Hagar the Womb
| Company type | Punk rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in London, England |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Punk rock music, EPs, albums |
Hagar the Womb is a punk rock group from England that initially emerged in the early 1980s within the anarcho-punk scene. Following a break starting in 1987, several members went on to establish the bands We Are Going To Eat You and Melt, both featuring vocalist Julie Sorrell. Renewed interest sparked by a 2011 compilation led to their reunion and live shows beginning in 2012. In 2016, they released a fresh EP.
History
The band was formed in London in 1980 at the Wapping Anarchy Centre, a venue created by anarchist groups Crass and Poison Girls, who also supported it financially through benefit singles. The founding lineup was an all-female ensemble consisting of Ruth Elias (vocals), Karen Amsden (vocals), Nicola Corcoran (vocals), Janet Nassim (guitar), and Steph Cohen (bass), with the goal of promoting women's perspectives within anarcho-punk. Soon after their inception, they performed their debut show alongside Zounds and The Mob, initially featuring 'Scarecrow' on drums. They later expanded their lineup by adding guitarist Jon "From Bromley" Atwood and securing Chris Knowles, formerly of Cold War, as their permanent drummer. Knowles was recognized for his bleak sound that echoed bands like Antisect and Amebix. Early on, Corcoran left the group, leaving two vocalists.
Their initial demo included the track "For the Ferryman," which appeared on Mortarhate's 1984 compilation LP Who? What? Why? When? Where?. Before releasing any official material, Cohen was replaced by Mitch Flacko from The Mekons. Over five years touring the UK punk scene, they put out two 12-inch EPs and recorded a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 on 11 February 1984.
Their first EP, The Word of the Womb, produced by Pete Fender and issued via Conflict's Mortarhate label, climbed to number six on the UK Indie Chart in 1984 and stayed charted for more than five months. Elaine Reubens joined the band prior to their Peel Session recording.
The subsequent EP, Funnery In a Nunnery (which reached number nine on the UK Indie Chart), was released through Abstract Records in 1985. This release drew stylistic comparisons to Siouxsie & the Banshees, Delta 5, and The Slits. After this period, Flacko departed and was succeeded by Paul "Veg" Venables; Karen Amsden was replaced by Julie Sorrell.
Following another year without new recordings, Hagar the Womb disbanded. Members Knowles, Sorrell, Venables, and Harding then formed We Are Going To Eat You. After releasing their debut EP in 1987, they signed with Junior Delgado's Big Cat Records and issued the album Everywhen in 1990. Subsequently, they adopted the name Melt before eventually dissolving.
Drummer Chris Knowles became a prominent figure within Stamford Hill's punk anarchist squatting community and later gained recognition as an acid techno producer and DJ under the name Chris 'Liberator'. Meanwhile, bassist Mitch Flacko pursued work with avant-garde groups and took on roles as a tour manager.
Line-up
Throughout its existence, the band's roster frequently changed but often included:
- 'Scarecrow' (drums)
- Ruth Elias (vocals)
- Karen Amsden (vocals)
- Elaine Reubens (vocals)
- Julie Sorrell (vocals)
- Jon Attwood (lead guitar)
- Paul Harding (lead guitar)
- Stephanie Cohen (rhythm/bass guitars)
- Janet Nassim (rhythm guitar)
- Mitch Flacko (bass guitar)
- Paul Venables (bass guitar)
- Chris Knowles (drums)
Hagar the Womb
- The Word of the Womb (12-inch EP, Mortarhate, UK, 1984) – Reached No. 6 on the UK Indie chart
- Funnery in a Nunnery (12-inch EP, Abstract Sounds, UK, 1985) – Achieved No. 9 on the UK Indie chart
- A Brighter Shade of Black (LP, Mississippi Records, USA, 2011) [compilation album]
- Life of Lies / Distant War / You Never Learn (7-inch EP, All the Madmen, 2014)
- "Hated By The Daily Mail" (7-inch split single with Anthrax, Grow Your Own Records, UK, 2016)
- Hagiography (CD release, One Bright Spark Records, 2016) [compilation]
- Hagitate (EP available on 10-inch vinyl and digital download, Grow Your Own Records, UK, 2016)
We are Going to Eat You
- Four Heads Feast (Cassette format, 69 Tapes, 1987)
- "I Wish I Knew"/"Let's Fly" (12-inch EP, All the Madmen, 1987)
- "Heart in Hand" (Available as 7-inch and 12-inch single, Big Cat, 1988)
- Ride Upon the Tide (12-inch EP, Big Cat, 1989)
- Everywhen (Full-length LP, Big Cat, 1990)
Melt
- Neverland (12-inch EP released by Big Cat in 1991)