EP 4.11: L7's Donita Sparks talks legacy, power of social media and their documentary [

[@jadepixie2719]

Donita gots to be one of the most underrated front women in rock.

[@FromHerotoZero]

I agree. She seems to have a great understanding of the world we live in and healthy attitude towards the possibilities of their business. It was such a great experience meeting her for this interview. / Sebi

[@real_fjcalabrese]

They are all underrated. This extends to Gail Greenwood and Janis Tanaka.

[@crypttonite]

underrated a most overstated comment

[@FromHerotoZero]

I second that👍

[@craigg5410]

As well as Kat Bjelland.

[@JumpinJackFlash1989]

She's fast, she's lean, she's frrrrightening!!!

[@FromHerotoZero]

+JumpinJackFlash1989 Her glance hits me like lightning, I heard that girl is fast and frightening 🤘😎

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Haha, yes!

[@sisterseeth]

Get it girl now go! go! go! go! yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhuuuhhhhhhhhhh

[@derekschultz9884]

Yeap !

[@ElPayasoMalo]

Donita Sparks has always been a true damn rockstar. She deserves a statue.

[@FromHerotoZero]

I concur 👍 / Sebi

[@r.p.9780]

💯‼️‼️‼️

[@paulhendrick5857]

Donita looks great, I love her .

[@FromHerotoZero]

+Paul Hendrick Completely agree, Paul! /Sebi

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Yep, she does not age, does she?

[@popkorn256]

We all do :(

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Yep, ya got that right!

[@Baribrotzer]

And they got back together with the same people. So many bands can't or won't.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Indeed! / Sebi

[@gabrielagelain810]

that's really amazing :) I am SO ANXIOUS I AM GOING TO THE THEM PLAYING IN BRAZIL in my city :)

[@SMDAHL]

Gabriela C.G. Did you go? How was it?

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

@@gabrielagelain810 how was it?

[@gabrielagelain810]

@@RamMohammadJosephKaur it was amaaaaaazinggggg, best show ever

[@Donegal62]

L7 absolutely blew my mind when they hit the scene. At that point, the only all-girl band I had listened to were The Runaways. I have all of their CDs and never stopped listening to them. They ROCK!! 🤘🏻

[@guessundheit6494]

If you don't know Girlschool, they were legend and worth listening to.

[@daviddoyle8956]

Should try Kittie and a tune called Brackish or Doro Perch she's a German singer she's like the female Rob Halford. Did you know when the Runaways first started they didn't have a lot of $$ and they were on tour with Motorhead They lent there equipment to the Runaways. Lemmy was so generous and never expected anything for it.

[@Donegal62]

I know Girlschool. 👍@@guessundheit6494

[@Donegal62]

Haven't heard of Kittie, I'll check them out. Doro, yes, she's a Goddess.@@daviddoyle8956

[@SERBON]

What a great person, truly legendary women! We need more Donita Sparks today. Can't wait documentary!

[@FromHerotoZero]

+SERBON I agree! Really looking forward to the documentary, too. /Sebi

[@demiansebastian78]

Great Interview! Donita looks so wise n' still beautiful at 52 yrs old! The world needs Power Grrrls back. We need true music, true Rock N' Roll!

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Donita was a treat to hang out with in the context of this interview. She radiated great positive energy, expressed a healthy attitude towards the current state of the band and the music business, and engaged in further interesting and fun conversations off camera. And, yes, she is beautiful! /Sebi

[@CantThinkofaCoolOne]

Great comment. Agreed on all points.

[@paulmiller7838]

So much respect for Donita.

[@fuerlingerp]

I really like how well spoken and... still with the current times Donita is. Don't know why I thought it would be any other way but it makes L7 even more likable. Just awesome.

[@FromHerotoZero]

I completely agree with you and know what you mean. When I started preparing for the interview I expected to find wild interviews of Donita, because that’s what I remembered from the 90s. However, I was positively surprised by her composure and eloquence of recent interviews. And when we met her for this interview, Donita was wonderful and very easy to talk to. I really, really like her! Thank for watching and sharing. / Sebi

[@birdsongvalley]

from 12 years old to 35 Still love them!!!!!

