L7 bassist Jennifer Finch dies at 59 following cancer battle
Finch performed with L7 during their 1990s peak and reunited from 2014 to 2026
- L7 bassist Jennifer Finch died aged 59 after battling brain cancer.
- A GoFundMe campaign raised $395,000 to assist with her medical and therapy costs.
- Finch performed with L7 during their 1990s peak and reunited from 2014 to 2026.
L7 bassist Jennifer Finch died at the age of 59 following a battle with brain cancer. The news was confirmed in a statement posted to her personal Instagram account today.
Finch served as the bassist for alternative rock group L7 during the band's creative peak throughout the 1990s. The musician waged a courageous fight with brain cancer before her passing. Earlier this month, friends and family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover expenses for professional in-home nursing care, medical equipment, and physical and speech therapy. The fundraiser raised $395,000, surpassing its initial target of $350,000.
Finch initially joined L7 in 1986, adding energy and vocals to the group's live performances. During her initial tenure with the band, she authored several track compositions, including "(Right On) Thru", "Everglade", and "Shirley". In 1994, Finch and her bandmates—Suzi Gardner, Donita Sparks, and Dee Plakas—featured as a band called Camel Lips in the John Waters film Serial Mom, performing the track "Gas Chamber", which they co-wrote with the director.
Before joining L7, Finch performed alongside Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland in the group Sugar Babydoll. She eventually departed L7 in 1996 to focus on her sobriety and cope with the death of her father. Beyond her primary musical career, she secured a small acting role in the 2017 film Scumbag. Finch later rejoined Gardner, Sparks, and Plakas in L7, performing with the group from 2014 until 2026.
In an official statement issued today, her bandmates praised her fierce spirit, humour, and boundless creativity, noting that her contributions helped shape L7 and changed their lives. They described her as an original artist who lived entirely on her own terms, emphasising that her overall impact on music and art remains immeasurable. Her family expressed gratitude for the widespread messages of support while requesting privacy during this period.