I was never totally an L7 fan(which is something I regret to say now). I always heard "Pretend we're dead" on the radio and I occasionally listened to "Shitlist" on the "Natural Born Killers soundtrack", but it was never something I dwelled on too much, at the time, L7 was just a name. An old girlfriend who used to be really into a lot of girl-bands was a hard-core devoted fan of L7 and would talk about them massively, thus giving some knowledge of them.

But when I found out that they were opening up for Marilyn Manson, I was quick to buy a ticket, for I was going to see not only a much enjoyed band (manson), but I was going to see the band I heard so much about. I asked my friend if I could borrow her L7 CD (Bricks are Heavy) to see what tunes I would be hearing from them(which I just realized that I still have that CD after almost 7 months). I listened and enjoyed what I heard.

On the day of the concert, I was so wired the entire day, I couldn't even be contained in my classes, I had a wad of cash in my pockets, a fat sack of weed and 4 good friends to share the joy.

We showed 10min. late to the show, but we didn't miss a whole lot. I was rather stoned, and when I'm at a killer concert, sober or not, I'm ready to kick ass!!! They were playing "This Ain't Pleasure" when I showed up, and already I was far into it. I heard the songs from "The Beauty Process:Triple Platinum" and I was very impressed(tho' I still have yet to get the new album). But what made an L7 fan from hell was when they played my favorites off "Bricks Are Heavy" which included "Everglade", "Pretend We're Dead", "Shitlist", "Slide" and "Wargasm".

The girls were the kind of people who could keep the crowd going forever with their killer music and an attitude of "We'll say and do whatever the fuck we want dammit!!"

My friends weren't too impressed, either cause' they were too stoned or they wanted to see Manson more. They played an hour more and left the crowd going mad, including me. Manson came on, impressed the crowd for an hour and half and disappointed them by finishing too early.

L7 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Co. -- May 10 for the KBPI b-day bash

By now I was a devoted and loving fan of L7 and managed to get 2 good friends of mine into them and we got tickets the day before. My friend Christy and I could chant nothing but "L7!!!!!!" the way up, even though I was already drunk and still ready to kick ass, I was ready see Offspring, Jane Jensen and Social Distortion, but L7 was the top of my list.

Poe, the Odds and AFI were in the concert agenda, but I didn't care too much. AFI and Jane Jensen kinda got me going, but I spent more time getting fucked up, I got to meet and talk to the lead singer of AFI who was a nice enough guy. Jane Jensen gave us candy and toy soldiers. The Odds were just a band that blew nuts. Poe, I never liked her music, but she drunk and was cool and she had a guy playing an electric cello.

Then the moment we had all waited for.....L7!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They came out and played a couple of their new songs and then claimed, which the audience prooved with shouts and cheers that they disagreed. they played a couple of old songs and then wanted pictures to send to family of the audience mooning them. When a 12yr.old mooned them, they stopped to state that they were not pedophiles as they laughed and continued playing. When the played "Pretend we're Dead", I could no longer resist as I drunkenly staggered to the mosh pit and moshed the hell out of myself. The bassist(whose name I forget) crowd-surfed a couple of times and shook hands with many of us, including myself.

Social Distortion, as good a band as they are, killed my L7 high. But Offspring brought it back and increased it more, finishing the night off well!!

Since then I was more into L7 and their shows than I was before and consider myself a life-long fan.

Long live L7!!! Maybe their music live and die in all who hear them!!!!!

-- Chris Martinez aka