The Mekons

The Mekons are a Leeds, United Kingdom group formed in 1977 by Leeds University art students Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh. They are a long-running and prolific British punk band associated with punk, post-punk and, later, alt-country and classic pop and rock. The line-up changes over time, and the group remains active with members including Kevin Lycett, Rico Bell, Sarah Corina, John Gill, Steve Goulding, Tom Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Jon Langford, Ken Lite, Sally Timms and Robert Worby.

Early punk years

The band takes its name from the Mekon, a super-intelligent Venusian character from the British comic Dan Dare. It first reaches a wider audience with the single Never Been in a Riot, a satirical response to the Clash’s White Riot. In its early years, the group plays a noisy, stripped-back form of post-punk, with a sound often compared to fellow Leeds band Gang of Four.

Move into country and folk influences

By the mid-1980s, with Sally Timms on vocals and Susie Honeyman on violin, The Mekons begin to work with traditional folk and country styles. This shift appears on Fear and Whiskey (1985), The Edge of the World (1986) and Honky Tonkin’ (1987). These records combine punk attitudes with country forms associated with artists such as Gram Parsons and Hank Williams, and are often described as a form of “post-modern country”, influencing later alt-country acts.

Later recordings and reputation

The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll is the band’s first major label release, issued by A&M Records in 1989. Although it does not become a commercial success, it receives strong critical attention. The band later continues to record prolifically, with albums including Curse of the Mekons (1991), Journey to the End of the Night (2000) and OOOH! (2002). It also keeps touring in an altered line-up and develops a devoted following.

Jon Langford’s other work

Jon Langford also works as an artist and forms several related projects, including the country-oriented Waco Brothers and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, which explores the music of Bob Wills, Johnny Cash and others. He also releases recordings with Richard Buckner and Kevin Coyne, alongside his solo albums.