Donita Sparks is an American musician best known as the frontwoman, co-founder, singer and guitarist for grunge/riot grrrl band L7. She is also the drummer for Lou Man Group, a Lou Reed tribute band.
History[]
Donita Sparks was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 3, 1963. She raised in Chicago, Illinois by a politically active family, and worked as a foot messenger while there. At the age of 19, she moved to Los Angeles, California where she met Suzi Gardner two years later. Gardner had provided backing focals for "Slip In it" by Black Flag. She and Gardner formed L7 in 1985, and released their debut album in 1988. In 1991, around the time they released their second album, Smell the Magic, Sparks and L7 formed Rock for Choice, a Pro-Choice organization that would be supported by some iconic rock bands of the 90's, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The band then released their third album, Bricks Are Heavy, in 1992 under the production of Butch Vig, who produced Nirvana's hit album Nevermind.
Around the time of the release of Bricks are Heavy, Sparks gained controversy over a negative reaction in 1992 when L7 performed at the Reading Festival and the speakers blew out. After the audience threw mud on stage and managed to hit the band, Sparks threw a used tampon into the audience and told the audience to eat it. Sparks also willingly dropped her pants on a live performance on The Word in that same year.
In 1994, Sparks made an acting debut in the film Serial Mom where she played a musician in a fictional band called "Camel Lips."
L7 went ona hiatus in 2001. In 2008, Sparks released a solo album known as Transmiticate under the name "Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments.
L7 reunited in 2014 and have produced two live albums of previous recordings. However, L7 have not released any more studio albums.