Editing L7 (band)

{{Short description|American punk rock band}}
{{distinguish|text=[[L-Seven]], the Detroit post-punk band}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background        = group_or_band
| name              = L7
| image             = L7 band live.jpg
| caption           = L7 performing in 2015
| alt               = L7 onstage
| landscape         = yes
| origin            = [[Los Angeles]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Punk rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/women-who-rock-greatest-breakthrough-moments-20120622/1992-punk-rockers-l7-break-ultimate-rock-taboo-20120622 | title=Women Who Rock: Greatest Breakthrough Moments: 1992 Punk rockers L7 break ultimate rock taboo | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=June 22, 2012 | access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>
* [[grunge]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/l7-mn0000100473/biography | title=L7 - biography | website=[[AllMusic]] | access-date=September 2, 2015 | author=Prato, Greg}}</ref>
* {{nowrap|[[hard rock]]}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/2015/06/l7-reunion-donita-sparks-interview/ | title=Nostalgia Is Heavy: L7 on Hitting the Stage for the First Time in 18 Years | work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | date=June 15, 2015 | access-date=September 2, 2015 | author=Farnell, Shauna}}</ref>
* {{nowrap|[[alternative metal]]}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/14-notable-female-rock-drummers-6783284 | title=14 Notable Female Rock Drummers | work=[[Houston Press]] | date=November 17, 2011 | access-date=September 2, 2015 | author=Basedow, Neph}}</ref>
}}
| discography       = [[L7 (band) discography|L7 discography]]
| years_active      = {{flatlist|
* 1985–2001
* 2014–present
}}
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]]
* [[Sub Pop]]
* [[Slash Records|Slash]]
* [[London Records|London]]
* [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
* [[Man's Ruin Records|Man's Ruin]]
* [[Wax Tadpole Records|Wax Tadpole]]
* [[Don Giovanni Records|Don Giovanni]]
* [[Blackheart Records|Blackheart]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|l7theband.com}}
| current_members   = * [[Donita Sparks]]
* [[Suzi Gardner]]
* [[Jennifer Finch]]
* [[Demetra Plakas]]
| past_members      = * Greta Brinkman
* [[Gail Greenwood]]
* [[Janis Tanaka]]
* Anne Anderson
* Roy Koutsky
}}

'''L7''' is an American [[punk rock]] band founded in [[Los Angeles]], California, first active from 1985 to 2001 and re-formed in 2014.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book| first= Martin C.| last= Strong| year= 2000| title= The Great Rock Discography| edition= 5th| publisher= Mojo Books| location= Edinburgh| page= 589| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref> Their longest standing lineup consists of [[Suzi Gardner]] (guitars, vocals), [[Donita Sparks]] (vocals, guitars), [[Jennifer Finch]] (bass, vocals), and [[Demetra Plakas|Dee Plakas]] (drums, vocals). L7 has released seven studio albums and has toured widely in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America. "[[Pretend We're Dead]]" was heavily played on US alternative radio and entered the top 10 on the [[Billboard Modern Rock chart|''Billboard'' Modern Rock chart]] in 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9923-the-story-of-feminist-punk-in-33-songs/|title=The Story of Feminist Punk in 33 Songs|last=Bullion|first=Noelle|date=August 8, 2016|work=Pitchfork|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

Due to their sound and image, L7 is often associated with the [[grunge]] movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.venuszine.com/articles/music/2571/Greatest_Female_Guitarists_of_All_Time_AG|title=The Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time, A–G Issue No.&nbsp;35 Venus Magazine March 1, 2008|last=Jackson|first=Nicholas|date=March 1, 2008|website=Venuszine.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813114050/http://www.venuszine.com/articles/music/2571/Greatest_Female_Guitarists_of_All_Time_AG|archive-date=August 13, 2011|access-date=August 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and as an [[all-female band]], L7 has, at times, been linked to [[riot grrrl]]; although they preceded and are outliers of both the grunge and riot grrrl movements.<ref name=":4" /> L7 has been supportive of political causes, and formed [[Rock for Choice]] in 1991.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Powers |first=Ann |date=February 14, 1993 |title=Pop Music: No Longer Rock's Playthings |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/14/arts/pop-music-no-longer-rock-s-playthings.html |access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> A documentary film about the band, ''L7: Pretend We're Dead'', premiered in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/l7-detail-pretend-were-dead-documentary-release-204327/|title=L7 Detail 'Pretend We're Dead' Documentary Release|first1=Jon|last1=Blistein|publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/6-things-we-learned-from-new-documentary-l7-pretend-were-dead|title=6 things we learned from new documentary L7: Pretend We're Dead|author=Briony Edwards|website=Loudersound.com|date=November 8, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref>

==History==
===Formation and early years (1985–1989)===
L7 was formed by [[Donita Sparks]] and [[Suzi Gardner]] in 1985.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Both artists were active in the [[Art punk]] community of [[Echo Park]] and had met in 1984 through mutual contacts at the cultural hub of the ''[[LA Weekly]]''. Of their meeting and on hearing Gardner play a tape of her songs in progress, Sparks described it as "one of the happiest days of my life" with a clear synchronicity in the music they were each interested in creating.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Gaar |first=Gillian G. |title=She's A Rebel: the History of Women in Rock and Roll |publisher=Seal Press |year=2002 |isbn=9781580050784 |edition=Second |location=New York |pages=363, 365, 382, 388, 392–394, 396}}</ref> At the time, Gardner was also active as a poet.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/l7-to-hell-and-back-120783/|title=L7: To Hell and Back|last=Grant|first=Sarah|date=November 21, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> A year prior, Gardner had performed backing vocals on the college radio hit "[[Slip It In]]" by [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Rock and Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers|last=Ochs|first=Meredith|publisher=Sterling Publishing Co.|year=2018|isbn=9781454930624|location=New York|pages=134–137}}</ref> Gardner and Sparks began performing regularly in Los Angeles at punk and metal venues along with a revolving list of supporting musicians in the early years.

