L7 (band)
Encyclopedia
L7 was an American
rock
band
from Los Angeles
, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge
movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
and Suzi Gardner
on shared electric guitar
and shared vocals in 1985. A year prior, Gardner had performed backing vocals on the Black Flag
song "Slip It In
". The punk rock
duo were soon joined by Jennifer Finch
on bass guitar
, replacing Rene' Lucas who left the band to raise a family, and Roy Koutsky on drums
. Koutsky left shortly after and Demetra Plakas
("Dee" for short) became their permanent drummer.
The band's name derives from a 1950s slang
phrase meaning "square
", but is often mistaken for a reference to the sex position, "69". The slang phrase "L7" can be heard in the Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs song "Wooly Bully
" ("Let's not be L7, come and learn to dance..."), in the Rick James
song "Bustin' Out
" ("L7- just a little too damn straight..."), and in the Paul McCartney
song "C Moon
" ("I could be L7 and I'll never get to heaven if I fill my head with glue").
In 1991, the band formed Rock for Choice
, a Pro-Choice
women's rights group which was supported by other prominent bands of that era, including Pearl Jam
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Nirvana
, and Rage Against the Machine
. Rock for Choice still exists and organizes concerts today.
Their 1992 third album Bricks Are Heavy
, produced by Butch Vig
, was featured in Rolling Stone
s May 1999 list of 'Essential recordings of the 1990s', and is widely considered their classic.
L7's fourth album, Hungry for Stink
, was released in July 1994 during their Lollapalooza
tour, where they shared the stage with The Smashing Pumpkins
and The Breeders
, among others.
Finch left the band during the recording of their next album, so Sparks and Greta Brinkman played bass
on their fifth album The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum
, after which Gail Greenwood
, (formerly of the band Belly
) became the bassist.
The band's most recent album, Slap-Happy
, was released in 1999 and did not chart on either side of the Atlantic
. To promote the record, on July 17, 1999, a plane flew over the crowd at the Lilith Fair at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
, with a banner that read, "Bored? Tired? Try L7." The following day, a second airplane flew over the crowd at the Warped Tour at the Stone Pony lot in Asbury Park, New Jersey
. This banner declared, "Warped needs more beaver...love, L7." Greenwood later left the band and was replaced by Janis Tanaka
, formerly of the San Francisco band, Stone Fox. Tanaka would later go on to play bass for the singer Pink
, while Greenwood would later play with the singer Bif Naked
.
However, by 2001 the band was no longer touring. According to the band's website, "L7 are on an indefinite hiatus. We know that's vague, but that's just the way it is. The future of the band is a bit up in the air at the moment." L7 appears to be defunct for all practical purposes, as Sparks is currently pursuing her own solo career, along with Plakas, and two other guitarists in the band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments. Finch is working in a punk rock group, The Shocker
.
Point of No Return
starring Bridget Fonda
, and an appearance in 1994's John Waters
film Serial Mom
under the name "Camel Lips", a reference to the visual imprint of a woman's vulva
in the crotch of tight jeans, also known as a cameltoe
. Their songs have also been featured on at least twenty compilation album
s throughout their career; most notably the song "Shitlist" appeared on the soundtrack
s of the movies Natural Born Killers
and Pet Sematary II
. The Prodigy
covered the Hungry for Stink
track "Fuel My Fire" on their 1997 album "Fat of the Land". "Shirley" appears on the "Foxfire" soundtrack. "Shove" appears on the soundrack of the movie Tank Girl
, and "Pretend We're Dead
" appears on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
and can be heard on an in-game radio station and on the music video game Rock Band 2
. The band was also the subject of a concert film made by former Nirvana
bassist Krist Novoselic
and a rockumentary Not Bad for a Girl
. Finch and Plakas performed several times with hide
, in 1994.
L7 have been featured on shows such as Late Night with David Letterman
, The Jon Stewart Show
, The Word
, 120 Minutes
, Alternative Nation
and many others.
The band have played at the Reading Festival in 1992, the Glastonbury Festival
in 1994, Lollapalloza in 1994, Finsbury Park
in 1997, Warped Tour
in 1995 and 1999 and many other festivals around the world. They've also opened for artists such as Faith No More
in 1992, Marilyn Manson
in 1997, Nirvana
in 1990, Bad Religion
in 1988, Pearl Jam
in 1994, The Offspring
in 1997, Rollins Band
in 1992, GWAR
in 1989, Beastie Boys
in 1992 and Alice in Chains
in 1990.
