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Huggy Bear (band)

Huggy Bear were an English riot grrrl band, formed in 1991 and based in Brighton.

Huggy Bear

London/Brighton, England

1991–1994

Niki Eliot
Jo Johnson
Jon Slade
Karen Hill
Chris Rowley

Other projects[edit]

Members of Huggy Bear also played as the Furbelows. In 1993, Rowley and Johnson released an EP as The Element of Crime on Soul Static Sound records, with members of Linus, Skinned Teen, Sister George and Blood Sausage.[10] Elliott and Johnson also joined Blood Sausage, while Rowley assisted Skinned Teen live and with artwork, and Elliot guested on their 1994 album.


After leaving Huggy Bear, Hill formed Phantom Pregnancies with Delia from Mambo Taxi and Sean from Wat Tyler. Slade briefly joined I'm Being Good, and then Comet Gain.[11]


Jo Johnson has been playing and releasing solo ambient music since 2012. In 2014, she released Weaving on Further Records.[12][13] Since then, she's released The Serpentine Path on Going In and The Wave Ahead on Mysteries of the Deep and contributed to a number of compilations albums. Jo began collaborating with pianist and composer Hilary Robinson during the pandemic and the duo released Session One on 9128.live in 2021.


In 2019, Chris Rowley formed a new band called Adulkt Life with former members of Male Bonding. On 27 November of that year, they played their first show at the Lexington in London. They released their first single and a digital zine on 18 August 2020, "County Pride", on What's Your Rupture?.[14]

Niki Eliot: bass and vocals

Jo Johnson: guitar and vocals

Karen Hill: drums and piano

Chris Rowley: vocals, trumpet and piano

Jon Slade: guitar

(Huggy Bear), mini LP split with Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (Bikini Kill), 8 March '93, CATCALL / Kill Rock Stars 206

Our Troubled Youth

, LP/CD, 21 Nov '94, WIIIJA

Weaponry Listens to Love

Huggy Bear videos at World News

Archive fansite

Huggy Nation – archive fansite

Huggy Bear's last interview, Nov 1994

Huggy Bear gig listing

WIIIJA records biog

Allmusic biog

Taking the Rough with the Smooch review

Weaponry LP review – Allmusic

Weaponry LP review – Furia

Weaponry LP review – Punknews

Huggy Bear tribute – The Guardian, 2008