The punk rock duo brought [[Jennifer Finch]] on board as bass guitarist and Roy Koutsky on drums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://l7theband.tumblr.com/post/130755440360/suzisafari-l7-kerrang-magazine-if-you-can-zoom|title=Kerrang Magazine|website=17theband.tumblr.com|date=October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://l7theband.tumblr.com/post/138159846332/l7theband-l7-with-their-original-drummer-anne|title=L7's Brief Drummer|date=1990|website=17theband.tumblr.com|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref> Finch, with the strongest Californian roots of the four, connected the band with an even wider network, including [[Brett Gurewitz]] of Epitaph Records where the band recorded their first demo.<ref name=":16">{{Cite journal|last=Halbersberg|first=Elianne|date=1990|title=L7 Ain't No Bad Place to Be|url=https://l7theband.tumblr.com/image/130755440360|journal=Kerrang!}}</ref> Their [[L7 (album)|eponymous debut album]], described as "intense, energetic" and "fast straightforward punk music" was released by Epitaph Records in 1987.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/67426/L7-L7/|title=Review L7: L7|last=Schroer|first=Brendan|date=June 16, 2015|work=Sputnik Music|access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> L7 reported challenges in the early years with finding a suitable, stable drummer. Shortly after the release of ''L7'', Koutsky quit the band and was replaced by Anne Anderson.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Powell|first=Alison|date=April 1992|title=Fast and Frightening|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIp60FGwMK4C&q=alison+powell+fast+and+frightening+spin&pg=PP9|journal=Spin|pages=65|via=Google Books}}</ref> Anderson's only studio appearance with L7 was on the [[SST Records]] compilation ''The Melting Pot'' in 1988 (via a cover of the [[Ohio Express]] track "Yummy Yummy").<ref>{{cite AV media notes |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1834127-Various-The-Melting-Plot/images |title=The Melting Pot Credits |publisher=[[SST Records]] |id=SST 249 |type=liner notes |access-date=September 8, 2024}}</ref> Subsequently, Anderson left at the end of the touring cycle for the ''L7'' record, and [[Demetra Plakas|Demetra "Dee" Plakas]] was recruited by the band in late 1989 which completed the band's first stabilized lineup as an all-female band.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://thetrapset.libsyn.com/dee-plakas-l7|title=Dee Plakas L7|last=Wong|first=Joe|date=September 30, 2015|website=The Trap Set|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":16" />

===Time with Sub Pop (1989–1991)===
The band released (“Shove”/“Packin’ a Rod”) in 1989 as the Sub Pop Single of the Month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2017/09/22/25429331/l7-pretend-were-dead-captures-the-female-grunge-pioneers-in-all-their-raunchy-glory|title=L7: Pretend We're Dead Captures the Female Grunge Pioneers in All Their Raunchy Glory|last=Segal|first=Dave|date=September 22, 2017|work=The Stranger|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> L7 reportedly spent a short time in Seattle in the early 1990s.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bedfordandbowery.com/2017/08/hungry-for-stink-sorry-l7-documentary-is-not-a-stinker/|title=Hungry For Stink? Sorry, L7: Pretend We're Dead Is No Stinker|last=Maurer|first=Daniel|date=August 15, 2017|work=Bedford + Bowery|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> L7's next album, ''[[Smell the Magic]]'', was released in 1990 on Sub Pop and earned a four star review by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' who stated "With Donita Sparks' and Suzi Gardner's twin lockstep guitars racing down the highway to hell, ''Smell the Magic'' was one of Sub Pop's finest hours."<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|last1=Brackett|first1=Nathan|last2=Hoard|first2=Christian David|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2004|isbn=9780743201698|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/500 500]|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/500}}</ref> L7 traveled to England and opened for Nirvana on several dates in 1990.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/509420/you-say-its-your-birthday-l7s-donita-sparks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007230151/http://www.mtv.com/news/509420/you-say-its-your-birthday-l7s-donita-sparks/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2019|title=You Say It's Your Birthday: L7's Donita Sparks|last=Winegarner|first=Beth|date=April 8, 1997|work=MTV News|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

In August 1991, L7 performed at the [[International Pop Underground Convention]] (IPU) held in Olympia, Washington.<ref name=":3" /> The IPU was organized around a fiercely independent DIY ethic, with L7 the only band with major label representation, having recently signed with [[Slash Records]] (a subsidiary of [[London Records]]).<ref name=":3" />

===Major label releases with Slash (1991–1997)===
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 was their most critically and commercially successful release.<ref>Rivadavia, Eduardo. "[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r53919/review|pure_url=yes}} Bricks Are Heavy: Review]". ''[[AllMusic]]''. Retrieved July 11, 2005.</ref> When Donita Sparks reached out to [[Yoko Ono]] to request permission to sample her scream in the opening track "Wargasm," Ono reportedly replied that she had her fingers crossed for the group as it was time for their music to get popular.<ref name=":3" /> Their 1992 single "[[Pretend We're Dead]]" spent 13 weeks on the US Alternative Songs chart while peaking at the No. 8 position,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/l7/chart-history/mrt/|title=L7 Andres Chart History|website=Billboard.com|access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> and it had also peaked at No. 21 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The singles "Everglade" and "Monster" also made appearances on the UK Singles chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/pretend-we%27re-dead/|title=pretend-we're-dead - full Official Chart History |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> In their listing of the top 50 grunge songs, ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' magazine included "Pretend We're Dead" as number 21.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html|title=The 50 Best Grunge Songs|last=Danaher|first=Michael|date=August 4, 2014|website=Paste Magazine|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506055804/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> L7 went on a year long tour to promote ''Bricks Are Heavy.''<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/1992/music/reviews/l7-ethyl-meatplow-1200429580/|title=Music Reviews L7; Ethyl Meatplow|last=Carmen|first=Jon|date=May 29, 1992|work=Variety|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> ''Variety'' reported in 1992 that L7 had built a huge underground following all over the world due to repeatedly touring.<ref name=":8" /> The popularity of ''Bricks Are Heavy'' was also boosted by frequent video play on [[MTV]]. By June 2000, ''Bricks Are Heavy'' had sold 327,000 copies in the US.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rg8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=drain+sth+soundscan&pg=PA38 |title=Billboard |date=June 24, 2000 |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc.]] |language=en}}</ref>

In a July 1993 article for [[Spin (magazine)|''Spin'']] which featured L7 on the magazine's cover, [[Renee Crist|Renée Crist]] described L7 as "four of the funniest, meanest, strongest, coolest, most pissed-off women I know" and as "wild, rambunctious, spontaneous" with a stage show that "is a wash of buddy love, crowd working, and acrobatics".<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Crist|first=Renée|date=July 1993|title=The Magnificent 7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YIwHlb1zNyoC|journal=Spin|volume=9|pages=32–35, 90|access-date=September 6, 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref>