The Band, with Finch on bass, appeared in the 1999 cult video Decoupage: Return of the Goddess, performing a re-make of the Sonny and Cher song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
with actress Karen Black
, and being interviewed individually by Decoupage hostess Summer Caprice.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
History
L7 was formed by Rene' Lucas on bass guitar, Donita SparksDonita Sparks
Donita Sparks is a vocalist, guitarist and song-writer in Los Angeles, California. In addition to performing with her most recent band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments, she is also the co-founder, along with Suzi Gardner, of grunge band L7...
and Suzi Gardner
Suzi Gardner
Suzanne "Suzi" Gardner is an American musician most notable for being a guitarist and vocalist of L7, an all-female grunge band in the 1990s. Before playing with L7, Suzi wrote for LA Weekly. She co-founded the group together with Donita Sparks...
on shared electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and shared vocals in 1985. A year prior, Gardner had performed backing vocals on the Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
song "Slip It In
Slip It In
Slip It In is the third studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released in 1984 on SST Records.Slip It In is an extension of the sound Black Flag utilized on its predecessor My War, that is: heavy, cathartic, intense, dense and progressive. At this point, Black Flag was...
". The punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
duo were soon joined by Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch , born August 5, 1966, is an American photographer and musician, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock group L7.-Music:...
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, replacing Rene' Lucas who left the band to raise a family, and Roy Koutsky on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. Koutsky left shortly after and Demetra Plakas
Demetra Plakas
Demetra "Dee" Plakas is an American musician, best known for being the drummer in the all-female rock band L7. She was preceded by Roy Koutsky.-Early bands:Plakas joined a punk band called as their drummer...
("Dee" for short) became their permanent drummer.
The band's name derives from a 1950s slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
phrase meaning "square
Square (slang)
Square used as slang may mean many things when referring to a person or in common language.In referring to a person, the word originally meant someone who was honest, traditional and loyal. An agreement that is equitable on all sides is a "square deal"...
", but is often mistaken for a reference to the sex position, "69". The slang phrase "L7" can be heard in the Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs song "Wooly Bully
Wooly Bully
"Wooly Bully" is a popular song originally recorded by novelty rock 'n' roll band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965. Based on a standard 12-bar blues progression, it was written by the band's leader, Domingo "Sam" Samudio. It was released as a single on the Memphis-based Pen label and...
" ("Let's not be L7, come and learn to dance..."), in the Rick James
Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
song "Bustin' Out
Bustin' Out
Bustin' Out is the second album by American country rock band Pure Prairie League, released in 1972 . It features the hit song "Amie," which is segued into by "Falling In and Out of Love" ....
" ("L7- just a little too damn straight..."), and in the Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
song "C Moon
C Moon
"C Moon" is a reggae song written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with "Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. With the ban of "Hi Hi Hi" in the United Kingdom, "C Moon" became a top five hit....
" ("I could be L7 and I'll never get to heaven if I fill my head with glue").
In 1991, the band formed Rock for Choice
Rock for Choice
Rock for Choice was a series of benefit concerts held over the ten year period between 1991 to 2001. The concerts were designed to allow musicians to show their support for the pro-choice movement in the United States and Canada....
, a Pro-Choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
women's rights group which was supported by other prominent bands of that era, including Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, and Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
. Rock for Choice still exists and organizes concerts today.
Their 1992 third album Bricks Are Heavy
Bricks Are Heavy
Bricks Are Heavy is the third album by the Los Angeles band L7, released in April 1992 through Slash Records. Backed by the single "Pretend We're Dead", the album became a breakthrough hit and the band became the "poster girls" of grunge music....
, produced by Butch Vig
Butch Vig
Butch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
, was featured in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s May 1999 list of 'Essential recordings of the 1990s', and is widely considered their classic.
L7's fourth album, Hungry for Stink
Hungry for Stink
Hungry for Stink is the fourth album by the Los Angeles grunge band L7. The title is taken from a personal ad that was seen by one of the bandmembers shortly before the album was released. It was released in July 1994 during their Lollapalooza tour...
