Mensi of Angelic Upstarts, Rest in Power!

We lost a giant. This is from a friend of one of the most important icons in not only the antifascist world, but the music world as well. Thomas “Mensi” Mensforth will be missed!

Pat Boyle

Thomas “Mensi” Mensforth vocalist of the Angelic Upstarts passes away December 10^th 2021 at the age of 65 from battle with Covid-19.

If one man dedicated his life to fighting injustice, Thomas “Mensi” Mensforth was that man. He wore his heart on his sleeve like no other. Hailing from the working-class town of South Shields, England, Mensi established the Angelic Upstarts in 1977 during the height of the UK punk movement. The Angelics signed to Warner Brothers Records and recorded two albums before moving to EMI Records for two more releases. They were involved with Rock Against Racism before directly supporting militant anti-fascist groups. Mensi didn’t just sing about fighting fascism; he wagged war in the trenches and the streets. 

No stranger to confrontation with fascists, Mensi once told me how he bumped into Ian Stuart of Skrewdriver, and Ian invited him to the 100 Club. Uncertain about attending the gig, Mensi heard whispers the newly revamped version of the band took a right-wing turn. Trepedatiosly, Mensi and some friends went down to check them out, they walked in, and there were a bunch of punters with German War helmets on and sporting SS and National Front regalia. “Fuck this!” he spat and left. 

Mensi always embraced an anti-nazi zero-tolerance stand till his final days. He used the Angelic Upstarts platform to promote his fight against the far right. I was lucky enough to get to know him, and I always told him no matter what, I had his back.

My first introduction to the Angelics was “Last Tango In Moscow,” and I eagerly hunted more of their albums. I first saw the Angelic Upstarts perform at a newspaper benefit in London in 2000 with Red London and Steve Drewett of the Newtown Neurotics. Mensi was direct and to the point with no filter. If he called you out, you were on his shit list, and you were a “cunt”. He cared not only about his family and himself, but the everyday person, the working class, and always stood up to the oppressors, whoever they may be. 

Mensi gave a voice to the voiceless; this included Liddle Towers. Towers was an electrician and amateur boxing coach from Chester-le-Street, England, who died in police custody in 1976. Two years later, the Angelic Upstarts released their first single, “The Murder of Little Towers,” backed with the B-side, “Police Oppression.” The record is a one-two punch that grabs the listener by the throat and names names. A violent breathless rollercoaster ride with no artistic subtleties or interpretation needed, the narrative takes you on a journey. For 4 minutes and 40 seconds, you experience flashes of what Liddle Towers might’ve felt that faithful day. One spin and you knew where the band stood. The name Little Towers seared into your brain. The characters have changed, but the single remains as timely in 2021 as in the late 1970s. As a result, police targeted Mensi for the rest of his days because of the controversy caused by this release. 

Mensi kept the Upstarts alive throughout the years and was the only original member till the end. With a revamped lineup of members of Red Alert, he released a fantastic comeback album on Captain Oi! