The brainchild behind the Action Swingers incendiary garage punk was New Yorker Ned Hayden. His Stooges-like vocals, guitar, and primitive songs were the hallmark of the group throughout its various incarnations. When the band debuted with a self-titled album, the lineup consisted of Hayden, guitarist/singer Julia Cafritz (ex-Pussy Galore), bassist Peter Shore (Unsane), and drummer Bob Bert (ex-Sonic Youth, ex-Pussy Galore). A couple of songs that ended up on the early tracks compilation Quit While You're Ahead featured J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.