, was released in July 1994 during their Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour, where they shared the stage with The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
and The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, among others.
Finch left the band during the recording of their next album, so Sparks and Greta Brinkman played bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on their fifth album The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum
The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum
The Beauty Process is the fifth album by the Los Angeles band L7. Recorded in late 1996 and released in February 1997, the album was favored by critics yet dismissed by many earlier fans of the band....
, after which Gail Greenwood
Gail Greenwood
Gail Greenwood is an American musician notable for performing with the bands Belly and L7. Having originally learned to play the baritone horn, she switched to guitar after high school. Her first band, the Dames, won the WBRU Rock Hunt in 1986...
, (formerly of the band Belly
Belly (band)
Belly was an alternative rock band formed in 1991 by former Throwing Muses members Tanya Donelly and Fred Abong. The band was based in Boston, Massachusetts, though all of the original members grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. The band consisted of Donelly on lead vocals and guitar, Abong on bass,...
) became the bassist.
The band's most recent album, Slap-Happy
Slap-Happy
Slap-Happy is the sixth and final studio album by rock band L7, released in 1999. The double A side single "Freeway"/"Mantra Down" was available to buy only for a short time on the internet as a 7" single...
, was released in 1999 and did not chart on either side of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. To promote the record, on July 17, 1999, a plane flew over the crowd at the Lilith Fair at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, with a banner that read, "Bored? Tired? Try L7." The following day, a second airplane flew over the crowd at the Warped Tour at the Stone Pony lot in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
. This banner declared, "Warped needs more beaver...love, L7." Greenwood later left the band and was replaced by Janis Tanaka
Janis Tanaka
Janis Tanaka is a bass player who has worked as a session musician and on tour with a number of well-known artists including Pink, Fireball Ministry, Hammers of Misfortune, Pagan Babies, Stone Fox and L7....
, formerly of the San Francisco band, Stone Fox. Tanaka would later go on to play bass for the singer Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
, while Greenwood would later play with the singer Bif Naked
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
.
However, by 2001 the band was no longer touring. According to the band's website, "L7 are on an indefinite hiatus. We know that's vague, but that's just the way it is. The future of the band is a bit up in the air at the moment." L7 appears to be defunct for all practical purposes, as Sparks is currently pursuing her own solo career, along with Plakas, and two other guitarists in the band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments. Finch is working in a punk rock group, The Shocker
The Shocker (band)
The Shocker is an American punk rock band, featuring former L7 bassist Jennifer Finch performing vocals. The band also includes lead and rhythm guitarists, drums, and bass.-History:...
.
Other appearances
The band made an appearance in the 1993 filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Point of No Return
Point of No Return (film)
Point of No Return is a 1993 American action film directed by John Badham and starring Bridget Fonda. It is a remake of Luc Besson's 1990 film Nikita.-Plot:...
starring Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
, and an appearance in 1994's John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
film Serial Mom
Serial Mom
Serial Mom is a 1994 American dark satire written and directed by John Waters, starring Kathleen Turner as the title character, Sam Waterston as her husband, and Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard as her children. Despite statements to the contrary in the movie, the story is completely fictional...
under the name "Camel Lips", a reference to the visual imprint of a woman's vulva
Vulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
in the crotch of tight jeans, also known as a cameltoe
Cameltoe
Camel toe is a slang term that refers to the outline of a human female's labia majora, as seen through tightly fitting clothes.-Common circumstances:...
. Their songs have also been featured on at least twenty compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s throughout their career; most notably the song "Shitlist" appeared on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s of the movies Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...
and Pet Sematary II
Pet Sematary II
Pet Sematary Two is a horror film directed by Mary Lambert. The screenplay was written by Richard Outten. It is the sequel to the 1989 film Pet Sematary...
. The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
covered the Hungry for Stink
Hungry for Stink
Hungry for Stink is the fourth album by the Los Angeles grunge band L7. The title is taken from a personal ad that was seen by one of the bandmembers shortly before the album was released. It was released in July 1994 during their Lollapalooza tour...
track "Fuel My Fire" on their 1997 album "Fat of the Land". "Shirley" appears on the "Foxfire" soundtrack. "Shove" appears on the soundrack of the movie Tank Girl
Tank Girl
Tank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home...
