L7 Bassist and Co-Founder Jennifer Finch Dies at 59

*Jennifer Finch of music group L7 performs onstage at Hollywood Palladium on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium)*

L7 bassist and founding member Jennifer Finch has died at 59.

The news arrived less than a week after the “Pretend We’re Dead” rockers announced that Finch had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

“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,” L7 said in a statement. “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.”

The band added, “We love her beyond words and will carry her with us always. Rest in power our dear friend.”

Finch formed L7 in 1985 with guitarists and vocalists Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner and drummer Roy Koutsky. In 1989, Koutsky was replaced by Demetra Plakas, establishing the classic L7 lineup.

Based in Los Angeles and primarily influenced by punk, L7 put their own stamp on the grunge sound that emerged from Seattle in the early ’90s. Their breakthrough came with 1992’s Bricks Are Heavy, recorded with Butch Vig, the producer of Nirvana’s Nevermind.

L7 followed Bricks Are Heavy with 1994’s Hungry for Stink. Finch left the band in 1996, and L7 released two more albums before going on hiatus in 2001.

The lineup of Finch, Sparks, Gardner and Plakas reunited in 2014 and premiered the documentary Pretend We’re Dead in 2016. The band released the album Scatter the Rats in 2019.

In May, L7 announced a farewell tour called the Last Hurrah, scheduled to begin in October. When the band announced Finch’s diagnosis, they said she would not be taking part in the tour.

“The Last Hurrah Tour was planned along with Jennifer when all four of us were in good health and spirits,” L7 said. “Although she will not be able to join us for the upcoming U.S. dates, Jennifer has asked us to continue with the tour as planned. We will honor her request while making her care and well-being our immediate priority.”

This article was adapted from original reporting by ABC Audio, as featured on 105.7 The Point.