[@hvitskog]

I love L7´s music. Keep it up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@zephyrjet122]

These ladies are so real! I loved them from the get-go, esp Donita's highly recognizable raspy but soulful voice and the massively shredding guitars and drumming. Long live L7 ! Count on my body showing up to any tour I can get to.

[@FromHerotoZero]

😎👍

[@MrGrimm-tz9gs]

sooo glad they are back! L7 always one of my top fav bands..

[@FromHerotoZero]

😎👍 / Sebi

[@klimtklavier]

Donita the coolest

[@marcoracca2183]

Always beautiful and keen. Yeah, you can bet L7 fans keep you dear in time. And "Shirley" was one of my favourites when HFS came out! Keep on! (Under stage, Milan '01)

[@Nath_CM]

I thank life for having them back. They are the best thing ever happened to me!

[@felipec.5403]

Excellent interview! L7 rules!

[@andregallant1117]

She never aged a day! Wow!

[@wesleysixx5435]

My fave female rock band since 1992. Good interview! Congrats!

[@FromHerotoZero]

Great band indeed! Thanks a bunch for watching and the kind words🙌

[@leadzeppbelly]

This woman is brilliant. She’s 100% real

[@FromHerotoZero]

I can underline that👍

[@hazelmcdonald2557]

A quick mention, (she was friends with my friends), she did go through a really dark time at one point. I'm impressed and excited about the comeback! funny timing, I'm laughing, I was just about to get the logo tattoo haha! Everglade was written about my friend that passed away. The L7 logo was my friends legs! I want to get it in memory of her and our history of being strong women! some of us do come back with our boots on!

[@kevinhaley3087]

Hazel McDonald awesome

[@sfgirly64]

L O L . . .this guy. obviously has no idea how loyal L7 fans are. . .these ladies are the embodiment of Rock n' Roll.

[@left4deadlover123]

Great interviewer who seems genuinely interested and Donita is awesome as per. awesome interview :)

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thank you very much for watching and for your very kind comment and compliment, Elliott! Donita was truly awesome, on and off camera. Sparked even more interest in her persona and the story of the band. /Sebi

[@robertcubinelli4961]

Can't wait to get their new album.....simply amazing !!!

[@DavidRavenMoon]

It's great! I've been listening to it non stop!

[@mishroeder9490]

How did you keep your fans? What the hell, they rock, been a fan since 97, one of the best chick bands ever!

[@FloorManiac]

"We contributed to the documentary by having a seance." Most Spinal Tap answer she coulda given. Long live L7! One of the most important bands ever (not because they have vaginas, but because the music is 11/10). I wish them all the success in the world.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Same here. Love L7 and very happy they came back 🙌 Sebi

[@sisterseeth]

THIS! It never fails - in every comment section, however well meaning, there's at least 40% of those "best girl bands, ever" remarks - that puts them in a much smaller demographic than they deserve. They are technically more skilled than Nirvana, and got 1/1000000 of the cred. They're one of the best rock bands that ever lived, period.

[@blackdot3538]

Great interview.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thanks for watching and for the kind words 🙏

[@tsmerk]

The part about social media being important is right on. I agree that it takes too much time to do all you have to. I started playing music in 1965, before the Internet. Now I wonder how bands ever got noticed now without having all these self-promotion tools available. Even with social media, I'm still having a hard time getting my new album off the ground, even though it is a good one! The documentary was a nice touch, and I'm sure it help move L7 up the ladder a few points! Good luck!

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thanks for watching and for the comment, Tom. Wish you all the best with your new album. / Sebi

[@williamhaynes4857]

Donita would have been 53 when this video was made. She's still looking good 😍💯

[@FromHerotoZero]

Oh yeah. I concur! / Sebi

[@roaddjack2404]

just read about the "tampon story" and wanted to learn more about this wild and crazy woman

[@zoranoran]

I must say I always admired Donita. I don’t think that all L7 records are equally good, but first three records are definitely really really good , especially the third record and even the fourth is not bad. Donita is the woman!

