War on Women (band) explained

War On Women
Image Upright:1.15
Landscape:yes
Origin:Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genre:
Years Active:2010–present
Label:
    • Bridge Nine Records Exotic Fever Records
Current Members:
  • Shawna Potter
  • Brooks Harlan
  • Jennifer Vito
  • Suzanne Werner
  • Dave Cavalier
Past Members:
  • Nancy Hornburg
  • Evan Tanner
  • Rusty Haynie
  • Ben Jones

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

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: War on Women fuses feminism and hardcore punk. Lucy Westcott On 10/20/16 at 1:21 PM. EDT. October 20, 2016. Newsweek.
  2. Web site: War On Women: Pissed-Off Feminist Punk Band Aims for "Lasting Impact". June 4, 2018. Revolver.
  3. News: Rock's Not Dead, It's Ruled by Women: The Round-Table Conversation. Joe. Coscarelli. The New York Times. September 1, 2017.
  4. Web site: Improvised Weapons, by War On Women. War On Women.
  5. Web site: War On Women. Bridge Nine Records. 6 August 2024 .
  6. Web site: War On Women's Brooks Harlan discusses the music that influenced 'Wonderfull Hell'. live. https://archive.today/20220723021313/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/war-on-womens-brooks-harlan-discusses-the-music-that-influenced-wonderfull-hell/. 2022-07-23. 2022-07-22. brooklynvegan.com. en.
  7. Web site: Jawbox Facebook Harlan Announcement. August 10, 2021 . Facebook.
  8. February 2022 . News - Und Sonst So . News - Other . de . . 5 . Solingen . Ox Verlag .
  9. Web site: Ex-WAR ON WOMEN Guitarist Nancy Hornburg Speaks out Against Band. live. https://archive.today/20220114184839/https://lambgoat.com/news/35416/ex-war-on-women-guitarist-nancy-hornburg-speaks-out-against-band/. 2022-01-14. 2022-01-14. lambgoat.com. en.
  10. Web site: Former War on Women guitarist accuses band of mental abuse, band denies. live. https://archive.today/20220117221849/https://www.punknews.org/article/76407/former-war-on-women-guitarist-accuses-band-of-mental-abuse-band-denies. 2022-01-17. 2022-01-17. punknews.org. 17 January 2022 . en.
  11. Web site: War On Women Summer 2022 European Tour Dates. live. https://archive.today/20220723023158/http://www.bridge9.com/news/2022/6/26/war-on-women-summer-2022-european-tour-dates. 2022-07-23. 2022-07-23. bridge9.com. 26 June 2022 . en.
  12. Web site: War On Women "Wonderful Hell" - Bridge Nine Records . bridge9.com .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "War on Women (band)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.