7 Year Bitch

7 Year Bitch was an American punk rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band was active between 1990 and 1997 and released three albums over that time.The band formed at the same time as the emergence of the Riot Grrrl sub-genre, which is a sub-genre of punk music from the early to mid-1990s that emphasized the role of women in rock music. The Riot Grrrl movement began as a feminist response to the violence and misogyny that became more prominent in punk music in the mid to late 1980s, and 7 Year Bitch, an all female punk band, emerged as part of that sub-genre.[1]

For the song by Slade, see 7 Year Bitch (song).
7 Year Bitch
7 Year Bitch in 1994
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, USA
GenresPunk rock, riot grrrl, grunge
Years active1990–1997
LabelsC/Z, Atlantic, Man's Ruin
Associated actsThe Gits, Barbie's Dream Car, Alcohol Funnycar, Cistine, Von Iva, Clone
Websitehttp://www.7yearbitchrocks.com
MembersSelene Vigil
Elizabeth Davis
Valerie Agnew
Roisin Dunne
Past membersStefanie Sargent (Deceased)
Lisa Faye Beatty (Deceased)

Biography

Career

7 Year Bitch was formed in 1990 by vocalist Selene Vigil, guitarist Stefanie Sargent, bassist Elizabeth Davis and drummer Valerie Agnew. Vigil, Sargent, and Agnew had been playing together in the Seattle band Barbie's Dream Car when their bassist left for Europe. They subsequently recruited Davis and renamed their band after the movie The Seven Year Itch, based on a suggestion by their friend, Ben London, of fellow Seattle band, Alcohol Funnycar.

At their first concert, the band opened for The Gits, who would prove to have a significant influence on their music. In 1991 the band released their first single "Lorna" and signed with C/Z Records. Their first album, Sick 'Em, was released in 1992, but it was overshadowed by Sargent's death on June 27,[2] through passing out on her back after returning home from a party where she had drunk alcohol and taken a small amount of heroin.[3] Following a period grieving and uncertainty, the band decided to continue, recruiting guitarist Roisin Dunne as Sargent's replacement later that year.

In July 1993, Gits' frontwoman and longtime friend of the band Mia Zapata was raped and murdered while walking home late at night.[4] This event, coupled with Sargent's death the previous year, had a profound effect on the group. As a reaction, the band recorded and released their second album ¡Viva Zapata! (1994) in tribute to both of their fallen friends.[5] During this time, Valerie Agnew also became one of the primary organizers and co-founders of the anti-violence and self-defence organisation Home Alive.[6][7][8] On April 8, 1994, the band played a benefit show for Rock Against Domestic Violence at the Cameo Theatre on Miami Beach, alongside Babes in Toyland and Jack Off Jill.[9]

In 1995, the band signed with Atlantic Records, and in 1996 released their third album, Gato Negro.[10] Following the tour supporting Gato Negro, guitarist Roisin Dunne left, and was replaced by Lisa Faye Beatty, the band's live sound engineer and long-time friend.

Break-up

In early 1997, the band began recording material for what was to be their fourth album. The band moved from Seattle to California, Elizabeth Davis and Valerie Agnew to San Francisco and Selene Vigil to Los Angeles. With the recent departure of their guitarist, Roisin Dunne and the geographical separation between bandmates, Seven Year Bitch's career came to a close after a final tour with San Francisco's Lost Goat.

Aftermath

Following the break-up of 7 Year Bitch, bassist Elizabeth Davis joined the San Francisco-based band Clone, with whom she performed until 2003. In 2005 she helped to form the band Von Iva.[11] Guitarist Lisa Faye Beatty became involved with filmography, played for the band Smoochknob, and even held a solo act called Elfay. She went on to open show for the band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.[12] Vocalist Selene Vigil formed a gothic/psychedelic-influenced band by the name of Cistine, in 2000. She later released the solo album That Was Then in 2010. Roisin Dunne joined the band The Last Goodbye in 2006.

7 Year Bitch during a break in the filming of the movie, Mad Love, at Club Moe in Seattle, with Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell (July 11, 1994)

Their songs, "The Scratch" and "Icy Blue" were featured in the movie Mad Love with Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell.

