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War on Women (band)

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War On Women
The band is performing live on stage as the singer points towards the camera.
Background information
OriginBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Genres
Years active2010–present
Labels
Members
  • Shawna Potter
  • Brooks Harlan
  • Jennifer Vito
  • Suzanne Werner
  • Dave Cavalier
Past members
  • Nancy Hornburg
  • Evan Tanner
  • Rusty Haynie
  • Ben Jones
Websitewww.waronwomen.bandcamp.com

War On Women is a hardcore punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2010. The political, feminist themes in their music include abortion rights, rape and misogyny.[1]

History

[edit]

In 2003, Brooks Harlan recruited Shawna Potter to sing and play guitar for AVEC, an indie-rock band that was based in Baltimore.[2] Seeing Courtney Love playing guitar in "Doll Parts" inspired Potter to play music.[3]

In 2010 Potter and Harlan formed War On Women, a band “inspired by the riot grrrl bands [Potter] adored as a teenager.”[2]

War On Women released their debut album, a six-song EP titled Improvised Weapons, in 2012 on Exotic Fever Records.[4]

In 2015 the band released their first full-length album, the self-titled War On Women, on Bridge Nine Records. The album was recorded, mixed and produced in collaboration with J. Robbins of the band Jawbox.[5]

Their second and third full-length albums were also released under by Bridge Nine Records. The second album, Capture the Flag, was again recorded with J. Robbins and released in 2018.[5] The third album, Wonderful Hell, was released in 2020.[5] Guitarist, Harlan, has acknowledged influences of "Fugazi, Bad Brains, At the Drive-In, Metallica, and Slayer...", as well as less obvious influences such as Suzanne Vega, Nomeansno, Ben Folds Five, and Pat Metheny.[6]

In August 2021 Robbins’ band Jawbox announced that Harlan had joined the band, replacing guitarist Bill Barbot.[7]

In January 2022, ex-guitarist Nancy Hornburg accused member Brooks Harlan of "controlling and emotionally abusive behavior" during her time with the band,[8] and alleged frontwoman Shawna Potter had been dishonest about the band's financial matters, including royalties.[9] The band issued a response sharing their perspective of these events, disavowing the accusations and indicating Hornburg as having "repeated instances of lateness, inability to play, and overall inconsistent behavior."[10]

In the summer of 2022, the band returned to the UK and Europe for a month long tour.[11]

Discography

[edit]
  • Improvised Weapons (2012, Exotic Fever Records)[4]
  • War On Women (2015, Bridge Nine Records)
  • Capture the Flag (2018, Bridge Nine Records)
  • Wonderful Hell (2020, Bridge Nine Records)[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ EDT, Lucy Westcott On 10/20/16 at 1:21 PM (October 20, 2016). "War on Women fuses feminism and hardcore punk". Newsweek.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "War On Women: Pissed-Off Feminist Punk Band Aims for "Lasting Impact"". Revolver. June 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (September 1, 2017). "Rock's Not Dead, It's Ruled by Women: The Round-Table Conversation". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b "Improvised Weapons, by War On Women". War On Women.
  5. ^ a b c "War On Women". Bridge Nine Records. 6 August 2024.
  6. ^ "War On Women's Brooks Harlan discusses the music that influenced 'Wonderfull Hell'". brooklynvegan.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  7. ^ "Jawbox Facebook Harlan Announcement". Facebook. August 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "News - Und Sonst So" [News - Other]. Ox-Fanzine (in German). Solingen: Ox Verlag. February 2022. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Ex-WAR ON WOMEN Guitarist Nancy Hornburg Speaks out Against Band". lambgoat.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  10. ^ "Former War on Women guitarist accuses band of mental abuse, band denies". punknews.org. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  11. ^ "War On Women Summer 2022 European Tour Dates". bridge9.com. 26 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  12. ^ "War On Women "Wonderful Hell" - Bridge Nine Records". bridge9.com.