Conflict (band)


Conflict are an English anarcho-punk band originally based in Eltham in South London.
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History

Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood, Francisco 'Paco' Carreno, John, Steve, Pauline, and Paul a.k.a. 'Nihilistic Nobody'. Their first release was the 1982 EP "The House That Man Built" on Crass Records. By the time they released their first album, 1983s It's Time to See Who's Who, on Corpus Christi Records, Pauline and Paul had left the band.
In 1983, Conflict set up their own Mortarhate Records label, which put out their own records as well as releases by other artists including Hagar the Womb, Icons of Filth, Lost Cherrees, The Apostles, and Stalag 17. A sub-label Fightback Records, was active from 1984-1986., both manufactured and administered by Jungle Records.
Also in 1983, Steve Ignorant, who was at the time a member of the band Crass, guested on the band's pro-animal rights single "To A Nation of Animal Lovers". After the dissolution of Crass, Ignorant later became second vocalist for Conflict on a semi-permanent basis until the mid 1990s.
The band's "Mighty and Superior" was voted number 53 best song of the year by the John Peel Festive Fifty radio show audience in 1985, a year that show played a top 70.
Conflict has always been outspoken regarding issues such as anarchism, animal rights, the anti-war movement and in their support for the organisation Class War. A number of their gigs during the 1980s were followed by riots and disturbances. On 18 April 1987, Conflict appeared at the Brixton Academy in London as part of a benefit event titled "The Gathering of the 5000" which intended to raise money for causes including the Animal Liberation Front, London Greenpeace, Hunt Saboteurs Association, Class War, Housmans Bookshop and Anti-Fascist Action. According to the band, fans leaving the event were attacked by the police, which led to a riot culminating in 52 arrests and several police officers being injured.
In a 2016 primer on anarcho punk for The Wire, the band were described as:
Former band drummer, Francisco "Paco" Carreno, died on 20 February 2015, at the age of 49. In August 2019, long-term bassist, Hoddy, decided to step down from bass duties after over 30 years. Later that year Fran Fearon was recruited on bass as well as an additional vocalist, Fiona Friel, aka Fi, longtime frontwoman of Dragster.
The line-up of Jerwood, Gav, Stu, Fearon and Fi toured from 2021. A live album, Live in Dublin, was released in 2024 and the first new studio material for over 20 years, a 7" single entitled "This is Conflict", was released in November 2024. The band's latest studio album, This Much Remains, was released in May 2025.
On 2 June 2025, it was announced by his family that Colin Jerwood had died at the age of 63, following a short illness. The band released a statement saying:
The band continued to perform scheduled gigs throughout 2025 in tribute to Jerwood and with the blessing of his family.

Members

Original line up

  • Colin Jerwood died on May 31, 2025
  • John Clifford
  • Kenny Barnes
  • Graham Ball
  • Paul Fryday, a.k.a. 'Nihilistic Nobody'

Past members

  • Francisco "Paco" Carreno died 2015
  • Steve Gittins
  • Mandy Spokes
  • Kevin Webb
  • Paul Hoddy
  • Chris Parish
  • Kerry B
  • Steve Ignorant
  • Ferenc Collins
  • Marshall Penn
  • Nathan Perrier
  • Derek Reid
  • Mark Pickstone
  • Jackie Hanna
  • Sarah Taylor
  • Eve Scragg
  • Matthew Zilch
  • Gav King
  • Jeannie Ford
  • Stuart Meadows
  • Fiona Jayne Friel
  • Fran Fearon
  • Colin Jerwood died 2025

Current members

  • Gav King
  • Fiona Jayne Friel
  • Fran Fearon
  • Matt Howlett

Discography

Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart.

Studio albums

It's Time to See Who's Who LP

EPs

  • "The House That Man Built" EP . Later re-issued on Mortarhate Records.
  • "To a Nation of Animal Lovers" EP . Later re-issued on Mortarhate Records.
  • "The Serenade is Dead" EP
  • "This is Not Enough, Stand Up and Fucking Fight" 7"
  • "The Battle Continues" 7"
  • "The Final Conflict" 12"
  • "These Colours Don't Run" 7" / CD
  • "BBC1" 7"
  • "Now You've Put Your Foot in It" 7" / CD
  • "Carlo Giuliani" 7" / CD
  • "THIS IS CONFLICT" 7"
  • "Collusion Exclusion" 10"

Compilations

  • Who? What? Why? When? Where? LP / CD. The album had little circulation on its initial release, but gained greater currency when re-released in 2003.Employing All Means Necessary LP / CD Standard Issue 82–87 LP / CD Standard Issue II 88–94 LP / CD Deploying All Means Necessary
  • ''There Must Be Another Way''

Live

Live at Centro Iberico EP . Later re-issued on Mortarhate Records.Live at Brest, France Only Stupid Bastards Help EMI LP Leeds University Turning Rebellion into Money Double LP / CD In The Venue In America CD Live in London
  • ''Live in Dublin''

Other

  • ''Rebellion Sucks!''