R.I.P. Jennifer Finch: L7 bassist dead at 59
Finch had been fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer. Earlier this week, a GoFundMe organized in her name eclipsed the $300,000 mark.
Photo by Diego Castanho
L7 bassist, vocalist, and songwriter Jennifer Finch has passed away following an aggressive form of brain cancer. She was 59. “With a very heavy heart we announce that our beloved bandmate, friend, and fellow troublemaker Jennifer Finch has passed away today,” L7 shared on its Instagram page. “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, born on August 5, 1966, grew up in West Los Angeles after being adopted by Robert Edward Finch and Sandra Jacobson. Her musical career began in 1984, when she, Courtney Love, and Kat Bjelland formed Sugar Babydoll. Around the same time, Finch was a member of Gwynne Kahn’s Hollywood band The Pandoras. In 1986, Finch joined Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner, and Roy Koutsky in L7 and remained a member until 1996, when she departed the band to focus on her sobriety and grieve the death of her father. Before rejoining the group in 2014, she performed in OtherStarPeople and The Shocker. At the time of her death, Finch was an active member of L7, having worked on all of the band’s biggest records, including Smell the Magic, Bricks Are Heavy, and Hungry for Stink, and wrote “(Right On) Thru,” “Everglade,” and “Shirley.”
On July 13, it was announced that not only had Finch been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, but that she would not participate in the upcoming U.S. leg of L7’s Last Hurrah Tour. After Finch underwent multiple surgeries and intensive rehabilitation, physical therapy, and in-home care, her friend Aubree Miller organized a GoFundMe campaign, hoping to raise $150,000 to cover the expenses and create an archive of Finch’s work, including a “significant creative project” initially to be released in 2027. By July 16, the GoFundMe had eclipsed the $300,000 mark, thanks to generous donations from fans, friends, family, and members of Green Day, Garbage, Bikini Kill, and Pearl Jam.
In an email statement shared by the band’s publicist, L7 said, “We are shattered by the loss of our beloved bandmate, sister and friend Jennifer Finch, whose fierce spirit, humor and boundless creativity helped shape L7 and changed all of our lives forever. Jennifer was a true original who lived entirely on her own terms, and the impact she made on music, art and everyone lucky enough to know her cannot be measured. We love her beyond words and will carry her with us always. Rest in power our dear friend.”
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