[@mistrock322]

I love the track shirley! Always a fav!

[@xadiko69]

what an honesty man gotta love this woman !!!!

[@FromHerotoZero]

+xadiko69 💯% with you on that 👍 / Sebi

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I’ve seen them since the reunion and they ROCK so hard and their completely HOT as HELL doing it.

[@AppleSunbee33]

Fuck ya!, donita, i am so glad that you guys brought Jennifer Finch back...and glad you guys got back into playing shows....

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

It is so funny that everyone asks Sparks if she is from L.A. when ... uhhh, you can really hear the CHICAGO in her accent! Her accent is pure Mid-West, US of A.

[@amieange256]

Hell, yeah, love, love, love L7! I got into them when I was 14, 15 yrs old & never stopped listening, even during their hiatus. Just ask my 2 boys, every time they really tick me off they get at least a few lines of "Shitlist" sung to them!!!! (Even my grown son still gets it every once in a while. Lol!)

[@FromHerotoZero]

😄👍👍👍 / Sebi

[@TranzparentMethods]

The first time I ever heard L7 was in '92 or '93 in the movie "Pet Semetary Two"... I was 10 or 11 and "Shitlist" playing while Gus, the undead asshole stepdad ripped apart rabbits. I really loved the song, fast forward to February 1997, I saw L7 open for Marilyn Manson and that was amazing... The show was on a weekday and that weekend I went out and bought "The Beauty Process", which is still, one of my top 20 albums.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thanks for reminding me of that awesome soundtrack and movie. Completely forgot that L7 was on there 😃 Must go look for it, now! And, thanks for watching and sharing your story. Much appreciated! / Sebi

[@surfpsych]

Still ❤😜L7!

[@mwbright]

Any band as good as L7 doesn't need shit.

[@shawn1428]

She's brilliant! My youth consisted of HOLE, L7 and GARBAGE! I miss 90's grunge.....

[@FromHerotoZero]

The 90s were a great time for grunge music. Still listening to loads of grunge from that time, especially L7 🙌 / Sebi

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Shirley Manson's great, as well, isn't she?

[@craigoz1950]

What about Babes in Toyland?? My favourite 😁

[@FromHerotoZero]

Oh yeah! Babes in Toyland were great👍 / Sebi

[@craigoz1950]

From Hero To Zero ARE great. They're still going ;)

[@Dagger13824]

LOVE L7

[@FromHerotoZero]

Same here! / Sebi

[@buddhistpimp663]

I've been a fan since prob 1993...ironically I never even knew the members names, etc I just know I had bricks and triple plat. and hungry and they were so badass I ju

[@buddhistpimp663]

st found out recently the history and etc of the band. I've always thought L7 had some crazy late 50"s (think Elvis... Supremes..yada) flavor ..it's like Elvis meets Godzilla in a stinky bathroom brawl.. viva L7 and Donita..she's the bomb yo

[@craigg5410]

Hungry for Stink was the best!!

[@Pacifica310]

I 100% agree with you! Hungry for Stink is my Absolute Favorite L7 🎸 Album I told Donita that when I met her in 2016 here in Hollywood 🌞🌴

[@craigg5410]

@@Pacifica310 omg you met her?!? Definitely the best and dirtiest album!

[@Pacifica310]

@@craigg5410 Yes I did and it was a Honor meeting Donita ☺️She took her time and we talked for 10 minutes and she took a couple selfies and a full length picture with me. So real and down to earth unlike other Celebrities I have met and boy do I have some wild stories of encounters! She gave a Shocked look when I told her Hungry for Stink was my Favorite Album and that it's Brilliant 🎸

[@craigg5410]

@@Pacifica310 she'll be used to everyone talking about bricks are heavy. I found it over produced. Much like nevermind by nirvana. But that's butch vig for ya!

[@klassicalmuzik]

I want L7 and The Pretty Reckless to go on tour together. Anyone else agree with me?

