‘Bowie compared us to T Rex. Couldn’t get any better’: the Mekons on how they made Where Were You?
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- The Mekons recorded 'Where Were You?' at Spaceward studio in Cambridge, a facility known for unconventional recordings.
- John Peel gave the track heavy airplay, helping it sell over 27,000 copies immediately after release.
- David Bowie played the song on his Radio 1 program and compared the Mekons to T Rex, calling the comparison 'couldn't get any better'.
- Bob Last of Fast Product label insisted on signing the Mekons, despite the band’s suggestion to record Gang of Four.
- Where Were You? was written within three days of the band’s formation and remains a staple of their live sets nearly five decades later.
Why it matters: The Mekons’ early hit gave Fast Product a rare indie breakout, while John Peel’s airplay and Bowie’s endorsement turned a low‑budget recording into a lasting post‑punk anthem still driving gig tickets decades later.
