Evil Stig - Evil Stig (Joan Jett & The Gits) [ORG pressing 1995] RESTORED

Sometimes the worst tragedies can give rise to great things. Evil Stig is a side project formed after the murder of The Gits singer Mia Zapata by the surviving band members and Joan Jett to raise money for a Seattle self-defense and support group for women called Home Alive. What began as a one-off gig as part of a series of Home Alive benefits held in Portland, Oregon, turned into a string of shows, songwriting collaborations and eventually this album…

The Gits were an American Grungecore band, formed in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1986. Known for their part in the burgeoning Seattle music scene of the early 1990s, their distinct punk rock sound gained a reputation for its bluesy street punk aesthetic. Joan Jett, who had been moving away from metal for some time and cultivating a serious interest in the riot grrl movement (she had even produced several tracks for Bikini Kill), was recruited as Zapata's stand-in. The name Evil Stig is developed from Gits Live in reverse. The material runs the gamut from Gits classics ("Second Skin", "Spear & Magic Helmet", and others) to Joan Jett tunes ("Activity Grrrl", "Got a Problem", and "Crimson and Clover") to an Evil Stig original entitled "Last to Know". There is also a song called "Whirlwind" that features Jett singing along to Mia's recorded voice, and though Jett's voice dominates, it's still a bit eerie. Jett does great justice to these songs and captures the fury and passion of Mia's lyrics as no one other than Mia herself could have.

The rape and murder of the Gits' lead singer, Mia Zapata, was the catalyst for this benefit recording with Joan Jett stepping in on vocals. This record is not a quiet, melancholic tribute, but rather a full-on assault of angst and pain. "Sign of the Crab" opens the album with a galloping guitar riff that is matched by Jett's quickened vocals. This formula comes back again with gale-like potency on "Spear & Magic Helmet", which lyrically expresses the rage that the band feels about the tragedy. Jett eerily sings with the late Zapata's recorded voice on the track "Whirlwind", bringing to light the impact of the loss. Powerful tracks filled with gravity and poignant lyrics make this a unique album that is appropriate given the genesis of the project.

~ Erik Crawford, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Sign Of The Crab
02. Bob (Cousin O.)
03. Drinking Song
04. Spear & Magic Helmet
05. Last To Know
06. Guilt Within Your Head
07. Whirlwind
08. Another Shot Of Whiskey
09. Second Skin
10. Activity Grrrl
11. You Got A Problem
12. Crimson & Clover
13. Drunks
14. Go Home / 'Sanskrit' [Hidden track]

most of the songs written by Mia Zapata & The Gits
and some of the songs written by Joan Jett & The Gits


Produced by Kenny Laguna. Mixed by Stuart Hallerman at Avast!, Seattle, WA.
Recorded at various places (for more details read the booklet).
Mastered by Doug Sax & Gavin Lurssen at the Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, CA.

• Joan Jett - vocals, guitar
• Andy Kessler - guitar, vocals
• Matt Dresdner - bass, vocals
• Steve Moriarty - drums, vocals

Release Date: August 22, 1995
Format: Original Recording / Out-of-Print
Label: Blackheart Records / WB
Catalog No.: 45988-2