[@FromHerotoZero]

I’d go see that show 😎

[@MeanManu]

She’s is so cool

[@real_fjcalabrese]

I saw L7 at Club Congress, Tucson, AZ in 1999.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Wish I could have seen L7 live in the 90s. / Sebi

[@real_fjcalabrese]

They used to consistently come to Tucson. They are the national touring band that I've seen the most. At Club Congress, they hung out after the show. They were actually pretty cool.

[@FromHerotoZero]

I can imagine. Have only met them once, for this interview, and they were very easy to talk to and fabulous to hang out with. Thank you for going to their shows. I’ll try to go see them in Zurich this June again. / Sebi

[@real_fjcalabrese]

Club Congress is a tiny nightclub in Tucson that punches above its weight. Aside from L7 I saw a variety of bands ranging from The Cramps and Dick Dale to some amazing local bands.

[@real_fjcalabrese]

Did you get to see them?

[@mrqs1549]

L❤️7

[@MediaSubliminal]

omg they're still around? That's awesome!

[@FromHerotoZero]

And they’re better than ever, imho. / Sebi

[@destro513]

I can smell the magic from here

[@FromHerotoZero]

😎👍

[@queerchoreography54]

How did you do it? They f••king ROCK dude!

[@robertcubinelli4961]

Donita & L7 make us forget the CRAPPY Gagas are out there. Simply a badass band.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Agreed.

[@LVRROCK]

6:18 OOPSIE !

[@FromHerotoZero]

😄

[@feeshtacos]

Donita is Jedi !!! \m/

[@jcm8009]

great writer and player

[@FromHerotoZero]

Indeed!

[@jdh9676]

"More beaver" is always good, never bad😏

[@FromHerotoZero]

😁

[@nuclearskull]

These girls make me drink!!

[@FromHerotoZero]

Cheers! 🍻😎

[@debgibsonfan]

♥

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

*Hearts*, of course.

[@daviddoyle8956]

Lemmy Kilmixter was a L7 fan Donita was having writers block at one point and he helped her out.

[@leeoslayer3190]

She is quality...

[@FromHerotoZero]

Yup, high quality. / Sebi

[@nervousbreakdowns2135]

OMG, I LOVE SHIRLEY! Please play more shows.

[@FromHerotoZero]

+Nervous Breakdowns 👍

[@chadbyrne4089]

Warped needs more beaver🤣I FUCKING LOVE THIS CHICK.

[@johnconlon2344]

Isn't she dead cool! Don't ever change Donita.

[@swampdonkey4919]

Am I the only one who thinks Donita became more attractive with age? Or maybe it just seems that way because she's more put-together these days. Totally has the Hot Mom vibe now.

[@TheKokojoe]

The Kickstarter goal I believe was $97,000, and ended in an excess of $33,000. I wondered if this is what allowed the band to tour again, as for the documentary/dvd being released around Christmas time, we'll have to just wait and see. The release date keeps being pushed back, and I'm just thinking if the Kickstarter money raised for the documentary, was actually used for the tour.

[@FromHerotoZero]

+TheKokojoe Thank you for your comment. Fair question. I assume that is not the case, since the documentary is not produced by the band. L7 solely helped out in the campaign, because it is about them. Donita made that quite clear during our talk on and off camera. But it's just an assumption. /Sebi

[@TheKokojoe]

Thanks for clearing that up, I had been thinking about that. I just thought it was coincidental that the money was raised and then the tour was announced right after that. I'm glad I'm wrong about that.

[@meansteve3602]

Gotta be about Shirley Muldowney !

[@mariolee2776]

I Love You So Much

[@321leigh]

Cool interview! ☠️💩😺

[@FromHerotoZero]

Many thanks for watching and for the kind words. We really enjoyed talking to Donita - she was great. / Sebi

[@lisbethbrowne2127]

when is the documentary coming out? i cant find it anywhere

[@FromHerotoZero]

I couldn’t find an official date either, but different screenings have taken place. Looking forward for it to officially be released internationally. /Sebi

[@lisbethbrowne2127]

yeah i cant wait! :D A seance? everyone involved in the music industry seems to mess with the devil :S Great interview thank you.

