Jennifer Finch was best known as the bassist for the influential rock group ‘L7’, a band that rose to prominence during the alternative rock movement of the 1990s. Finch brought his distinctive style and ferocious energy to the group, helping to establish ‘L7’ as one of the most impactful rock bands of its era. Now, the artist has died after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer.Jennifer Finch died on Saturday after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 59 years old. ‘L7’ confirmed Finch’s death via an Instagram post, with the band writing: “It is with very heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved bandmate, friend and fellow troublemaker Jennifer Finch has passed away today. She had a long and courageous battle against brain cancer and was loved by many wonderful friends, fellow musicians and fans around the world. We love you, Jennifer.”
Jennifer Finch’s health battle and medical complications
According to Rolling Stone, earlier this month, Finch announced that she was undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. When the musician was first diagnosed, it was believed that her condition would be easily treated with radiation, but complications forced her to undergo multiple surgeries. The procedures left her with severe physical limitations, requiring extensive medical care afterward. In 2011, Finch had also been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, adding to her medical history.
Despite her health challenges, Jennifer Finch remained dedicated to music, photography and her creative work until the very end.Image credit (Instagram)
Due to Finch’s diagnosis and treatment, he dropped out of the upcoming US leg of ‘L7’s Last Hurray Tour which was originally planned when the artist was in good health. Finch then asked his bandmates to continue as planned. The band stated through their representative, writing: “We are devastated 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 Finch’s career with L7 and solo work
‘L7’ formed in 1985, and Finch joined the group in 1987. In a 2017 Rolling Stone profile, she was described as “a badass, untrained bass player who added instant verve to her live set.” The band released their self-titled debut in 1988, and Finch served as the group’s bassist for most of their ’90s peak before leaving the band in 1996 at the age of 30. Her decision to come out came during a period when she had gotten sober and was processing the loss of her father.
From helping define ‘L7’ in the ’90s to reuniting with the band years later, Jennifer Finch’s influence on alternative rock will continue to inspire fans.Image credit (Instagram)
After leaving ‘L7’, Finch played in two additional bands, OtherStarPeople and The Shocker, while launching his own record label, Little Pusher Records. She also worked prolifically as a photographer throughout her career. In 2015, Finch reunited with ‘L7’ and appeared on their 2019 album ‘Scatter the Rats’. Friends and family previously launched a GoFundMe to cover the costs associated with his treatment and recovery, as well as to support efforts to create an archive of Finch’s work and complete a major creative project slated for release the following year.