A Founding Force of Grunge Lost at 59
Jennifer Finch, the longtime bassist of the ’90s feminist grunge band L7, has died at the age of 59. Her bandmates confirmed the news on July 18, noting that Finch had been battling a long-term illness. According to a statement released by the band, Finch had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011 and more recently faced an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Documenting the Los Angeles Punk Underground
Born on August 5, 1966, Finch was a fixture of the Los Angeles music scene well before L7 achieved mainstream success. She cut her teeth documenting the burgeoning punk movement through photography, capturing images of bands like The Cramps and Bad Religion. Her presence in the scene was established early; she even appeared in the seminal 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization.
Forging a Sound Through Persistence
Finch’s professional music career included stints with Courtney Love’s early band, Sugar Babydoll, in 1984, and the garage-punk group The Pandoras in 1986. That same year, she joined L7, a band co-founded by Suzi Gardner and Donita Sparks. Despite not initially knowing how to play the bass, her bandmates credited her with a “persistent” determination that helped shape the group’s sound and integration into the local scene.
Defining the Grunge Era
During her initial tenure with L7, which lasted until 1996, Finch played on four of the band’s albums: their 1988 self-titled debut, 1990’s Smell the Magic, the 1992 breakthrough Bricks Are Heavy, and 1994’s Hungry for Stink. The band became a significant force in the rock world, not only for their music but for their advocacy of women’s rights, including the 1991 founding of the Rock for Choice concert series.
Commercial Success and Cultural Commentary
Their 1992 single “Pretend We’re Dead” remains their most recognizable hit, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The song is widely recognized for its commentary on the socioeconomic structures that marginalize women, delivered through a melodic, grunge-inflected sound.
Final Years and Lasting Legacy
After departing the band in 1996, Finch eventually returned for L7’s official reunion in 2015. The band embarked on extensive tours and released their first studio album in two decades, Scatter the Rats, in 2019. Her life and career were also highlighted in the 2016 documentary L7: Pretend We’re Dead, directed by Sarah Price.
Following her brain cancer diagnosis, Finch required multiple surgeries and extensive medical care, leading her bandmates to launch a GoFundMe campaign to assist with her expenses. In their tribute, the members of L7 described her as a “true original who lived entirely on her own terms,” adding that her influence on music and the people who knew her “cannot be measured.”