Jennifer Finch
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Finch born August 5, 1966, is an American
photographer and musician
, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock
group L7
.
in an all-female English
Goth
and Los Angeles
Deathrock
influenced band called Sugar Baby Doll (or variously, Sugar Babylon). Also featured in the band was Courtney Love
, (later of the band Hole
) and Kat Bjelland
, (later of the band Babes in Toyland
). The band was together in the mid 1980s in San Francisco, California
. This powerful line-up lived long enough to produce a demo which remains unreleased. At a time in Hollywood when there were two bands called The Pandoras, Finch subsequently played in the very short-lived version of The Pandoras
, formed by bassist Gwynne Kahn -- the other version which did not include The Pandoras
' founder Paula Pierce.
Finch joined L7 in 1986, as bass guitar player and vocalist, and usually performed barefoot. She quit the group in 1995.
In 1993, Jennifer and her L7 band mate Demetra "Dee" Plakas
supported Japan
ese musician Hide
on a couple of TV performances, they also appear in the original promotional video for his song "Doubt".
She has since been involved in other musical projects, including the major label Pop rock
band OtherStarPeople and a stint in Betty Blowtorch
, appearing in the documentary film Betty Blowtorch And Her Amazing True Life Adventures.
Her latest band is called The Shocker
, which played dates on the 2005 Warped Tour.
In 2006 The Shocker released the full length album Up Your Asstray on Go-Kart Records.
Finch produced a Ramones
tribute record called Brats on the Beat
for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
. The album is for kids and sung by kids with guest vocals and music provided by various stars of rock, pop and punk music such as members of Alkaline Trio, The Donnas and Queens of The Stone Age.
sponsored art show at Aidan Ryley Taylor Gallery in Hollywood, until November 18, 2006. The collection, called "14 and Shooting" features photographs of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Religion, Red Kross, The Cramps
, and more as well as a generally dark perspective of youth in Southern California.
and Serial Mom
and appeared as herself in documentary Punk's Not Dead. Her music was featured in the film Office Space and on the popular TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation
.
, and grew up in West Los Angeles. In the early 90s, she dated Dave Grohl
of the Foo Fighters
(then the drummer for Nirvana
)
and Billy Corgan
of The Smashing Pumpkins
. She currently lives in Los Angeles and is an active member of the Istanbul chapter of Turbojugend
, a fan club of the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, notable for her involvement in the all-female 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...
group L7
L7 (band)
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.-History:...
.
Music
Jennifer began her musical career playing bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in an all-female English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
and 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...
Deathrock
Deathrock
Deathrock is a term used to identify a sub-genre of punk rock incorporating horror elements and spooky atmospherics, that emerged on the West Coast of the United States in 1979.-Characteristics:...
influenced band called Sugar Baby Doll (or variously, Sugar Babylon). Also featured in the band was Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
, (later of the band Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
) and Kat Bjelland
Kat Bjelland
Katherine "Kat" Bjelland is an American musician who is currently the lead singer-guitarist of the band Katastrophy Wife, and is the former lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band Babes in Toyland....
, (later of the band Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
). The band was together in the mid 1980s in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. This powerful line-up lived long enough to produce a demo which remains unreleased. At a time in Hollywood when there were two bands called The Pandoras, Finch subsequently played in the very short-lived version of The Pandoras
The Pandoras
The Pandoras were an all-female rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California from 1983–1991, who found a following in the Hollywood "Paisley Underground" scene and later adapted a more contemporary Sunset Boulevard, hard rock look and sound. The band ended when, on August 10, 1991 band leader...
, formed by bassist Gwynne Kahn -- the other version which did not include The Pandoras
The Pandoras
The Pandoras were an all-female rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California from 1983–1991, who found a following in the Hollywood "Paisley Underground" scene and later adapted a more contemporary Sunset Boulevard, hard rock look and sound. The band ended when, on August 10, 1991 band leader...
' founder Paula Pierce.
Finch joined L7 in 1986, as bass guitar player and vocalist, and usually performed barefoot. She quit the group in 1995.
In 1993, Jennifer and her L7 band mate Demetra "Dee" 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...
supported Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese musician 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...
on a couple of TV performances, they also appear in the original promotional video for his song "Doubt".
She has since been involved in other musical projects, including the major label Pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band OtherStarPeople and a stint in Betty Blowtorch
Betty Blowtorch
Betty Blowtorch was an all-female American hard rock band from Southern California.-Biography:The band was formed in 1998 by three members of Butt Trumpet. After releasing the 2001 album, Are You Man Enough?, the group toured with Nashville Pussy. During the tour, drummer Judy Molish and guitarist...
, appearing in the documentary film Betty Blowtorch And Her Amazing True Life Adventures.
Her latest band is called 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:...
, which played dates on the 2005 Warped Tour.
In 2006 The Shocker released the full length album Up Your Asstray on Go-Kart Records.
Finch produced a 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...
tribute record called Brats on the Beat
Brats on the Beat
Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids is a 2006 Ramones cover album, featuring 'kiddified' covers of classic Ramones songs. Songs are performed by members of various punk rock bands...
for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
. The album is for kids and sung by kids with guest vocals and music provided by various stars of rock, pop and punk music such as members of Alkaline Trio, The Donnas and Queens of The Stone Age.
Photography
Originally a photographer, at the age of 13, Finch began to take photos of her friends in Los Angeles on a camera given to her by her father. These pictures eventually documented the early punk scene that she became involved in before joining L7 in 1986. Her photography (1979–1995) was on display at an LA WeeklyLA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
sponsored art show at Aidan Ryley Taylor Gallery in Hollywood, until November 18, 2006. The collection, called "14 and Shooting" features photographs of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Religion, Red Kross, The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
, and more as well as a generally dark perspective of youth in Southern California.
Television and Film
Finch has acted in films The Census TakerThe Census Taker
The Census Taker is a 1984 black comedy directed by Bruce R. Cook. It stars Greg Mullavey, Meredith MacRae, Timothy Bottoms, and Garrett Morris. The film was The Residents' first film soundtrack commission when their participation suggested by Penn Jillette to Cook...
and 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...
and appeared as herself in documentary Punk's Not Dead. Her music was featured in the film Office Space and on the popular TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
.
L7
- L7L7 (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....
1988 - Smell the MagicSmell the MagicSmell 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"...
1991 - Bricks are HeavyBricks Are HeavyBricks 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....
1992 - Hungry for StinkHungry for StinkHungry 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...
1994
Personal life
She was born and raised in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and grew up in West Los Angeles. In the early 90s, she dated Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
of the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
(then the drummer for 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 Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
of 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...
. She currently lives in Los Angeles and is an active member of the Istanbul chapter of Turbojugend
Turbojugend
Turbojugend sometimes shortened to TJ is the international fan club of the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro. A turbojugend member can be recognised by their specially-made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend [name of chapter]" stitched on the back. The logo of Turbojugend Oslo can...
, a fan club of the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro.