War on Women (band)

Last updated

War On Women
War On Women in St. Augustine.jpg
Background information
Origin Baltimore, 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
Website www.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]

Contents

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 January 2022, ex-guitarist Nancy Hornburg accused member Brooks Harlan of "controlling and emotionally abusive behavior" during her time with the band, [7] and alleged frontwoman Shawna Potter had been dishonest about the band's financial matters, including royalties. [8] 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." [9] These allegations against Hornburg were never proven and the band was forced to settle out of court for non-payment of royalties to Hornburg.

In April 2002, Scott Tiemann who was chosen to play drums on the album Capture the Flag, was found dead in his garage after an apparent suicide. Tiemann was a friend of Harlan and Potter and was a part of a police investigation involving the filming of his music students in the bathroom of his home. Tiemann died before being questioned by police. The members of the band deny any knowledge of Tiemann filming of children in his home. [10]

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

In January 2024, former drummer Evan Tanner died of drug and alcohol related sepsis. Tanner faced allegations of fraud, financial abuse and violence against women and died before facing any charges. War on Women shared no mention of Tanner's passing on their website.

In November 2025, War on Women announced signing to Smart Punk Records. [12]

Discography

References

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Improvised Weapons, by War On Women". War On Women.
  5. 1 2 3 "War On Women". Bridge Nine Records. August 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ "War On Women's Brooks Harlan discusses the music that influenced 'Wonderfull Hell'". brooklynvegan.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ "News - Und Sonst So" [News - Other]. Ox-Fanzine (in German). Solingen: Ox Verlag. February 2022. p. 5.
  8. ↑ "Ex-WAR ON WOMEN Guitarist Nancy Hornburg Speaks out Against Band". lambgoat.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Former War on Women guitarist accuses band of mental abuse, band denies". punknews.org. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  10. ↑ Collins, David (May 2, 2022). "Police: Man who gave music lessons secretly recorded video in bathroom". WBAL. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ "War On Women Summer 2022 European Tour Dates". bridge9.com. June 26, 2022. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "War On Women Signs To Smartpunk Records, Drops New Single". Thoughts Words Action. November 13, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ "War On Women "Wonderful Hell" - Bridge Nine Records". bridge9.com.
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