Red Hare's roots run all the way back to the Washington D.C. music scene of the 80's and 90's, where Shawn Brown, Jason Farrell and Dave Eight immersed themselves in the braids and tangles of that city's unique strain of hardcore.

In 1987, Brown (the original [and current] singer of Dag Nasty) and guitarist Farrell founded Swiz_ a harsher take on melodic hardcore released via Dischord's sister-label Sammich and their own freshly-minted label Hell- fire.

Eight joined Swiz on bass in 1989 and remained until the band wrapped it up in 1990.