L7's fourth album, ''[[Hungry for Stink]]'', was released in July 1994. The album peaked at No. 117 on the [[Billboard 200]] chart, their highest position to date. "Andres" was the lead single off the album, which peaked at No. 20 on the US Alternative Songs and No. 34 on the UK Singles charts. The band continued to be regarded as a strong live act<ref name=":3" /> and performed on the main stage of the [[Lollapalooza]] tour in 1994, which also included [[The Smashing Pumpkins]], the [[Beastie Boys]], [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[Nick Cave]], [[A Tribe Called Quest]], and [[The Breeders]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/09/arts/pop-review-lollapalooza-94-opens-in-las-vegas.html|title=Pop Review: Lollapalooza '94 Opens in Las Vegas|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=July 9, 1994|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> In January 1995, L7 played a set of benefit concerts for [[Voters for Choice]] at [[Constitution Hall]] along with Neil Young, Lisa Germano, and Pearl Jam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-16-ca-20579-story.html|title=Pearl Jam's Contract With America|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|date=January 16, 1995|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/voters-for-choice-benefit-pearl-jam-neil-young-l7-and-lisa-germano-179703/|title=Voters For Choice Benefit: Pearl Jam, Neil Young, L7 and Lisa Germano|last=Considine|first=J.D.|date=March 9, 1995|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Strauss|first=Neil|date=April 1995|title=Live Music: Pearl Jam / Neil Young & Crazy Horse / L7 Constitution Hall, Washington DC, January 15, 1995|journal=Spin|pages=204}}</ref> Finch created a "slight fuss"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/09/15/facing-the-music/b45e4fe1-7ea2-4658-ab53-13489e5f7aa5/|title=Facing the Music|last=Harrington|first=Richard|date=September 15, 2000|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref> after reportedly playing the final song of one show after removing her shirt.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/16/arts/pop-review-angst-with-purpose-from-pearl-jam.html|title=Pop Review: Angst With Purpose From Pearl Jam|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=January 16, 1995|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref>

In 1995, L7 was one of four bands featured<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-chicago-international-film-festival-week-2-simon-says/Content?oid=888748|title=The Chicago International Film Festival Week 2: Simon Says|date=October 15, 1995|work=Chicago Reader|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> in the documentary film ''[[Not Bad for a Girl|Not Bad For a Girl]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/22/movies/they-love-to-rock-as-hard-as-men-do.html|title=They Love to Rock as Hard as Men Do|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=November 22, 1996|work=New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/movies/movies/not-bad-for-a-girl/6156543/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810165449/http://www.film.com/movies/not-bad-for-a-girl/6156543|url-status=dead|title=News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity|archive-date=August 10, 2009|website=Mtv.com}}</ref> The film, which focused on several all female bands, was awarded Best Documentary at the [[New York Underground Film Festival]] in 1996.

Finch left the band in 1996,<ref name=":2" /> during the recording of their fifth album,''[[The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum]]''. Sparks and Greta Brinkman played bass on the album, after which [[Gail Greenwood]] – formerly of the band [[Belly (band)|Belly]] – became the band's full-time bassist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyrock.com/l7_story.htm |title=L7 Are Sum Tuff Bitches |website=Nyrock.com |date=May 22, 1997 |access-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190825/http://www.nyrock.com/l7_story.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> L7 performed at the [[Bumbershoot]] festival in Seattle, Washington in 1997.<ref name=":3" />

===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>

===Reunion (2014–present)===
On December 10, 2014, L7 announced, on their official [[Facebook]] page, that they were reuniting, featuring Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner, Jennifer Finch and Demetra Plakas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=769378529783014&id=190276091026597 |title=L7 Official - ATTENTION! A personal message from the band:... |website=Facebook.com |access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref> As part of the reunion, the band revamped their website and included a [[mailing list]] for fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l7theband.com/ |title=L7 Official Website |website=L7theband.com |access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref>

The reunited band kicked off a European tour at [[Rock am Ring and Rock im Park|Rock am Ring]] in Germany on June 6, 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l7theband.com/attention-you-did-it-2/|title=ATTENTION: YOU DID IT!!! - L7 Official Website -|website=L7 Official Website|access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829161840/http://l7theband.com/attention-you-did-it-2/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> with shows in the Czech Republic, Austria, UK, France, and Spain.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/l7-expand-reuni/|title=L7 expand reunion tour, playing NYC|date=May 5, 2015|work=Brooklyn Vegan|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> This was followed by North American dates in New York,<ref name=":1" /> Toronto,<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/l7-danforth_music_hall_toronto_on_september_6|title=L7|last=Lindsay|first=Cam|date=September 7, 2015|work=Exclaim!|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> and at [[Riot Fest]] in both Denver <ref>{{cite web|url=http://l7theband.com/l7-at-riot-fest-denver/|title=L7 at RIOT FEST DENVER! 2015 - L7 Official Website -|website=L7 Official Website|access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829162051/http://l7theband.com/l7-at-riot-fest-denver/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Chicago,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l7theband.com/l7-at-riot-fest-chicago-2015/|title=L7 at RIOT FEST CHICAGO! 2015 - L7 Official Website -|website=L7 Official Website|access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829162815/http://l7theband.com/l7-at-riot-fest-chicago-2015/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Fun, Fun, Fun Festival in Austin, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l7theband.com/l7-at-fun-fun-fun-festival-austin-2015/|title=L7 at FUN FUN FUN FESTIVAL AUSTIN! 2015 - L7 Official Website -|website=L7 Official Website|access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829164346/http://l7theband.com/l7-at-fun-fun-fun-festival-austin-2015/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Exclaim!]]'' reviewed their Toronto show and stated that "Their subversive sense of humour and brash confidence provides feminism with some much-needed comic relief and audacity, and on this night, as 50-somethings in a 30-year-old band, they looked, acted and sounded every bit as brazen as they did 25 years back."<ref name=":6" />

