The death of Jennifer Finch has been a great loss for the world of punk rock.
The iconic bassist, a notable figure of the ’90s rock boom, died at age 59 on Saturday, July 18, just days after it was revealed that she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Leading the tributes was American rock band L7, known for their raw and politically charged sound.
“Jennifer was a true original who lived completely on her own terms, and the impact she had on music, art, and everyone who was lucky enough to know her cannot be measured,” the band wrote in a statement via Billboard. “We love her beyond words and will carry her with us always. Rest in power to our dear friend.”
In a tribute on Instagram, the band called Finch their “dear bandmate, friend and fellow troublemaker.”
Just six days earlier, the group, consisting of Suzi Gardner, Donita Sparks and Dee Plakas, revealed that Finch will miss their upcoming farewell tour due to “unforeseen complications” from his brain cancer diagnosis.
Before joining L7 in 1986, Finch played bass in the San Francisco-based band Sugar Babydoll, consisting of Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland. Love paid tribute to Finch with a simple photo.
Finch officially left L7 in 1996, but the group reunited in 2014, with their final album, Scatter the Rats, released in 2019. In May of this year, L7 announced dates for the first leg of their final tour. The last hurrah 2026which will begin in October.
In her personal life, Finch dated Dave Grohl of Nirvana and later Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. She was married to actor, musician and racing driver Chris Pedersen from 2000 to 2007.
Beyond music, Finch was also an accomplished photographer, writer, and visual artist.
