Diamonds in the Rough: 'The Last Hurrah!' and the Legacy of L7 and Jennifer Finch
By: Jay Broderick - The Ace of Cups, formed in 1967, were one of the pioneering all-female hard rock acts, sharing stages with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane. Admittedly, I'm not familiar with the band. Perhaps you are... perhaps you aren't. But I'll bet my bottom dollar that you're familiar with The Runaways, featuring Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie among others. And I'll double down on that bet that any hard music fan knows the all-female NWOBHM legends Girlschool, who are still kicking ass nearly 50 years later.
The reality is that all-female hard rock and heavy metal bands have been making noise in the music industry for almost 60 years. Sure, they've often had steeper mountains to climb and haven't always been given their due, but through sheer tenacity and a never-say-die attitude, these artists have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
In 1985, Donita Sparks (guitar/vocals) and Suzi Gardner (guitar/vocals) founded a band called L7 in Los Angeles, California. Bassist Jennifer Finch would join two years later, and while the band originally featured a male drummer, "Dee" Plakas came aboard in 1988. With the lineup complete, the unapologetic, angst-ridden blend of punk, metal, and sludge that became L7 was officially alive.
After solidifying their lineup, L7 released their self-titled debut album through Epitaph Records in 1988, followed by the Smell the Magic EP in 1990. With their music now out in the world and underground smash "Shove" becoming the talk of the scene, it wasn't long before major labels started paying attention. In 1991, L7 signed with Slash Records and headed into the studio with Butch Vig, fresh off producing Nirvana's Nevermind, to record what would become their breakthrough album, Bricks Are Heavy.
Released in 1992, the record spawned the singles "Pretend We're Dead," "Everglade," and "Monster," firmly establishing the young band as a serious player in the alternative music landscape. Over the course of their career, L7 would go on to release seven full-length studio albums. But it wasn't just the music that made headlines. As with any truly great rock band, a healthy dose of "fuck-you" attitude came with the package.
In 1991, L7 joined forces with the Feminist Majority Foundation to co-found Rock for Choice, a music festival that blended feminist activism with the world of rock and roll. Frustrated by right-wing blockades targeting women's health clinics, the members of L7 decided to raise awareness through the power of music. The event ran for an astonishing 13 years and featured legendary acts including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and fellow Riot Grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill.
And of course, there were the on-stage antics, which are practically mandatory in the world of rock and roll. Like many bands, whether you like it or not, L7 had their share of shock moments. During the 1992 Reading Festival in England, a series of technical problems left the crowd restless. Restless enough, in fact, that fans began hurling mud at the band. In pure punk-rock fashion, Donita Sparks responded by removing her used tampon and throwing it into the crowd. "Eat my used tampon, fuckers!" she famously shouted.
Later that same year, the band made their one and only appearance on the British variety show The Word. Matching the show's chaotic energy, Sparks dropped her bottoms entirely and performed the final twenty seconds of "Pretend We're Dead" naked from the waist down. Oh, and there were others! I mean, come on! This is rock and roll!
Despite the shenanigans, L7 kicked ass where it truly mattered... the music. Sadly, especially in the music business, good things often come to an end. Years of relentless touring and substance abuse contributed to Jennifer Finch leaving the band in 1996, and L7 ultimately called it quits in 2001. But you can't let sleeping corpses lie.
In 2016, the largely fan-funded documentary L7: Pretend We're Dead premiered. While the film arrived fifteen years after the band's breakup, its production helped spark a fire that would burn for another decade. Jennifer Finch rejoined the band, and L7 returned to the road in a major way and eventually recorded their first studio album in twenty years, Scatter the Rats, released on May 3, 2019. As a matter of fact, I covered the band's October 12, 2022 performance at Toronto's Opera House for Digital Beat Magazine. That tour celebrated the 30th anniversary of Bricks Are Heavy, and judging by the sold-out crowd, the band's legacy was stronger than ever.
On May 7, 2026, L7 announced The Last Hurrah Tour, a 32-date run intended to close the book on a remarkable career. Unfortunately, news of the farewell tour also brought heartbreaking news. On July 18, 2026, the band revealed that founding bassist Jennifer Finch was battling an aggressive form of brain cancer. Fans quickly rallied behind her, contributing more than $400,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to support her treatment. Heartbreakingly, Jennifer passed away just five days after the announcement. She was 59 years old........
So on October 29, 2026, I made my way down to Toronto's Danforth Music Hall for one last hurrah with L7. Armed with nothing more than a photo pass and restricted by the familiar "first three songs" rule, I couldn't shake a profound sense of sadness as I watched the band take the stage. Former bassist Janis Tanaka, who had replaced Finch when she left the band in '96 proudly holding down the duties on the low end. As the band fired through "Deathwish", and "Andres" they brought the same intesnity as they did 40 years ago. Sparks shared her love for the venue that the band has played at a handful of times over the years. The fans torn between the adoration of a band that broke the rules, and proudly held strong for what they believe, and the heartache knowing
that this is the end.
After L7's 3rd track "Fuel My Fire", I headed out of the pit, and worked my way towards the back of the venue. The band's leader welcomed the Toronto crowd, and then shared the sad news of Finch's passing just a few months ago. Sparks detailed the love they have for the bassist, and the fact that she was right there in the room with the packed Danforth Music Hall. The band kicked into "Monster" as I headed out the doors.
Maybe this really is the end. Then again, let's be honest. Some bands seem to have five or ten farewell tours before finally calling it a day. So perhaps the spark will ignite again somewhere down the road... But if this truly is "The Last Hurrah", then L7 leaves behind a legacy built on great songs, fearless attitudes, and a willingness to do things entirely on their own terms. They were diamonds in the rough, and they'll be sorely missed.
L7 The Last Hurrah! Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
L7 Online
The Last Hurrah! Show Date: October 29, 2026
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