On February 15, 2016, L7's original drummer Koutsky passed away at the age of 53.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/roy-koutsky-obituary?id=2714622|title=Roy Koutsky Obituary|date=February 15, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Later in 2016, the documentary film ''[[L7: Pretend We're Dead]]'', directed by [[Sarah Price (filmmaker)|Sarah Price]], premiered in Los Angeles. The film, largely funded through [[Kickstarter]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/975436123/l7-pretend-were-dead|title=L7: Pretend We're Dead by Blue Hats Creative, Inc|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref> features original footage and interviews with the band members and eyewitness accounts of their development from [[Lydia Lunch]], [[Shirley Manson]], Krist Novoselic and [[Butch Vig]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6288290/|title=L7: Pretend We're Dead (2016)|website=IMDb|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/new-documentary-l7-pretend-were-dead-restores-the-legacy-of-one-of-l-a-s-best-bands/|title=New Documentary L7: Pretend We're Dead Restores the Legacy of One of L.A.'s Best Bands|last=Barlow|first=Eve|date=November 15, 2016|work=LA Weekly|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=November 2017|first=Briony Edwards 08|title=6 things we learned from new documentary L7: Pretend We're Dead|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/6-things-we-learned-from-new-documentary-l7-pretend-were-dead|access-date=July 11, 2020|website=loudersound|date=November 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref> The film was nominated for a VO5 NME Award for Best Music Film.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/l7-reveal-tour-slam-capitalist-motherf--kers-on-new-song-w516529|title=L7 Announce Tour, Slam 'Capitalist Motherf--kers' on 'I Came Back To Bitch'|last=Grant|first=Sarah|date=February 9, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 7, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:L7 performing in 2018.jpg|alt=Donita Sparks playing to the crowd|thumb|left|L7 performing in 2018]]

In 2016, L7 played a series of shows in the US, South Africa, the UK, and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/l7|title=L7's Concert History|website=Concert Archives|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> Chris Lane of ''[[Houston Press]]'' described the synergy of Sparks and Gardner's guitar playing and the strength of the band's live show stating "Their percussive styles seemed to be locked together, producing a glorious, unified wall of sound. Bass player Jennifer Finch bounced about the stage while propelling each song forward, and drummer Dee Plakas proved that she should be a lot more famous as a rock drummer with every fill."<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/l7-proves-theyre-far-more-than-just-a-nostagia-act-8577504|title=L7 Proves They're Far More Than Just a Nostagia Act|last=Lane|first=Chris|date=July 18, 2016|work=Houston Press|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref>

On January 13, 2017, L7 released ''Detroit (Live)'' on record label Easy Action. The live album was originally recorded at a concert in the [[Detroit|Motor city]] on September 1, 1990, and coincided with the group's initial release of ''[[Smell the Magic]]'' on Sub Pop records. Their performance at the established punk venue Clutch Cargo's in Detroit expressed the raw, kinetic energy of the era. L7 released ''Fast and Frightening (''a collections of rarities, covers, and live performances) as a double album in 2016 with music critic [[Robert Christgau]] granting it an A minus in a 2018 review.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/robert-christgau-reviews-l7-fast-and-frightening-joan-jett-bad-reputation-soundtrack/|title=Robert Christgau on L7's Feedback-Drenched, Feminist Aggro|last=Christgau|first=Robert|date=November 23, 2018|work=Vice|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

On September 29, 2017, L7 released its first new song in 18 years, "Dispatch from Mar-a-Lago" on [[Don Giovanni Records]]. The title is a reference to the [[Mar-a-Lago]] resort owned by [[Donald Trump|Donald J. Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/09/l7-dispatch-from-mar-a-lago-stream/|title=L7-"Dispatch From Mar-a-Lago"|author=Liz Cantrell|website=Spin.com|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref> A follow-up single, "I Came Back to Bitch", was released in February 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url        = https://www.njarts.net/pop-rock/l7-at-white-eagle-hall-jersey-city-photo-gallery-setlist-and-videos/| title      = L7 at White Eagle Hall, Jersey City | work       = [[Institute for Nonprofit News]]| last1      = Lustig| first1     = Jay| date       = April 16, 2018| access-date = May 16, 2018}}</ref>

L7 continued to tour heavily in the US, Canada, and Europe in 2018.<ref name=":5" /> April 2018 saw the band announce their plans to record a seventh studio album via [[PledgeMusic]], scheduled for release in 2019.<ref name=":5">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/l7-announce-first-album-in-20-years-world-tour-dates-630309/|title=L7 Announce First Album in 20 Years, World Tour Dates|first1=Sarah|last1=Grant|date=April 9, 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref>
The band went on tour shortly afterward. Including dates with [[Le Butcherettes]] as openers.

L7 released the first single from their first album in 20 years, "Burn Baby", on February 28, 2019. The full album, ''[[Scatter the Rats]]'', was released on May 3, 2019, through [[Joan Jett]]'s record label [[Blackheart Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/l7-detail-first-new-album-in-20-years-share-video-for-new-song-burn-baby-watch/|title=L7 Detail First New Album in 20 Years, Share Video for New Song "Burn Baby": Watch|website=Pitchfork|date=February 28, 2019|language=en|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> The album received generally favorable reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/scatter-the-rats/l7|title=SCATTER THE RATS by L7|date=May 3, 2019|website=Metacritic|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Hyperallergic]]'' referred to the band's legacy as "feminist punks, metal snarlers, (and) grunge comedians" and stated of their return album that Sparks and Gardner "pound out one solid, catchy, immediately identifiable power riff after another, more punk-minimalist than in their molten grunge period".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fagan|first=Lucas|date=May 26, 2019|title=Rock Without the Posturing|url=https://hyperallergic.com/501621/rock-without-the-posturing/|access-date=June 22, 2020|website=Hyperallergic|language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2022, L7 announced a tour commemorating the 30th anniversary release of their third album, ''Bricks Are Heavy''. The band played the entire album, along with several other songs. The tour consisted of eighteen scheduled shows through the month of October. L7 also announced a deluxe reissue of ''Bricks Are Heavy''. Remastered by Howie Weinberg, the limited-edition release comes pressed on gold and black vinyl via Licorice Pizza, and pre-orders begun on September 30.<ref>{{cite news|last=Young|first=Alex|date=April 14, 2022|title= L7 Announce Tour Celebrating 30th Anniversary of Bricks Are Heavy|url=https://consequence.net/2022/04/l7-bricks-are-heavy-tour|newspaper=Consequence}}</ref>

==Politics and activism==
The band's name, L7, derives from a slang term for [[Square (slang)|square]].<ref name=":3" /> Forming and gaining exposure a time when female musicians and bands were still routinely referred to with terms such as "chicks" and "foxcore", they deliberately chose a name that didn't draw attention to being an all-female band, to resist being typecast into roles the music industry typically expected of women.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last= |date=July 28, 1991 |title='We're Not Tough Chicks' : L7 is four howling, long-haired rockers who can blast away just about any band--and they happen to be women |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-28-ca-441-story.html |access-date=June 4, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Phoebe |date=March 7, 2012 |title=An Oral History of L7's 'Pretend We're Dead' |work=Spin |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/03/l7-look-back-20-years-pretend-were-dead/ |access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> Sparks said, "We get letters from young girls who say that we’re their inspiration for picking up an instrument, and that makes us really proud. ''We'' didn’t really have role models growing up."<ref name=":18" />

In 1991, the band formed [[Rock for Choice]], a [[pro-choice]] women's rights group and concert series that raised funds to cover legal expenses due to the prolonged [[anti-abortion violence]] and women's clinic bombings of the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=May 6, 2019 |title=L7's Donita Sparks on Old Punks, New Music, and Continuing Harassment |work=Flood Magazine |url=http://floodmagazine.com/60756/l7s-donita-sparks-on-old-punks-new-music-and-continuing-harassment/ |access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> The concept for Rock for Choice, generated by L7 and Sue Cummings, senior editor at the ''LA Weekly'',<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":3" /> was loosely modeled on [[Bob Geldof]]'s [[Live Aid]]. L7 performed along with [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], Sister Double Happiness, and [[Hole (band)|Hole]] at the inaugural event held at the Hollywood Palace on October 25, 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cromelin |first=Richard |date=October 28, 1991 |title=Pop Music Reviews: A Potent 'Rock for Choice' at Palace |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-28-ca-351-story.html |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> Thanks to a conversation between members of L7 and [[Dave Grohl]] at an afterparty following the first show, subsequent Rock for Choice posters were designed in a distinctive [[underground comix]] style by SoCal artist [[Jim Evans (artist)|Jim Evans]]/TAZ collective.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Grushkin |first1=Paul |title=Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion |last2=King |first2=Dennis |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2004 |isbn=978-0811845298 |location=San Francisco, CA |pages=44}}</ref>

Rock for Choice founders L7 and Cummings, along with punk rock promoter and Cochella co-founder Rick Van Santen of [[Goldenvoice]], laid the framework for the inaugural concert.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Appleford |first=Steve |date=January 11, 2019 |title=Must Reads: As Coachella turns 20, its press-shy co-founder gets candid about sexual harassment and why Kanye dropped out |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-paul-tollet-coachella-20190111-story.html |access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> The group created kits with information to empower activists to stage a Rock for Choice benefit in their own towns. The ''New York Times'' reported that within two years of launching Rock for Choice, there had already been 37 such concerts nationwide.<ref name=":10" />

L7 performed at the September 27, 1992, Rock for Choice benefit concert at the [[Hollywood Palladium]] along with [[Exene Cervenka]], the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], and [[Mudhoney]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gold |first=Johnathan |date=September 29, 1992 |title=Pop Music Review: Bands Get Together for Rock for Choice |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-29-ca-68-story.html |access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref> In October 1993, seven bands played a sold out Rock for Choice benefit including the beloved Los Angeles bands [[X (American band)|X]] and [[Firehose (band)|Firehose]], and featuring the headliner [[Rage Against the Machine]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |date=October 16, 1993 |title=A Night Filled With Sounds of Their Rage: Upstart quartet headlines Rock for Choice benefit |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-16-ca-46298-story.html |access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> L7 band members took to the stage, each in a guise of a beauty contestant wearing a sash listing a city where anti-abortion violence had erupted: Sparks as "Ms Bakersfield, CA," Plakas as "Ms. Lancaster, PA," Finch as "Ms. Peoria, IL," and Gardner as “Ms. Newport Beach, CA."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1994 |title=News: Clinic Defense |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJ7nHM_LvUUC&q=beavis+and+butthead+l7&pg=PP1 |journal=Spin |pages=26 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

Later Rock for Choice concerts included the Foo Fighters, Ween, [[Pearl Jam]],  and other prominent bands of the era.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> L7 returned their focus to their music, reducing their involvement with Rock for Choice, which continued on independently through 2001.

==Other appearances==
The band appeared in [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]]' 1994 film ''[[Serial Mom]]'' under the name "Camel Lips".<ref>{{cite web |author1=J.D. Considine |title=Deep in Waters, L7 is far from square |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-10-14-1994287171-story.html |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |publisher=Baltimore Sun Media Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921102404/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-10-14-1994287171-story.html |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |date=October 14, 1994 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Deming |first1=Mark |title=Serial Mom (1994) |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/serial-mom-v131183 |website=[[AllMovie]] |publisher=[[RhythmOne]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005083321/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/serial-mom-v131183 |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Their songs have been featured on the soundtracks of numerous films, including ''[[Natural Born Killers]]'', ''[[Point of No Return (1993 film)|Point of No Return]]'', and ''[[Pet Sematary Two]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harber |first1=Stephen |title=Why Pet Sematary 2 Is an Underrated Stephen King Movie |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pet-sematary-2-underrated-stephen-king-movie/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |publisher=Den of Geek World |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128085430/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pet-sematary-2-underrated-stephen-king-movie/ |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Neal |first1=Sean |title=The Natural Born Killers soundtrack was a more sophisticated splatterfest |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-natural-born-killers-soundtrack-was-a-more-sophisti-1798253062 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |publisher=[[G/O Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070608/https://film.avclub.com/the-natural-born-killers-soundtrack-was-a-more-sophisti-1798253062 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |date=October 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> "Shove" appears on the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Tank Girl (film)|Tank Girl]]''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sankey |first1=Elizabeth |title=Mapping the Music and Style of 'Tank Girl' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-score-tank-girl/ |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |publisher=[[Vice Media]] |date=April 22, 2015 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204055044/https://www.vice.com/en/article/6vgdxa/the-score-tank-girl|archive-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref> and "[[Pretend We're Dead]]" appears on the soundtrack of the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Christopher Andrew Armstrong |title=Q&A - Donita Sparks |url=https://flaunt.com/content/donita-sparks-l7-interview |website=Flaunt |publisher=Flaunt, Inc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503231732/https://flaunt.com/content/donita-sparks-l7-interview |archive-date=May 3, 2019 |date=May 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Leas |first1=Ryan |title=30 Essential Grunge Songs |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2007171/30-essential-grunge-songs-playlist/lists/ultimate-playlist/ |website=[[Stereogum]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207053838/https://www.stereogum.com/2007171/30-essential-grunge-songs-playlist/lists/ultimate-playlist/ |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Andres (song)|Andres]]" is available as downloadable content for the ''[[Rock Band 4]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Knoop |first1=Joseph |title=The Gigantic List Of All Rock Band 4's Available DLC Tracks |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/02/12/all-the-rock-band-4-dlc-in-one-list.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[GameStop]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215054846/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/02/12/all-the-rock-band-4-dlc-in-one-list.aspx |archive-date=February 15, 2016 |date=February 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Finch and Plakas performed several times with Japanese artist [[Hide (musician)|hide]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://spillmagazine.com/spill-feature-l7/|title=Spill Feature: L7, 25 Years of Tiny Little Goals|last=Dean|first=Mark|date=September 20, 2017|work=The Spill Magazine}}</ref>

