Jennifer Finch, bassist for the influential Los Angeles rock band L7, has died aged 59 following a battle with brain cancer. Her death is significant because she helped shape L7’s forceful feminist punk and grunge sound, which made the band a prominent presence in alternative rock during the 1990s.

L7 announced her death on 18 July, describing Finch as a beloved bandmate, friend and creative force. She joined the group in 1986 and played on its first four albums, including 1992’s *Bricks Are Heavy*, which featured “Pretend We’re Dead”. Her diagnosis of aggressive brain cancer had been made public only days earlier, and she had been due to miss the band’s planned farewell tour.