, and "Pretend We're Dead
Pretend We're Dead
"Pretend We're Dead" is a 1992 song by all-female grunge band L7, from the album Bricks Are Heavy. The song was written and sung by Donita Sparks. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The song is also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Rock Band 2...
" appears on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
and can be heard on an in-game radio station and on the music video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
. The band was also the subject of a concert film made by former Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
bassist Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
and a rockumentary Not Bad for a Girl
Not Bad for a Girl
Not Bad for a Girl is a rockumentary on women musicians of the 90's from the indie rock music genre grunge and Riot Grrrl and celebrates madness, creativity, and gender play. Tina Silvey was the executive producer. Silvey Co...
. Finch and Plakas performed several times with hide
Hide (musician)
, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...
, in 1994.
L7 have been featured on shows such as Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, The Jon Stewart Show
The Jon Stewart Show
The Jon Stewart Show was a short-lived talk show hosted by comedian Jon Stewart on MTV. It premiered in 1993 and became the second highest-rated program on the network behind Beavis and Butt-Head....
, The Word
The Word (TV series)
The Word was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom.-Format:Its presenters included Mancunian radio presenter Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Huffty"...
, 120 Minutes
120 Minutes
120 Minutes is a television show in the United States dedicated to alternative music, originally airing on MTV from 1986 to 2000, and then on MTV's sister channel MTV2 from 2001 to 2003....
, Alternative Nation
Alternative Nation
Alternative Nation was a television show in the U.S. dedicated to alternative music. It aired on MTV from 1992 to 1997, mostly on weeknights. It was hosted by Kennedy.- History :...
and many others.
The band have played at the Reading Festival in 1992, the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in 1994, Lollapalloza in 1994, Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park is a 46 hectare public park in the London Borough of Haringey. Officially part of the London area of Harringay, it is also adjacent to Stroud Green, the Finsbury Park district and Manor House. It was one of the first of the great London parks laid out in the Victorian...
in 1997, Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in 1995 and 1999 and many other festivals around the world. They've also opened for artists such as Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
in 1992, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
in 1997, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
in 1990, Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
in 1988, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
in 1994, The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
in 1997, Rollins Band
Rollins Band
Rollins Band was an American rock band led by singer and songwriter Henry Rollins.They are best known for the songs "Low Self Opinion" and "Liar", which both earned heavy airplay on MTV in the early 1990s...
in 1992, GWAR
GWAR
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
in 1989, Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
in 1992 and Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
in 1990.
The Band, with Finch on bass, appeared in the 1999 cult video Decoupage: Return of the Goddess, performing a re-make of the Sonny and Cher song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
"Bang Bang " is the second single by singer-actress Cher from her second studio album The Sonny Side of Chér. The song was written by Sonny Bono and released in 1966. The song reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100...
with actress Karen Black
Karen Black
Karen Black is an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She is noted for appearing in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Great Gatsby, Rhinoceros, The Day of the Locust, Nashville, Airport 1975, and Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot...
, and being interviewed individually by Decoupage hostess Summer Caprice.
Controversy
During their performance at the 1992 English Reading Festival, the band experienced "technical difficulties with their audio equipment" and were forced to stall their set. Quickly, the rowdy crowd grew restless and began throwing mud onto the stage. In protest, lead vocalist Donita Sparks removed her tampon on-stage and threw it into the crowd yelling "Eat my used tampon, fuckers!". Sparks has remained unapologetic about the incident. This has been referred to as one of the "most unsanitary pieces of rock memorabilia in history".Final members
- Donita SparksDonita SparksDonita Sparks is a vocalist, guitarist and song-writer in Los Angeles, California. In addition to performing with her most recent band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments, she is also the co-founder, along with Suzi Gardner, of grunge band L7...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(founding member) - Suzi GardnerSuzi GardnerSuzanne "Suzi" Gardner is an American musician most notable for being a guitarist and vocalist of L7, an all-female grunge band in the 1990s. Before playing with L7, Suzi wrote for LA Weekly. She co-founded the group together with Donita Sparks...
– guitar, vocals (founding member) - Janis TanakaJanis TanakaJanis Tanaka is a bass player who has worked as a session musician and on tour with a number of well-known artists including Pink, Fireball Ministry, Hammers of Misfortune, Pagan Babies, Stone Fox and L7....
