formed in London

The band was formed in London in 1980, in the Wapping Anarchy Centre , established by the efforts of seminal anarchist bands Crass and Poison Girls . The Autonomy Centre became an important focal point for the anarcho-punk anti-capitalist movement in the UK and Europe, bringing together anarchists who participated in protests and direct action against targets such as vivisection laboratories, the meat industry and the policies of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . The Kill Your Pet Puppy anarchist collective organised events. Some of the bands that regularly played at the centre included Anthrax , The Apostles , Chris Knowles’ (later Chris Liberator) Cold War, Conflict , and Rudimentary Peni . Funds were raised from a benefit single, Persons Unknown by Poison Girls and Bloody Revolutions by Crass. The original line-up of Hagar the Womb was all-female, reflecting the band’s purpose of giving women a voice in the anarcho-punk scene: Ruth Elias (vocals), Karen Amsden (vocals), Nicola Corcoran (vocals), Janet Nassim (guitar), and Steph Cohen (bass guitar). One week after forming they played their first gig with Zounds and The Mob , with “Scarecrow” aka Hooligan Rocker playing drums. They soon recruited a second guitarist, “Jon From Bromley “, and a permanent drummer, Chris Knowles, formerly of Cold War. Prior to joining Hagar the Womb, Chris Knowles had already recorded the dystopian single “The Machinist /Illusion” with Cold War, playing bass and providing vocals, creating a sound akin to the work of Antisect and Amebix . A rare demo tape of Chris Knowles’ work with Cold War exists, containing music that still remains unreleased. Corcoran left, leaving two vocalists. The band’s first demo included the track “For the Ferryman”, which was released on the Mortarhate label compilation LP Who? What? Why? When? Where? in 1984. Cohen was replaced by Mitch Flacko (also of The Mekons ) prior to the band’s first release proper. The band toured the UK punk circuit for five years, releasing two 12-inch EPs and recording a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 on 11 February 1984.