L7 appeared on TV shows such as ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', ''[[The Jon Stewart Show]]'', ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]'', ''[[120 Minutes]]'', and ''[[Alternative Nation]]''. The band played at the [[Reading Festival]] in 1992 having been chosen for the concert by Nirvana band leader [[Kurt Cobain]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/unsung-melodies-kurt-cobain-193016364.html |title=The unsung melodies of Kurt Cobain |date=September 23, 2016 |work=[[Yahoo! News]] |access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hutchinson |first=Kate |date=July 13, 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/13/l7-reading-1992-iconic-festival-sets-flying-tampon-donita-sparks |title=L7, Reading 1992: riffs, mud fights and a flying bloody tampon |work=[[TheGuardian.com]] |access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> [[Glastonbury Festival]] in 1994, [[Lollapalloza]] in 1994, [[Finsbury Park]] in 1997, and on the [[Warped Tour]] in 1995 and 1999. They toured with and opened for artists including [[Bad Religion]] in 1988, [[GWAR]] in 1989, Nirvana and [[Alice in Chains]] in 1990, [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Faith No More]],  [[Rollins Band]] and [[Beastie Boys]] in 1992, [[Pearl Jam]] in 1994, [[Marilyn Manson]] and [[The Offspring]] in 1997, and [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] in 1999.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/516347/l7-to-get-slap-happy-on-the-road/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107150449/http://www.mtv.com/news/516347/l7-to-get-slap-happy-on-the-road/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2015|title=L7 to Get Slap-happy on the Road|last=Vanhorn|first=Teri|date=July 31, 1999|work=MTV News|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref>

The band, with Finch returning on bass, appeared in the 1999 cult video ''Decoupage: Return of the Goddess'', performing 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decoupagetv.com/tomorrow.html |title=DecoupageTomorrow |website=Decoupagetv.com |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709005346/http://www.decoupagetv.com/tomorrow.html |archive-date=July 9, 2011 }}</ref>

The video for "Pretend We're Dead" was featured on an episode of ''[[Beavis and Butthead]]''. In a later episode, while discussing who would win in a battle between [[Tiffany Darwish|Tiffany]], [[Wilson Phillips]], and [[Debbie Gibson]], the characters state their belief that "one chick from L7 could kick all their asses combined".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tv-quotes.com/shows/beavis-and-butt-head/quote_36943.html|title=Beavis and Butthead quotes|work=TV Quotes|access-date=October 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|date=January 1994|title=Platter du Jour: Beavis and Butt-head|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJ7nHM_LvUUC&q=Platter+du+Jour%3A+Beavis+and+Butt-head&pg=PA73|journal=Spin|pages=73|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Throughout the mid-2000s, the band's song "[[Bricks Are Heavy|Shitlist]]" was used as the entrance music of professional wrestler [[Jon Moxley]], who would later become widely known under the name Dean Ambrose upon joining [[WWE]] in 2011. The song was also used in [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]] by [[Brian Pillman]] (under his loose cannon gimmick) in 1996, until his departure the following year.

==Controversies==
During their performance at the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups#1992|1992 Reading Festival]], the band experienced "technical difficulties with their audio equipment" and were forced to stall their set. The rowdy crowd grew restless and began throwing mud onto the stage, repeatedly pelting the band. 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,<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z-44p7V2TrUC&q=L7+tampon&pg=PA369 |author=Mark Yarm |title=Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge |date=March 2012 |publisher=Three Rivers Press |page=369|isbn=9780307464446 }}</ref> and the tampon has been referred to as one of the "most unsanitary pieces of rock memorabilia in history."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2009/11/10/l7-throws-tampon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716120819/http://www.spinner.com/2009/11/10/l7-throws-tampon|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2011|title=L7 Throws Tampon |date=August 28, 1992 |access-date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>

Later in 1992, Sparks caused controversy in the United Kingdom when she dropped her jeans and underwear on live television, appearing nude from the waist down, during an L7 performance on the late night UK programme ''[[The Word (TV series)|The Word]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brewer |first=Mary F. |title=Exclusions in Feminist Thought: Challenging the Boundaries of Womanhood |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5PWEpoc-W-0C&q=Donita+Sparks+The+Word+1992&pg=PA127 |date=January 1, 2002 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |isbn=978-1-902210-63-6 |pages=127 |access-date=May 30, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Of the incident, Sparks later commented that the Word show L7 appeared on had a number of chaotic aspects already underway including "a men’s bum contest" and a "hidden camera in [[Oliver Reed]]’s dressing room, showing him intoxicated with his shirt off, which was really fucked up. So I added my contribution to this craziness."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/turning-points-l7s-donita-sparks/|title=Turning Points: L7's Donita Sparks|last=Tehabsim|first=Anna|date=March 18, 2015|work=Crack Magazine|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>

In 2000, the band raffled a one-night stand with Demetra Plakas at a London gig.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/25-jaw-dropping-rock-facts-1427940|title=25 jaw-dropping rock facts|date=October 8, 2009|work=NME|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/apr/13/artsfeatures3|title=Bad grrls live forever|last=Simpson|first=Dave|date=April 12, 2000|work=The Guardian|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> The winner got to spend the night on the tour bus. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reported that Plakas and her bandmates decided "We're not being hypocritical about rock & roll anymore. Rock & roll is prostitution."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-year-in-weird-120391/|title=The Year in Weird: Santana's shoes, Ziggy's hemp bars and more weirdness from 2000|last=Sprague|first=David|date=December 29, 2000|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