– bass (2000) - Demetra PlakasDemetra PlakasDemetra "Dee" Plakas is an American musician, best known for being the drummer in the all-female rock band L7. She was preceded by Roy Koutsky.-Early bands:Plakas joined a punk band called as their drummer...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals (1988–2000)
Past members
- Jennifer FinchJennifer FinchJennifer Finch , born August 5, 1966, is an American photographer and musician, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock group L7.-Music:...
– bass, vocals (1987–1996) - Gail GreenwoodGail GreenwoodGail Greenwood is an American musician notable for performing with the bands Belly and L7. Having originally learned to play the baritone horn, she switched to guitar after high school. Her first band, the Dames, won the WBRU Rock Hunt in 1986...
– bass, vocals (1996–1999) - Roy Koutsky – drums (1987–1988)
Studio albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWE Swedish Recording Industry Association Grammofonleverantörernas förening , or the Swedish Recording Industry Association in English, is an organization representing the music recording industry of Sweden... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 1988 | L7 L7 (album) L7 is the eponymous debut album by Los Angeles band L7. Recorded in 1987 and released in 1988, the album demonstrates the band's punk rock origins, although there are traces of the heavier grunge sound that would dominate their later work....
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— | — | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | Smell the Magic Smell the Magic Smell the Magic is the second album by the Los Angeles band L7. It was initially released in September 1990 as a 12" EP containing only the first six songs. It was reissued on CD in July 1991, expanded to album length with three more tracks: "Packin' a Rod", "Just Like Me", and "American Society"... Sub Pop Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene... |
— | — | — | — | — | Reissued in 1991 with three extra songs. |
| 1992 | Bricks Are Heavy Bricks Are Heavy Bricks Are Heavy is the third album by the Los Angeles band L7, released in April 1992 through Slash Records. Backed by the single "Pretend We're Dead", the album became a breakthrough hit and the band became the "poster girls" of grunge music.... Slash Records Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album... |
160 | 1 | 47 | — | 24 | |
| 1994 | Hungry for Stink Hungry for Stink Hungry for Stink is the fourth album by the Los Angeles grunge band L7. The title is taken from a personal ad that was seen by one of the bandmembers shortly before the album was released. It was released in July 1994 during their Lollapalooza tour... Slash Records Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album... |
117 | 1 | — | 47 | 26 | |
| 1997 | The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum The Beauty Process is the fifth album by the Los Angeles band L7. Recorded in late 1996 and released in February 1997, the album was favored by critics yet dismissed by many earlier fans of the band.... Slash Records Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album... |
172 | 12 | — | — | — | First album without bassist Jennifer Finch Jennifer Finch Jennifer Finch , born August 5, 1966, is an American photographer and musician, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock group L7.-Music:... . |
| 1999 | Slap-Happy Slap-Happy Slap-Happy is the sixth and final studio album by rock band L7, released in 1999. The double A side single "Freeway"/"Mantra Down" was available to buy only for a short time on the internet as a 7" single... |
— | — | — | — | — | Final studio album. |
Compilation albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWE Swedish Recording Industry Association Grammofonleverantörernas förening , or the Swedish Recording Industry Association in English, is an organization representing the music recording industry of Sweden... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 2000 | The Slash Years The Slash Years The Slash Years is the last album released by rock band L7. It comprises L7's greatest hits released on Slash Records.-Track listing:# "Pretend We're Dead" – 3:55# "Mr...
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— | — | — | — | — | Compilation of popular songs from 1992-1997. |
Live albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWE Swedish Recording Industry Association Grammofonleverantörernas förening , or the Swedish Recording Industry Association in English, is an organization representing the music recording industry of Sweden... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 1998 | Live: Omaha to Osaka Live: Omaha to Osaka Live: Omaha to Osaka is the first live album by L7. The album was recorded at clubs in Omaha, NE and Osaka, Japan , hence its name.-Track listing:# "L7 Medley/Overture" – 6:41# "Bad Things" – 3:22...
