Editing L7 (band) (section)

===Independent output and initial disbandment (1997–2001)===
In 1998, the pseudo-documentary film ''L7: The Beauty Process'' was released, directed by [[Krist Novoselic]].<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web|title=L7: The Beauty Process (1998)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213788/|website=IMDb.com|access-date=May 12, 2014}}</ref> The film contains actual concert footage of L7's trials and travails of being a “punk-like band in a pop-like marketplace.”<ref name=":13">{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfstation.com/2015/08/26/l7-brings-the-stink-back-to-san-francisco/|title=L7 Brings the Stink Back to San Francisco|last=Presti|first=Anthony|date=August 25, 2018|work=SF Station|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref>

L7's sixth studio album, ''[[Slap-Happy]]'', was released on the band's own label Wax Tadpole Records in 1999.<ref name=":0" /> To promote the record, on July 17, 1999, L7 had a plane fly 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, an airplane towed a banner over the crowd at the [[Warped Tour]] at the Stone Pony lot in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]]. The banner read "Warped needs more beaver...love, L7."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/l7/news/l7-raises-a-stink-at-lilith-and-warped--12032344|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714064851/http://music.yahoo.com/l7/news/l7-raises-a-stink-at-lilith-and-warped--12032344|url-status=dead|title=L7 News - Yahoo! Music|date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=July 14, 2012|website=Archive.is}}</ref> Greenwood later left the band and was replaced by [[Janis Tanaka]], formerly of the San Francisco band, Stone Fox.<ref name=":11" />

[[File:L7 at the Emerson Theatre in Indianapolis, IN circa 1997 - 4738815963.jpg|alt=L7 onstage, Donita Sparks (left), Demetra Plakas (center), and Gail Greenwood (right)|thumb|L7 performing at the [[The Emerson Theater|Emerson Theater]] in Indianapolis in 1997]]

Record sales continued to wane during the late 1990s, and the band grew increasingly low on funds. However, the band's live performances consistently garnered praise, including a September 1999 review by rock critic [[Greg Kot]] in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' that stated "Gardner and Sparks favor low-end guitar chug, a sound that suggests the idling engine of a Harley-Davidson more than the high-end squeal of most lead guitarists. They intersect with bassist Janis Tanaka to create a thick, sludgy bottom that rumbles the floorboards and shoots right through the sternums of innocent passersby. Their secret weapon remains drummer Dee Plakas."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169247870/?terms=Donita%2BSparks|title=L7 Raises the Heat|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=September 6, 1999|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=October 7, 2019|page=44}}</ref>

By 2001, L7 was no longer touring. The band listed the following statement on their website: ''"L7 is 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 appeared to be defunct for all practical purposes. From 2007 to 2012, Sparks pursued another project, along with Plakas on drums, in their band [[Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments|Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments]]. Finch formed several projects including OtherStarPeople and her punk rock group [[The Shocker (band)|The Shocker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/65h09.html |title=INTERVIEW: The Shocker: Ex. L7/OtherStarPeople bassist Jennifer Finch's new band |website=Inmusicwetrust.com |access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref> Tanaka played bass for [[Pink (singer)|Pink]] and Greenwood played with [[Bif Naked]] and later, the reformed [[Belly (band)|Belly]].

In 2012, Sparks started a Facebook page for the band, posting videos and archival images of L7, where their fan base quickly began to regroup.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-l7-ott-0805-20160802-story.html|title=L7 is, better late than never, getting respect|last=Dickinson|first=Christie|date=August 3, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>