Jennifer Finch, Bassist Behind L7's "Pretend We're Dead," Dies at 59
Jennifer Finch, the bassist who helped define L7's sound during the band's 1990s heyday, has died at 59 following an aggressive form of brain cancer.
L7 announced her death in a statement shared July 18. "With a very heavy heart we announce that our beloved bandmate, friend and fellow troublemaker Jennifer Finch has passed away today," the band wrote on Instagram. "She had a long courageous fight with brain cancer and was loved by many wonderful friends, musical peers and fans worldwide. We love you Jennifer."
Finch's family also shared a tribute on her Instagram account. "We are devastated to announce the death of our partner, sister, daughter and friend Jennifer Precious Finch," the statement read. "Jennifer's impact on the world of music was seismic; her impact on our lives, even more so."
The band had revealed Finch's diagnosis just days earlier, on July 13, announcing she would be unable to join L7 for the upcoming U.S. leg of its Last Hurrah Tour. According to the band, what initially appeared to be treatable through radiation progressed rapidly and required multiple surgeries, leaving Finch with significant physical limitations and a need for ongoing in-home care.
A GoFundMe That Grew Fast
Following the diagnosis, Finch's friend Aubree Miller launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of her care and to fund an archive of Finch's creative work, including a project originally planned for release in 2027. The campaign's initial goal of $150,000 was quickly surpassed, with donations from fans, friends, family and fellow musicians including members of Green Day, Garbage, Bikini Kill and Pearl Jam pushing the total well past $395,000.
Finch's Career With L7
Finch, born August 5, 1966, grew up in West Los Angeles. Her career began in 1984 when she formed Sugar Babydoll alongside Courtney Love and future Babes in Toyland founder Kat Bjelland. She also spent time in the Hollywood band The Pandoras before joining L7 in 1986, playing alongside Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner and Dee Plakas.
Finch played bass on L7's first four albums, helping shape the band's sound during its commercial peak in the early 1990s. The group's 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy produced the Top 10 modern rock hit "Pretend We're Dead," and 1994's Hungry for Stink became the band's highest-charting record on the Billboard 200. A Rolling Stone profile once described Finch as "an ill-behaved and untrained bassist who added instant verve" to L7's live performances.
Finch left the band in 1996 to focus on her sobriety and to grieve the death of her father. She went on to form the band OtherStarPeople and later played in the punk band The Shocker before rejoining a reunited L7 in 2014. She continued touring with the band and appeared on its most recent album, 2019's Scatter the Rats.
Beyond music, Finch also worked as a photographer, documenting the Los Angeles punk scene of the early 1980s, and appeared in a small role in the 2017 film Scumbag.
L7 has not announced whether the Last Hurrah Tour will continue as planned.
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