Jennifer Finch, the bassist and co-founder of the all-female grunge band L7, has died at the age of 59, just days after her family publicly confirmed she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
On Saturday night, a post on Finch's Instagram page announced her death. The message, accompanied by a photo of Finch smiling in front of a wall of guitars, read: 'We are devastated to announce the death of our partner, sister, daughter, and friend Jennifer Precious Finch. Jennifer's impact on the world of music was seismic; her impact on our lives, even more so.' The family thanked well-wishers and requested privacy to grieve.
Final tour plans disrupted
Finch had been due to join L7 on their 'Last Hurrah Tour' in October 2026, marking 40 years since the band formed in Los Angeles. However, earlier this week, the band revealed Finch needed 'extensive medical care' after complications from surgery, and she had asked them to continue without her. A GoFundMe campaign was set up to cover her medical expenses, including rehabilitation and in-home professional support.
L7, whose longest-standing lineup included Finch, Suzi Gardner, Dee Plakas, and Donita Sparks, emerged from the punk scene in the late 1980s. They released four albums before a hiatus in 1996, reforming in 2014 to produce another record.
Tributes and legacy
Fans and fellow musicians paid tribute online. Stacey Kelvin Dee commented on the Instagram post: 'Heartbreaking! There aren't a lot of women that give their lives to rock n roll, to punk, to being in a band of all women… I loved you, buddy! You were one of the coolest girls that ever walked the earth!'
Finch's death marks the loss of a pioneering figure in the male-dominated grunge and punk scenes of the 1990s. Her influence on female musicians and the alternative rock genre remains significant.
