Founded in the late '70s by Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh, the Mekons started out as a punk band, inspired by the first wave of British punk rock. Before long however, they were incorporating synthesizers, reggae, and just plain weirdness into their style. As much of a collective as a band (in keeping with their socialist political tendencies), the early Mekons were a revolving door for a constantly changing cast of characters. In the mid-'80s, they significantly incorporated country and folk influences, and released some of their finest work. By the '90s, a membership anchored by the likes of Steve Goulding and Sally Timms kept the Mekons producing at a prolific rate, never abandoning their politically incisive lyricism.