WHAT’S up with what’s going down? While grunge was often stereotyped as self-indulgent angst, Rock For Choice founders L7 embodied the movement’s strong moral and political creed, as well as its sharp sense of humour. Released at the height of Nirvanamania, “Pretend We’re Dead” was a pithy tirade against apathy and conformism, couched in the language of supercharged bubblegum pop. Its insanely catchy riff was allied to a bulldozing Butch Vig production, designed to sound good on the radio without sacrificing any crunch.
“Pretend We’re Dead” duly cracked the UK Top 40 in April 1992, landing L7 a slot on the main stage at that year’s Reading Festival, and an appearance on Channel 4’s The Word. Both occasions were enlivened by co-frontwoman Donita Sparks’ “absurdist” feminist protests – lobbing a used tampon into the crowd, pulling her pants down on live TV – that burnished L7’s rebel credentials. The band may have struggled to repeat the magic formula of “Pretend We’re Dead”, but for helping to destroy rock’s complacent macho façade, their legend is assured.
When we speak, L7 are in rehearsals for a US tour in support of the 30th anniversary reissue of . Attempting to accurately recreate its songs has revealed hidden depths. “Suzi’s been trying to decipher the solo that she played that was recorded and then played backwards,” explains Sparks. “How I’m gonna get that spacey sound on the riff, I have no idea!” Nevertheless, scenes of mayhem can be expected
