The Angelic Upstarts were formed in South Shields, North-East England in mid 1977. Influenced by bands such as The Clash and The Sex Pistols, they were a meeting of working class ideology and musical aspiration. Mensi was always liable to provoke reaction, his lyrics making much of his working class roots, and lashing out at police and politicians. When they weren't kicking a pigs head around onstage Northumbria's finest were knocking out class songs like their debut Murder of Liddle Towers and others like Student Power and I'm An Upstart

The original line up consisted of Mensi - Thomas Mensforth (vocals), Mond (Ray Cowie) (guitar), Steve Forsten (bass) and Decca Wade (drums).