==Musical style, influences, and legacy==
L7's sound has been described as "unique and unforgiving, mixing a punk rock attitude with heavy sludge metal."<ref name=":13" /> A 2019 article on L7 in ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' stated that "In the early-'90s underground, L7 were positively bulletproof and larger than life. Not as come-hither nymphs or saucy rock star minxes bestowed with privilege but as a hard-rocking unit" that could not be messed with.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/l7-scatter-the-rats-interview/|title=L7 Still Kick Ass and Have Good Table Manners 20 Years Later|last=Pettigrew|first=Jason|date=June 12, 2019|work=Alternative Press|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> The band have been categorised as [[alternative metal]],<ref name="basedow">{{cite news |last1=Basedow |first1=Neph |title=14 Notable Female Rock Drummers |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/14-notable-female-rock-drummers-6783284 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Houston Press |date=17 November 2011}}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref name="gcm18">{{cite news |title=L7 Smashes Their Crowdfunding Goal, New Album Incoming |url=https://ghostcultmag.com/l7-smashes-their-crowdfunding-goal-new-album-incoming/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Ghost Cult Magazine |date=31 December 2018}}</ref> [[grunge]],<ref name="virtue15">{{cite news |last1=Virtue |first1=Graeme |title=L7 review – grunge-rockers resurrect their headbanger heaviness |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/16/l7-review-grunge-rock-garage-glasgow |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=16 June 2016}}</ref> [[punk metal]]<ref name="perreault">{{cite news |last1=Perreault |first1=Olivia |title=L7 To Release First Album in 20 Years, Currently On World Tour |url=https://www.ticketnews.com/2018/04/l7-to-release-first-album-in-20-years-announces-world-tour/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=TicketNews |date=10 April 2018}}</ref> and [[punk rock]].<ref name="pratoam">{{cite web |last1=Prato |first1=Greg |title=L7 Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio and More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/l7-mn0000100473 |website=AllMusic |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> On the metal side of the band's sound, Donita Sparks acknowledged in July 2018 that L7 has metal influences but does not consider the group to be a "metal band", instead stating "at heart, we're punk rockers".<ref name="radius18">{{cite news |last1=Schärer |first1=Milo |title=L7 (USA) interview |url=https://radioradius.ch/l7/ |work=Radio Radius |date=12 July 2018}}</ref>

Aesthetically, their style was subversive with a long-standing resistance to the expectation for girls to be eye-candy. L7 called themselves "slob girls" with ratty hair and clothes and bassist Jennifer Finch frequently performed barefoot onstage.<ref name=":0" /> Sparks summarized "If we were gonna be looked at, we were gonna be thrashin."<ref name=":14" />

A reviewer in 1995 stated that "L7 plays slow-riffing hard rock, fast punk rock and bluesy, catchy midtempo songs: generic forms upgraded by smart lyrics and pure irreverence on stage."<ref name=":15" />

Donita Sparks credits the punk rock bands the [[Ramones]] and the [[Sex Pistols]] as two of her earliest influences, stating of the former that, at age 15, "I was so longing for teenage music, stuff that was fun and carefree and cool. And the Ramones were the whole package", having stated in 1997 that ''[[Rocket to Russia]]'' (1977) was the record that changed her life.<ref name="baltin19">{{cite news |last1=Baltin |first1=Steve |title=Who I Am: L7's Donita Spraks On Ramones, Beach Boys, Andy Warhol, More |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2019/05/13/who-i-am-l7s-donita-spraks-on-ramones-beach-boys-andy-warhol-more/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Forbes |date=17 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="hamilton97">{{cite magazine |last1=Hamilton |first1=Jill |title=Q&A: Donita Sparks of L7 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-donita-sparks-of-l7-238360/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1 May 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831112742/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-donita-sparks-of-l7-238360/ |archive-date=August 31, 2020 }}</ref> Sparks has also noted 1960s [[surf music|surf]] music, namely [[the Beach Boys]], [[Dick Dale]] and [[the Ventures]], as a key influence, describing it as her "siren song" to move to Los Angeles in the 1980s. The band also draw heavily from female-fronted 1970s and 1980s punk and [[New wave music|new wave]] acts (see [[women in punk rock]]) including [[The B-52s|the B-52's]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] and [[Frightwig]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="hamilton97" /> [[Suzi Gardner]], more so than Sparks, was influenced by [[blues]]-based 1970s rock and early metal acts, such as [[Black Sabbath]], [[Deep Purple]], [[Hawkwind]] and [[Led Zeppelin]].<ref name="amnp23">{{cite news |title=Interview with Donita Sparks from L7 |work=Amnplify Australia |date=December 2023}}</ref><ref name="globe97">{{cite news |title=Interview with Suzi Gardner guitarist & singer of the rock group L7 |work=Punk Globe Magazine |date=21 January 1997}}</ref> Other influences on members of the band include [[ABBA]],<ref name="punkglobe09">{{cite news |last1=Ozgur |first1=Cokyuce |title=Donita Sparks Interview 2009 |work=Punk Globe Magazine |date=January 2009}}</ref> [[AC/DC]],<ref name="SPIN93">{{cite news |title=L7: Our 1993 Cover Story |work=SPIN Magazine |date=July 1993}}</ref> [[The Beatles]],<ref name="pelser">{{cite news |last1=Pelser |first1=Deb |title=Meet: We Chat to L7's Donita Sparks about the band's upcoming tour of Australia |url=https://www.backseatmafia.com/meet-we-chat-to-l7s-donita-sparks-about-the-bands-upcoming-tour-of-australia/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Backseat Mafia |date=15 August 2023}}</ref> [[David Bowie]],<ref name="hamilton97" /> [[Patsy Cline]],<ref name="SPIN93" /> [[Elvis Costello]],<ref name="punkglobe09" /> [[the Cramps]],<ref name="SPIN93" /> [[Arethra Franklin]],<ref name="SPIN93" /> [[the Gap Band]],<ref name="punkglobe09" /> [[Kraftwerk]],<ref name="punkglobe09" /> [[Motörhead]],<ref name="globe97" /> [[Ohio Players]],<ref name="punkglobe09" />  [[Yoko Ono]], [[Iggy Pop]] and [[the Stooges]],<ref name="punkglobe09" /> [[Lou Reed]], [[the Rolling Stones]],<ref name="pelser" /> [[Roxy Music]],<ref name="hamilton97" /> and [[Sha Na Na]].<ref name="hamilton97" />