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Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Alt |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 1990 | "Shove" | — | — | — | Smell the Magic |
| 1992 | "Pretend We're Dead Pretend We're Dead "Pretend We're Dead" is a 1992 song by all-female grunge band L7, from the album Bricks Are Heavy. The song was written and sung by Donita Sparks. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The song is also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Rock Band 2... " |
8 | 50 | 21 | Bricks Are Heavy |
| "Everglade" | — | — | 27 | ||
| "Monster" | — | — | 33 | ||
| 1994 | "Andres" | 20 | — | 34 | Hungry for Stink |
| 1997 | "Drama" | — | — | — | The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum |
| "Off the Wagon" | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | "Freeway" | — | — | — | Slap-Happy |
| "Mantra Down" | — | — | — | ||
Videos
- 1991 - "Fast and Frightening"
- 1992 - "Pretend We're Dead"
- 1992 - "Everglade"
- 1992 - "Monster"
- 1994 - "Andres"
- 1994 - "Stuck Here Again"
- 1999 - The Beauty Process - documentary about the band by Krist NovoselicKrist NovoselicKrist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
Compilation appearances
| Year | Compilation | Track |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Melting Plot | "Yummy Yummy" |
| 1988 | Tantrum | "Bite The Wax Tadpole" |
| 1989 | Radio Tokyo Tapes | "Sweet Sex" |
| 1989 | Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones Ramones The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group... |
"Suzy is a Headbanger" |
| 1990 | The Big One/City of L.A. | "American Society" |
| 1990 | Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Shonen Knife Shonen Knife, written in Japanese characters as 少年ナイフ, which transliterates as Shōnen Naifu, literally "Boy Knife," is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981... Who Loves Them |
"Bags" |
| 1990 | Teriyaki Asthma | "Bloodstains" |
| 1991 | International Pop Underground | "Packin' A Rod" |
| 1992 | Virus 100: Dead Kennedy Covers | "Let's Lynch the Landlord" |
| 1992 | Pet Sematary II | "Shitlist" |
| 1994 | Alternative NRG | "Shitlist" |
| 1994 | Natural Born Killers Soundtrack | "Shitlist" |
| 1994 | The Grunge Years | "Shove" |
| 1994 | Serial Mom Serial Mom Serial Mom is a 1994 American dark satire written and directed by John Waters, starring Kathleen Turner as the title character, Sam Waterston as her husband, and Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard as her children. Despite statements to the contrary in the movie, the story is completely fictional... Soundtrack |
"Gas Chamber" |
| 1995 | Tank Girl Soundtrack | "Shove" |
| 1995 | Spirit of '73: Rock For Choice | "Cherry Bomb" (with Joan Jett Joan Jett Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular... ) |
| 1995 | The Jerky Boys Soundtrack | "Hanging on the Telephone Hanging on the Telephone "Hanging on the Telephone" is a song written by Jack Lee and first performed by Lee's short-lived US West Coast power pop trio The Nerves, who placed it as the lead-off track on their 1976 EP, the band's only release. New Wave band Blondie popularised the song when it was released as the second... " |
| 1996 | Foxfire Soundtrack | "Shirley" |
| 1996 | Twisted Willie | "Three Days" (with Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL... ) |
| 1996 | A Small Circle of Friends | "Lion's Share" |
| 1997 | I Know What You Did Last Summer I Know What You Did Last Summer I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 American horror film. The film stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr. The screenplay was written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream, and very loosely based on Lois Duncan's popular novel of the same title... |
"This Ain't the Summer of Love This Ain't the Summer of Love "This Ain't the Summer of Love" is a song by rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the album Agents of Fortune. The song inspired "Swallow My Pride"by pioneering grunge band, Green River.-Notable covers:*Lizzy Borden on their album Deal with the Devil.... " |
| 2000 | Free the West Memphis 3 | "Boys in Black" |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Official Soundtrack Boxset | "Pretend We're Dead Pretend We're Dead "Pretend We're Dead" is a 1992 song by all-female grunge band L7, from the album Bricks Are Heavy. The song was written and sung by Donita Sparks. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The song is also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Rock Band 2... " |
| 2008 | Rock Band 2 | "Pretend We're Dead Pretend We're Dead "Pretend We're Dead" is a 1992 song by all-female grunge band L7, from the album Bricks Are Heavy. The song was written and sung by Donita Sparks. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The song is also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Rock Band 2... " |
External links
- Official L7 website
- L7 biography at Rolling Stone
- [ L7] at Allmusic
- L7 Live Show Videos