[@FromHerotoZero]

Glad you like the interview, Lisbeth. Thanks a bunch for watching and commenting. /Sebi

[@CAMPGMAY]

cool

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thanks!

[@ryansoltess6006]

Hey now...!!!

[@JUNIORKILLERROSES]

Estão mais lindas e talentosas , muito fuck

[@staceyfriedrich2273]

FUCK YEAH!!!! See you tomorrow night! I am fucking STOKED!!!

[@FromHerotoZero]

So, we’re you able to go to the L7 gig? How was it? / Sebi

[@StevieZero]

What a woman 😍

[@FromHerotoZero]

Indeed. It was such a pleasure to talk and hang out with Donita. She was really nice and her presence was incredible. One of the most memorable interviews for me.

[@daleblue22]

Duuuuude. In 94 I believe they went to Brasil I was a skateboarder and I went to their concert and for the first time I saw girls getting naked on stage..... 😄. I was 16.

[@tardisflanagan5536]

First thing I'd do would be to ask him about his Motorhead T-shirt to see if he's legit or a poser..."Motorhead, in your opinion, were they better after Fast Eddie left? Best album Overkill, Ace of Spades or No Sleep to Hammersmith?"...

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thank you for the very good and interesting questions about Motörhead, Tardis. ‘Better’ in this context lies in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I enjoy every Motörhead album, but, if I’d have to decide on my personal top 5 studio albums that’d be: March or Die, Motörizer, Bad Magic, Bomber, Ace of Spades. Which are your favorite Motörhead albums? Also, although No Sleep to Hammersmith is a legendary and great live album which I enjoy very much, I especially love The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 2. Just gives me something special. In short: I’ve been listening to Motörhead since 1916 came out. Hence, I like to believe that I’m legit ;-) /Sebi, the guy in the Motörhead shirt

[@tardisflanagan5536]

From Hero To Zero The sound quality at the Auckland Town Hall during the 1916 Tour wasn't the best from memory, I was at the front though getting blasted by the Marshall stacks, maybe it sounded better at the back where the music critics and journos were. Overkill and No Sleep till Hammersmith are the best albums though.

[@tree-huggersans-cur4371]

Tardis Flanagan The concept of poser is so fascist and elitist, as though only a few chosen may get a membership at the exclusive country (or rather rock...) club. You can like Celine Dion and L7, at least you're open to the dialogue of the other, which is a basic, common claim/message in the rock/underground scene, no? Maybe i smoked a lot

[@moreoptions9071]

Tardis is a loser. Only loser douchey people act like that, assuming or interrogating who they think are "posers". Very anti-grunge/punk of you, loser.

[@annalisavajda252]

Well punk rock fans want them not Taylor Swift it's not all the same just because they are both blonde girls.

[@annac5960]

Why does always female rockers appearance come up? Yes she looks terrific but who the fuck cares, she's cool as hell!

[@FromHerotoZero]

True, Donita is awesome in many ways. / Sebi

[@jesusperez6383]

I SLAVEl l7👠👠👠👠

[@bunkhouse]

@ thekokojoe The doc debuts Nov 11. Stop insinuating falsehoods.

[@dwilliams2166]

This reporter is nice and hospitable, but geez...

[@jasondouglas9496]

I don't like the stress and magick disappearing from donitas eyes

[@FromHerotoZero]

+Jason Douglas Fair point. But I find Donita even more magical today than back then 😌 / Sebi

She sounds confused

[@ranrancrabgrabber]

is she a lesbian

[@joshuablairedelacruz6805]

shes old now but obviously in good shape, maybe she eats only vegetables.

[@FromHerotoZero]

+joshua dela cruz When I met Donita for the interview, I thought she looked better than ever, no matter what age she is today. She looked very fit and was such a treat to talk to. Simply a wonderful woman. / Sebi

[@storybellz]

I am only watching this because Joan Jett has mentioned L7 a few times in interviews and evidently is a fan. But, upon reading about the band, I was grossed out by their antics. Especially the way this woman dropped her pants on live TV, and the way she removed her tampon right in the middle of a concert and threw it at the audience, just because they were acting rude. Someone should have reminded her that two wrongs don't make a right! Disgusting, really. And I'm just sad that Joan likes them. But, maybe she is just a little more lenient than me. But even so, I hope she wouldn't like these things either. Kathleen Hanna has also done some things that have made me go "Good gosh!!" :-( As women in rock, Kathleen and Donna and others like them could certainly take a lesson from fellow female rocker Melissa Etheridge, on how to rock without the chip on the shoulder!

