The Meatmen was always the invention and idea of main member and singer Tesco Vee. Tesco Vee was born some time ago, like it matters anyway as Bob or Robert Vermuellen. He grew up or at least during his teenage years lived in Lansing MI. During his teen years, Tesco was a big fan of 70s rock and pre punk (ya know the originators Stooges, New York Dolls, MC5). Tesco published a small magazine called The Iguana during highschool after which he became an English major at Michigan State University. Some time during the late 70s rocker Tesco Vee became a big punk fan through Brittish bands like Throbbing Gristle and 999. One of his first 'zines was the 999 times based on the band. In '79 formed a sort of punk scene in the midwest at which point Tesco began publishing the Touch and Go fanzine, a harsh, politically incorrect magazine with lots of wit and rude comics. Tesco wrote of his band and others such as The Necros (from Maumee, Ohio), The McDonalds (Necros joke side band) Negative Approach (from Detroit 'burbs), The Fix, Violent Appathy (from Kalamazoo, MI) not to mention non midwestern bands such as Black Flag and Minor Threat.

Sooo, Tesco formed his own band. Bringing together Rich and Greg Ramsey, two obnoxiuos punks (Rich hocked loogies on obnoxious preppy girls). After Rich's stint in the Navy and even catering Frank Zappa's deli tray, he and his brother became some of the main wackiness behind the original meatmen. The name came from Tesco's old friend B.F. belched after eating meat, making him the meat man. Tesco's name? Bob V. saw a photo of U.K. punk band Throbbing Gristle hanging outside a dime store called Tesco, which was in the name was followed his spelled out initial. Tesco sang, Rich played bass, younger brother Greg played guitar and briefly Jim Forsey played drums. Forsey was quickly replaced by Eliot Rachtman. The group became big on the scene along with younger proteges, The Necros. In fact, Tesco was so close to the band, the members, about six or seven years younger than Tesco, considered him to be the older brother they never had. Granted all uppermiddle class, midwest bumpkins, they all had an obnoxious attitude and were encouraged by Tesco to do bad things and cause a reign of terror that Lansing still hasn't recovered from.