L7  are an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States.  They were active from 1985 to 2001, and reunited in 2014.  Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.  L7 influenced many of the riot grrrl bands of the 1990’s.  (More from Wikipedia)

 

Another predecessor band to the “riot grrrl” scene was another all-woman rock band called L7; the name is a longtime slang term for “square”, since an “L” and a “7” in block lettering can form a box.  The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1985 by guitarists and vocalists Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner; bass guitarist Jennifer Finch and drummer Demetra “Dee” Plakas were then added. 

L7 started out as a heavy metal band but had punk rock influences also.  The band’s third album, Bricks Are Heavy came out in 1992 about six months after Nirvana’s Nevermind album became a massive hit; as a result, L7 became identified with the grunge movement that Nirvana launched.  Bricks Are Heavy was named by Rolling Stone as one of the Essential Albums of the 1990’s.  One track on the album, “Pretend We’re Dead” received a lot of airplay and MTV exposure; the song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts. 

(December 2013)

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