[[The Prodigy]] covered the ''[[Hungry for Stink]]'' track "Fuel My Fire" on their 1997 album ''[[The Fat of the Land]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fzvr/|title=The Prodigy: Fat Of The Land Review|last=Pattison|first=Louis|date=2008|work=BBC|access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/04/prodigy-fat-of-the-land-review/|title=Review: Prodigy – Fat of the Land|last=Weisbard|first=Eric|date=2017|work=Spin|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> In 2015, ''Spin'' listed ''Bricks Are Heavy'' as number 249 on their list of the top 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985–2014).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/05/the-300-best-albums-of-the-past-30-years-1985-2014/|title=The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014)|date=May 11, 2015|work=Spin|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]'' ranked the songs from L7's ''Bricks Are Heavy'' as part of their Hall of Fame Countdown in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2016/06/09/hall-of-fame-countdown-l7-s-bricks-are-heavy/|title=Hall of Fame Countdown: L7's Bricks Are Heavy|last=Solis|first=Matt|date=June 9, 2016|work=Decibel|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> In 2016, ''[[Ugly Things]]'' ranked ''Smell the Magic'' at number 24 on a list of the top 40 punk albums of all-time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ugly-things.com/cleaning-up-the-puke-stain-a-response-to-rolling-stones-punk-top-40-list/|title=Cleaning Up the Puke Stain: A Response to Rolling Stone's Punk Top 40 List|work=Ugly Things|access-date=September 21, 2023}}</ref> In 2017, ''Metal Injection'' ranked L7 at number 7 on their list of "10 Heaviest Grunge Bands".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/lists/10-heaviest-grunge-bands|title=10 Heaviest Grunge Bands|work=Metal Injection|access-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

The band was listed by ''Kerrang!'' in 2019 as one of "Ten Bands No One Expected to be So Influential Today."<ref name=":17">{{Cite news|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/10-bands-no-one-expected-to-be-so-influential-today/|title=10 Bands No One Expected to be So Influential Today|last=Krovatin and Alex Brown|first=Chris|date=June 2, 2019|work=Kerrang!|access-date=October 10, 2019}}</ref> The group was described as "one of rock’s most volatile and respected acts. Predictable on paper, anything but on stage".<ref name=":17" />

==Band members==
[[File:L7 - Rock am Ring 2015-9409.jpg|alt=L7 onstage|thumb|L7 performing at [[Rock am Ring and Rock im Park|Rock am Ring]] in 2015]]
'''Current'''
*[[Donita Sparks]] – lead vocals, guitars (1985–2001, 2014–present)
*[[Suzi Gardner]] – guitars, vocals (1985–2001, 2014–present)
*[[Jennifer Finch]] – bass, vocals (1987–1996, 2014–present)
*[[Demetra Plakas]] – drums, vocals (1989–2001, 2014–present)

'''Past'''
*Roy Koutsky  – drums (1985–1988); died 2016
*Anne Anderson – drums (1988–1989)
*Greta Brinkman – bass (1996–1997)
*[[Gail Greenwood]] – bass, vocals (1997–1999)
*[[Janis Tanaka]] – bass (1999–2001)

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1985 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
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Colors =
  id:voc     value:red    legend:Vocals
  id:g       value:green  legend:Guitars
  id:b       value:blue   legend:Bass
  id:dr      value:orange legend:Drums
  id:alb     value:black  legend:Studio_album
  id:bars    value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend           = orientation:horizontal

ScaleMajor       = increment:5 start:1985
ScaleMinor       = increment:1 start:1985

PlotData =
  width:11
  bar:Donita&nbsp;Sparks  from:start      till:01/07/2001 color:g   width:3
  bar:Donita&nbsp;Sparks  from:start      till:01/07/2001 color:voc
  bar:Donita&nbsp;Sparks  from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:g   width:3
  bar:Donita&nbsp;Sparks  from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:voc
  bar:Suzi&nbsp;Gardner   from:start      till:01/07/2001 color:g
  bar:Suzi&nbsp;Gardner   from:start      till:01/07/2001 color:voc width:3
  bar:Suzi&nbsp;Gardner   from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:g
  bar:Suzi&nbsp;Gardner   from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:voc width:3
  bar:Jennifer&nbsp;Finch from:start      till:01/05/1996 color:b
  bar:Jennifer&nbsp;Finch from:start      till:01/05/1996 color:voc width:3
  bar:Jennifer&nbsp;Finch from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:b
  bar:Jennifer&nbsp;Finch from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:voc width:3
  bar:Greta&nbsp;Brinkman from:01/05/1996 till:01/05/1997 color:b
  bar:Gail&nbsp;Greenwood from:01/05/1997 till:01/11/1999 color:b
  bar:Gail&nbsp;Greenwood from:01/05/1997 till:01/11/1999 color:voc width:3
  bar:Janis&nbsp;Tanaka   from:01/11/1999 till:01/07/2001 color:b
  bar:Roy&nbsp;Koutsky    from:start      till:01/05/1988 color:dr
  bar:Anne&nbsp;Anderson  from:01/05/1988 till:30/11/1989 color:dr
  bar:Demetra&nbsp;Plakas from:30/11/1989 till:01/07/2001 color:dr
  bar:Demetra&nbsp;Plakas from:01/01/1990 till:01/07/2001 color:voc width:3
  bar:Demetra&nbsp;Plakas from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:dr
  bar:Demetra&nbsp;Plakas from:12/10/2014 till:end        color:voc width:3

LineData =
 layer:back
 color:alb
  at:01/02/1988
  at:01/09/1990
  at:14/04/1992
  at:12/07/1994
  at:27/02/1997
  at:24/08/1999
  at:03/05/2019
}}

==Discography==
{{main|L7 (band) discography}}
*''[[L7 (album)|L7]]'' (1988)
*''[[Smell the Magic]]'' (1990)
*''[[Bricks Are Heavy]]'' (1992)
*''[[Hungry for Stink]]'' (1994)
*''[[The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum]]'' (1997)
*''[[Slap-Happy]]'' (1999)
*''[[Scatter the Rats]]'' (2019)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*{{AllMusic}}
*{{discogs artist}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{L7|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:L7}}
[[Category:L7 (band)| ]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:All-female punk bands]]
[[Category:Alternative rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Sub Pop artists]]
[[Category:Epitaph Records artists]]
[[Category:American grunge groups]]
[[Category:Proto-riot grrrl bands]]
[[Category:Slash Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1985]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Musical quartets from California]]
[[Category:American feminist musicians]]
[[Category:American all-female bands]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]
[[Category:American abortion-rights activists]]
[[Category:American alternative metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Activists from California]]
[[Category:Don Giovanni Records artists]]