Biography
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Years Active
1980 – 1986 (6 years)
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Founded In
London, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Chris Knowles (1981 – present)
- Elaine Reubens (1983 – present)
- Jane Epstein (1983 – present)
- Janet Nassim (1981 – present)
- Jon Attwood (1981 – 1984)
Hagar the Womb were a punk band active in the early 80's and part of the Anarcho Punk movement. They reunited after 25 years, in 2012.
The band was formed in the toilets of the Wapping Anarchy Centre, established by the efforts of seminal Anarchist bands Crass and Poison Girls, in 1980. One week after forming they played their first gig with Zounds and The Mob. The band were originally all-female in an attempt to add a female voice to what they saw as a male-dominated movement, and the band refused to conform to the stylistic constrictions associated with bands of the time.
The band toured the UK punk circuit for five years releasing two 12" singles and recording a Peel Session for Radio One (11 February 1984). Their first offering The Word of the Womb (released on Conflict's Mortarhate label) dominated the UK Indie Chart during 1984, being kept off the No.1 spot by larger, more mainstream, acts such as The Cure and The Smiths.
After releasing Funnery In a Nunnery the next year the band effectively split with no new material being recorded. The band's drummer – who has a degree in Philosophy and Literature – went on to become a cult DJ under the name Chris Liberator. Bassist Mitch has been playing bass in avant-garde ensembles.
During its lifetime the band's lineup fluctuated regularly but often included:
Chris Knowles/Chris Liberator (Drums)
Mitch Flacko (Bass)
Paul Harding (Guitar)
Janet Nassim (Guitar)
Ruth Ellias (Vocals)
Karen Amsden (Vocals)
Elaine Reubens (Vocals)
After reuniting, they played with the Mekons in 2019. They brought out the album Hagitate on Bandcamp. In October 2021, a concert in Leuven in Belgium was planned, but because of COVIDm had to be postponed to 20 May 2022, opening for Pussy Riot.
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