Like many thousands of others around the world, the Hunt Saboteurs Association was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Colin Jerwood, singer and driving force behind the anarcho-punk legends Conflict.
Conflict were staunch supporters of the HSA and sabbing from their earliest days.
The band hailed from Eltham in south-east London and, back in the early 1980s, a youthful Colin was turned on to animal rights after working as a painter in an abattoir. In one interview, Colin recalls the profound effect this experience had on him: he was haunted by what he saw and felt he could never get rid of the smell of the place.
Conflict’s 1983 landmark EP To A Nation Of Animal Lovers is an incendiary sonic assault on all forms of animal abuse with the subtly titled Berkshire Cunt focussing on ‘cubbing’ – the practice of hunting fox cubs. The record sleeve included addresses for direct action organisations – including the HSA – under the heading “If you want to help stop animal abuse these people will help you take part.” Decades before the internet, this kind of exposure was priceless for the burgeoning HSA, as were the sab stalls and collecting tins passed around at countless Conflict gigs across the country.
Many other animal rights songs followed in Conflict’s eventful career and, as recently 2024, the band showed their support by headlining a 60th anniversary gig for the HSA.
We send love and solidarity to Colin’s family, friends and bandmates and recall his poignant lyric: “To live on in hearts is never to die.”
A full obituary will appear in our magazine HOWL in due course.
We are the only organisation that works directly in the field to save wildlife through direct action.
