Jennifer Finch of L7 Dies at 59

Jennifer Finch, the bassist and vocalist who anchored L7 through their most influential years, died this week after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. She was 59.

Finch joined Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner’s band in 1986, a year after they started, and played on five studio albums. Her arrival came as L7 were recording their self-titled debut for Epitaph. By the turn of the decade, the band had shifted toward the heft of grunge, and Finch was a central presence on 1990’s Smell The Magic on Sub Pop and 1992’s Bricks Are Heavy, released on Slash Records. The latter, produced by Butch Vig, houses “Pretend We’re Dead,” the single that cracked alt-rock radio without bending the band’s coiled, confrontational sound.

Beyond the records, Finch helped shape L7’s cultural footprint. She co-founded Rock For Choice in 1991, the concert series that raised funds for abortion rights, and wrote or co-wrote essential deep cuts like “One More Thing” and “She Has Eyes.” Her background in photography also meant she was documenting the same LA punk and alt-rock scenes she was helping to define. Before L7, she briefly played in Sugar Babydoll alongside Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland.

Earlier this week, Finch disclosed her diagnosis and said she would miss the band’s forthcoming farewell tour. A GoFundMe organized by friends and family rapidly exceeded its goal. A statement on her social media read: “Jennifer’s impact on the world of music was seismic; her impact on our lives, even moreso.”