Jennifer Finch, the bassist who helped define the sound and attitude of L7, has died at the age of 59 after battling brain cancer, the band confirmed. In a statement shared on Instagram, L7 said Finch passed away on Saturday and remembered her as a beloved bandmate, friend, and “fellow troublemaker” whose loss has left them heartbroken.
The group later described Finch as a fierce and original presence whose humor, creativity, and spirit played a major role in shaping L7. According to the report, her impact extended far beyond the band itself, touching music, art, and the many people who knew her personally or admired her work from afar.
A longtime presence in punk and rock
Finch had recently revealed that she was undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. What was first expected to be manageable with radiation became more complicated, leading to multiple surgeries and significant physical limitations that required extensive care. The report also notes that Finch had previously been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011.
Because of her illness, Finch stepped away from L7’s planned U.S. leg of the Last Hurrah Tour and asked her bandmates to continue without her. L7 formed in 1985, and Finch joined in 1987, going on to become a key part of the band’s rise. She played on much of their Nineties-era run before leaving in 1996, later returning for the group’s 2015 reunion and appearing on the 2019 album Scatter the Rats.
Outside L7, Finch remained active in music and art. She played in OtherStarPeople and the Shocker, started Little Pusher Records, and worked extensively as a photographer. Friends and family had also launched a GoFundMe to help with treatment and recovery costs, while also supporting plans to preserve her work and finish a creative project that had been slated for release next year.
Source: rollingstone.com
