L7’s Jennifer Finch Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

L7 bassist Jennifer Finch has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and is currently undergoing treatment, the band announced.

According to a statement, what initially appeared to be a condition that could be addressed through treatment and a full course of radiation progressed rapidly. Unforeseen complications have since required Finch, 59, to undergo multiple surgeries, resulting in significant physical limitations and the need for extensive ongoing medical care, rehabilitation and professional in-home assistance.

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Friends, collaborators and family members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the substantial costs associated with Finch’s treatment and recovery.

The diagnosis also means Finch will be unable to participate in L7’s previously announced Last Hurrah Tour, the band’s planned final run of U.S. dates in fall 2026. The tour was conceived when all four members of L7 were in good health, but Finch has asked her bandmates to continue with the shows as planned.

“We are all devastated by the news and are surrounding her with love, protecting her privacy and dignity, while helping raise the resources she urgently needs for the care ahead,” says L7 singer/guitarist Donita Sparks. “Jennifer is family, and we want her to feel the full strength of the community that has loved and supported her for so many years.”

Since forming in Los Angeles in 1985, L7 has wielded punk ferocity, sharp humor and a no-compromise approach to songwriting and performance. SPIN’s 1993 cover story on the band captured the group’s chaotic live energy and the chemistry between Sparks, guitarist Suzi Gardner, drummer Dee Plakas and Finch, who was described as a key force in the band’s athletic, unpredictable stage presence.

The band’s breakthrough arrived with 1992’s Bricks Are Heavy, produced by Butch Vig, which brought L7 a wider audience through songs including “Pretend We’re Dead.” The group’s 2015 reunion reunited the original lineup — Sparks, Gardner, Finch and Plakas — after nearly two decades apart, driven in part by enduring fan demand and renewed appreciation for their influence on punk and alternative music.

“The cost of giving Jennifer the care she needs is overwhelming, but it’s what gives her the best chance for meaningful improvement while maintaining as much comfort, dignity and independence as possible,” wrote friend Aubree Miller on GoFundMe. “These funds will also help to ensure Jennifer’s life work keeps making noise long after this moment.”

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