- (This page also mentions Mekon. For the group who were previously of the same name, see Manchester Mekon).
John Gosling (born c.1963, Brighton), currently known as Mekon, is an English big beat and industrial musician and electronica producer.
Gosling is well known as a member of Psychic TV. Gosling founded the group Zos Kia, Psychic TV (during 1984), and Bass-o-Matic (with William Orbit) before recording as Mekon. and teamed up with Coil for the album Transparent. He has also done extensive remixing work under the name "Sugar J".
His first single was "Phatty's Lunch Box", which was followed by "Revenge of the Mekon", which featured Frankie Fraser; Gosling met Fraser in Islington shortly after reading a biography of the former gangster, and they subsequently recorded three hours of Fraser reminiscing on his past, excerpts of which were used on the single.
In the mid-to-late-Nineties he was a core member of the group Agent Provocateur along with Matthew Ashman (originally of Bow Wow Wow), Dan Peppe, Danny Saber (of Black Grape) and Cleo Torez.
He has worked with artists such as Schoolly D (on the Skool's Out album), Roxanne Shanté ("Yes Yes Y'All"), Marc Almond ("Delerious"), Bobby Gillespie, Alan Vega, and Afrika Bambaataa. His third album, Something Came Up, featured artwork by fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Mekon's remix of the Infadels single "Can't Get Enough" appeared on an episode of Hex, a hit show originally shown on Sky One in the UK, and later on BBC America. It also featured on the FIFA 07 soundtrack. His song "What's Going On" is featured on the PlayStation 2 game ATV Offroad Fury 2 as well as the video game Amplitude.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played tracks from Mekon between the 90's and 00's on his radio programmes, including his group Agent Provocateur. He nominated Mekon's collaboration with Roxanne Shante, as one of his records of the month for August 2000 (Peel's Record Box).
Shows Played[]
- 17 December 1994: ‘Last Breath (12 inch – Phatty’s Lunchbox)’ Wall Of Sound
- 06 January 1995: 'Last Breath (Electro Re-Skank) (Compilation CD-Give 'Em Enough Dope Volume Two)' (Wall Of Sound)
- 01 August 2000 (with Roxanne Shante): 'What's Going On?' (12" Single) Wall Of Sound
- 15 August 2000 (with Roxanne Shante): 'What's Going On?' (12" Single) Wall Of Sound
- 05 September 2000 (with Roxanne Shante): What's Going Off (12") White Label
- Agent Provocateur
- 15 March 1996: Red Tape (single) Wall Of Sound
- 20 March 1996: Red Tape (single) Wall Of Sound
- 01 April 1996: Red Tape (single) Wall Of Sound