[@FromHerotoZero]

Thank you very much for watching this and sharing your views with us. By the way, if you search for Melissa Etheridge on our KZbin channel, you’ll find an interview we did with her in Zurich. Very nice person and interesting artist as well. / Sebi

[@storybellz]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you interviewing all these interesting people, and so glad you interviewed Melissa- one of the best in the biz!

[@Spill_Eviction]

I'm a huge fan of Joan. You should know that in the Runaways she fed some guy a popsicle made of urine. They also tied and stripped some guy to a pole. I think you have no business listening to rock n' roll. You don't have to like L7 but your comment on antics is ignorant. Especially critizing a medium that is all about rebellion. Fighting the status quo. Please keep listening to Melissa Etheridge. You have no place in rock.

[@storybellz]

Thank you, I will- because Melissa Etheridge is rock! And yes, I DID already know that about the pee pop-sickle. So? What's your point? Yeah, Joan has done some crazy stuff- which she admits. Do you think she's proud of every single thing she ever did? No. She's also admitted that she was bad with substance abuse back in the day too. Does that mean she thinks substance abuse is good now? Heck no! She won't even touch a drink anymore for the most part. So, she grew, she changed, she matured. But you see, the thing about Donita Sparks is that to this day, she has never admitted wrongdoing or that maybe she went overboard! Sort of like you went overboard with this and many other comments on KZbin- like the one wherein you said that you couldn't wait for Suzi Quatro to die! Being a huge fan of Joan, YOU should know that most of her antics from back in the day were done either in defense of others, or to get along with them. Her band-mates in The Runaways have even said as much. They have mentioned how Joan usually wasn't the trouble-maker, she was the diplomat. If she did make trouble, according to them, it usually wasn't her idea! You seem to like the idea of Joan, rather than Joan herself, and you like the idea of rock. Good for you. But, don't tell others that they have no place as rock fans- because to speak on behalf of all rock is not your place either!

[@Spill_Eviction]

Poor girl likes rock but can't handle the heat of it. Still no place for her here. You can try Pat Benatar and Melissa. Goodbye

[@paulwalsh2344]

Hot music stays hot on it's own. If L7 put out ubiquitous schlock then they would have faded into mediocrity. L7 played their experience it seems to me and that resonates with hardcore outsiders which every generation has. Fearless Riot Grrrls needed that representation and L7 fenced out that space.

[@GillywillyMr]

shes right ..its all about Taylor Swift now

[@A_Beautiful_Death]

I hope they do put out new material because Donita Sparks is one hell of a song writer and composer. If not for the music industry being in the state that it is in now Transmiticate would have gone platinum in my opinion. That album is fucking good. Good music is timeless which is the reason so many of their fans wanted to see them get back together. I'm thinking they should simply utilize the internet and stay independent. There are a lot of youngins around my way who have become stars simply from using social media which has forced a lot of record labels to have to fuck with them. Hell, look at Justin Bieber, Soulja Boy and Chief Keef. I named them simply because they are well known but there are so many others and none of them have half the talent of L7 in my opinion. Hopefully them getting back together will go well because real bands deserve their piece of the pie, again, in my opinion.

[@FromHerotoZero]

+Targeted Individual Very well said 👍 In regard to revenue generation for themselves, I can imagine L7 doing better today than before they broke up, given the technological advancements you mentioned above. We'll see what Donita and the ladies will choose to do. I'd buy their new music and would go see them live. /Sebi

[@A_Beautiful_Death]

Oh yeah most definitely and by them being able to actually play instruments they will always do well with live shows. People like yourself will always come out to see a good band play live.

[@FromHerotoZero]

+Targeted Individual Can only agree with :) /Sebi