IMMusicRulz
Tele-Afflicted
“Welcome to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue rejects,” said L7’s singer/guitarist Donita Sparks, beginning a show at the Palace in New York in 1992. Part punk, part hard-core, part party band, L7 can be described as raucous, raunchy, and what Kim France of the Utne Reader called “triumphantly unladylike.” Named for the 1950s term meaning “square” or “unhip,” bandmembers Jennifer Finch, Dee Plakas, Suzi Gardner, and Donita Sparks refer to themselves as “humorous hags” and “bra-burning battle-axes,” their concert attire consisting of flannel, ripped jeans, motorcycle boots, and shorts belted with duct tape. Bursting onto L.A.’s music scene in 1987, L7 caused ceilings to sweat in small clubs packed with cult followers, encouraged stage-diving, and later took all their thrashing on the road, catching the attention of famous indie rock label Sub-Pop and later Slash Records of Los Angeles.
Due to their sound and image, L7 is often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, they have also been referred to as an alternative metal and hard rock band. As an all-female band, L7 formed Rock for Choice in 1991 and have, at times, also been linked to riot grrrl, although they preceded and are outliers of both the grunge and riot grrrl movements. The band's name, L7, derives from a slang term for square, and was deliberately chosen as a gender neutral sign. A documentary film about the band, L7: Pretend We're Dead, premiered in 2016. As a matter of fact, L7 was once known as Very Bad. Which they are not.
The group was first formed in 1985 and remained active until 2001, but reformed in 2014 and remain a pretty intriguing live act. Their longest standing lineup consists of Suzi Gardner (guitars, vocals), Donita Sparks (vocals, guitars), Jennifer Finch (bass, vocals), and 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 in 1992.
Their success was largely attributed to the fact that Butch Vig produced their albums. He also produced albums for Sonic Youth, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, AFI and Soul Asylum, and was also the drummer and producer for the band Garbage. If you want to start listening to L7, you must check out their album Bricks Are Heavy, which is a thrill ride of an album. I really like their song Pretend We're Dead. And I certainly enjoy the alto vocals of Donita Sparks and her Gibson Flying V and Gibson Melody Maker she plays.
If you like L7 please let me know.
Due to their sound and image, L7 is often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, they have also been referred to as an alternative metal and hard rock band. As an all-female band, L7 formed Rock for Choice in 1991 and have, at times, also been linked to riot grrrl, although they preceded and are outliers of both the grunge and riot grrrl movements. The band's name, L7, derives from a slang term for square, and was deliberately chosen as a gender neutral sign. A documentary film about the band, L7: Pretend We're Dead, premiered in 2016. As a matter of fact, L7 was once known as Very Bad. Which they are not.
The group was first formed in 1985 and remained active until 2001, but reformed in 2014 and remain a pretty intriguing live act. Their longest standing lineup consists of Suzi Gardner (guitars, vocals), Donita Sparks (vocals, guitars), Jennifer Finch (bass, vocals), and 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 in 1992.
Their success was largely attributed to the fact that Butch Vig produced their albums. He also produced albums for Sonic Youth, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, AFI and Soul Asylum, and was also the drummer and producer for the band Garbage. If you want to start listening to L7, you must check out their album Bricks Are Heavy, which is a thrill ride of an album. I really like their song Pretend We're Dead. And I certainly enjoy the alto vocals of Donita Sparks and her Gibson Flying V and Gibson Melody Maker she plays.
If you like L7 please let me know.
