L7 bassist Jennifer Finch is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, and her rock peers and ’90s fans are rallying to support the artist as she undergoes multiple surgeries to treat the disease.
Finch was scheduled to join her bandmates on altrock band The Last Hurray’s farewell tour later that year.
But the multidisciplinary artist, who is also known for her photography and writing, faced “serious complications” due to her condition.
In a post launching a GoFundMe to help secure her ongoing care, her loved ones shared that despite hope that early treatment, including radiation, would be successful, the bassist suffered a “relentless series of setbacks.”
“After her diagnosis, there was hope that treatment would give her the opportunity to return to some version of a normal life,” the Instagram post said.
“Instead, complications brought multiple surgeries and an ongoing series of failures. Jennifer now lives with significant physical limitations and requires a level of care that love, friendship and sheer determination cannot safely provide around the clock.
“So we’re reaching out to the community.”
Fellow rockers including Garbage, Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna and Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament were among the thousands of fans who rallied to support the fundraiser, which aims to raise US$350,000.
Despite the health crisis, Finch appeared to be in good spirits in photos shared by her loved ones, which showed the revered rocker showing off her surgery scars from her hospital bed.
Finch’s L7 bandmates Donita Sparks, Susie Gardner and Demetra Plakas said Finch encouraged them to continue with the Last Hurray tour, their final US dates, which kicks off in October.
“The Last Hurray tour was planned with Jennifer when all four of us were in good health and spirits,” the band shared on their social media.
“Although she will not be able to join us for the upcoming US shows, Jennifer has asked us to continue the tour as planned.
“We will honor her request, making her care and well-being our immediate priority.”
They added: “Jennifer is part of our family. We love her and want her to feel the full strength of the community that has loved and supported her for so many years.”
They later revealed that Finch had been heartened by the outpouring of love and support from fans around the world and had “really enjoyed” the messages being read to her.
L7, who last toured Australia with the Good Things festival in 2024, were at the forefront of the grunge and riot grrrl movement in the ’90s alongside bands such as Nirvana and Bikini Kill.
They hit the mainstream charts with their 1992 hit. Pretend we’re dead but by 2001 their chart success had waned and the band announced they were on an “indefinite hiatus”.
L7 reunited in 2014 and have toured regularly since then, playing both their own shows and joining festival lineups in the UK, Europe, US and Australia.
You can donate to Finch’s appeal at gofundme.com/f/jennifer-finch-vs-brain-cancer-its-time-to-make-noise.