Band members

Discography

Albums

Singles/EPs
  • "Lorna" b/w "No Fucking War," "You Smell Lonely" (Rathouse/Face The Music Records), (1991; reissued by C/Z Records in 1992)
  • "Antidisestablishmentarianism EP" (Rugger Bugger Records, 1992)
  • "7 Year Bitch" / "Thatcher On Acid" "Can We Laugh Now?" / "No Fucking War" (Clawfist Records, 1992)
  • "7 Year Bitch EP" (C/Z Records, 1992)
  • "Rock-A-Bye Baby" b/w "Wide Open Trap" (C/Z Records, 1994)
  • "The History Of My Future" b/w "24,900 Miles Per Hour" (promo only) (Atlantic Records, 1996)
  • "24,900 Miles Per Hour" (promo only) (Atlantic Records, 1996)
  • "Miss Understood" b/w "Go!" (Man's Ruin, 1996)

Compilations
  • "8-Ball Deluxe" on Kill Rock Stars (CD version, Kill Rock Stars, 1992)
  • "Dead Men Don't Rape" on There's A Dyke In The Pit (Outpunk/Harp Records, 1992)
  • "The Scratch" on Power Flush: San Francisco, Seattle & You (Rathouse/Broken Rekids, 1993)
  • "In Lust You Trust" on Rawk Atlas (promo only) (C/Z Records, 1993)
  • "Dead Men Don't Rape" on Progression (Progression, 1994)
  • "The Scratch," "Icy Blue" on the Mad Love Motion Picture Soundtrack (Zoo Records, 1995)
  • "Kiss My Ass Goodbye" on Seattle Women In Rock: A Diverse Collection (Insight Records, 1995)
  • "Damn Good And Well" on Space Mountain (Rough Trade Publishing, 1995)
  • "The Scratch" on Take A Lick (promo only) (BMG, 1995)
  • "M.I.A." on Notes From The Underground, Vol. 2 (Priority Records, 1995)
  • "Mad Dash" on Home Alive: The Art Of Self-Defense (Epic Records, 1996)
  • "24,900 Miles Per Hour" on huH Music Sampler No. 23 (promo only, RayGun Press, 1996)
  • "Knot (Live)" on Hype! The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Sub Pop Records, 1996)
  • "Damn Good And Well" on Rough Cuts: The Best Of Rough Trade Publishing, 1991-1995 (Rough Trade Publishing, 1997)
  • "Rock-A-Bye Baby" on She's A Rebel (Beloved/Shanachie Records, 1997)
  • "Shake Appeal" on We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute (Royalty Records, 1997)
  • "M.I.A." on Whatever: The 90's Pop & Culture Box (Flying Rhino Records/WEA, 2005)
  • "The Scratch" on Sleepless In Seattle: The Birth Of Grunge (LiveWire Recordings, 2006)

Music videos
  • "In Lust You Trust" (1992)
  • "Hip Like Junk" (1994)
  • "24,900 Miles Per Hour" (1996)

References
  1. Nguyen, Mimi Thi (July 2012). "Riot Grrrl, Race, and Revival". Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory. Routledge. 22: 173–196 – via Taylor and Francis & NEJM.
  2. Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. 2008.
  3. Prato,Greg. Grunge is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 359-360.
  4. Muscio, Inga. Cunt: a declaration of independence. Seal Press. 2002.
  5. Stovall, Natasha. Platter du Jour. Spin Magazine. September 1994.
  6. History Archived October 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Home Alive site.
  7. Cynthia Rose, Safety and Violence Hot Topics on Celebrity-Packed CD Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, on state51.co.uk.
  8. Fabula magazine interview with 7 Year Bitch. Archived 2009-10-22.
  9. Baker, Greg. "The Hits Just Keep on Coming" Miami New Times, April 06, 1994.
  10. Clow, Aaron. Best New Music. CMJ New Music Monthly. May 1996.
  11. Hasty, Kate.Music Underground. Billboard. November 22, 2008.
  12. Skinner, Marjorie (2002-04-25). "Lisa Fay". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
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