The Mekons - Never Been In A Riot 7”EP

Lester Bangs once wrote, "The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock 'n' roll," and although he wrote it tongue in cheek, that doesn't mean he was wrong. Thoroughly uncompromising, creatively restless, at once witty and profoundly cynical, and seemingly incapable of repeating themselves, the Mekons are one of the few bands from the first wave of British punk who not only never turned their back on their guiding ideals, but clung to them with greater tenacity over time. The Mekons were formed in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1976 by a handful of art students at the University of Leeds. The original line-up featured singers Andy Corrigan and Mark "Chalkie" White, guitarists Tom Greenhalgh and Kevin Lycett, bassist Ros Allen, and drummer Jon Langford. Taking their name from a villainous alien in the U.K. adventure comic Dan Dare, the Mekons' witty and shambolic brand of punk earned them a reputation in Leeds (where another idiosyncratic political band, Gang of Four, was incubating), and they were one of the first bands to sign with the independent Fast Product label. Fast Product was established in Edinburgh by Bob Last, his partner, Hilary Morrison and Tim Pearce in December 1977. Its first release was also the first single by the Mekons, released on 20 January 1978. Their debut EP, featuring the collective's original six-piece line-up, delivered three startlingly original songs – "Never Been In A Riot," "32 Weeks" and "Heart And Soul" – that never appeared on any of their albums.

No band captured the DIY punk ethos better than The Mekons. As one critic wrote of the group, "Those who couldn't play tried to learn and those who could play tried to forget." Like fellow Leeds misfits Gang of Four and Delta 5, The Mekons form a rowdy and illuminating piece of the UK post-punk puzzle, fusing everyday political concerns with a no-holds-barred approach to performance.

The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen

After two singles for Fast Product, Leeds art-punk collective The Mekons signed with Virgin Records in 1979. The band would have to borrow gear from their mates Gang Of Four to record their major label debut. In classic Mekons style, the album's back cover featured a photo of Gang Of Four instead of themselves. As Simon Reynolds writes, "The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen got a mixed reception at the time. Listening to it now, though, the first LP sounds more of a piece with the band's early punk singles. What's striking is the commonality of sound across the three key Leeds groups of that moment (Gang Of Four, Delta 5 and The Mekons). There are textural affinities in terms of scrawny abrasiveness and a general departure from rock 'n' roll norms of singing and emoting." With boundless energy, The Mekons net a dozen barbed takes on pop culture, art and politics. "What Are We Going To Do Tonight" stands out as a razor-sharp critique of leisure, while "Beetroot" drowns apathy in angular riffs and catchy, unmelodic chants.