that Zapata became heavily interested in music, as she formed the Gits in Ohio during 1986. The group, which featured Zapata on vocals, guitarist Joe Spleen, bass player Matthew Fred Dresdner, and drummer Steve Moriarty, would relocate to Seattle in 1989, just before the "grunge" movement exploded. The group issued its debut album in 1992, Frenching the Bully, and also managed to tour outside Seattle, including a European tour.