Emerging from Los Angeles in 1985, L7 blended the raucous energy of punk rock with the hard-charging metal influences of Mot├╢rhead and Ramones. Their ferocious attitude and crunchy riffs would go on to influence bands like Nirvana and the Distillers. After a mainstream breakthrough with 1992's Butch Vig-produced Bricks Are Heavy, which included the hit single "Pretend We're Dead," the band went on an extended hiatus before returning in 2019 with Scatter the Rats.
Formed by guitarists/singers Suzi Gardner and Donita Sparks in 1985, L7 expanded their lineup to include bassist Jennifer Finch and drummer Dee Plakas, solidifying a sound that blended metallic edge with punk simplicity. Signing with labels like Epitaph and Sub Pop, they gained recognition for their music and activism, including founding the Rock for Choice organization. Despite lineup changes and a hiatus in the early 2000s, the band reunited in 2014, leading to a successful comeback marked by tours, a documentary, and the release of Scatter the Rats in 2019.
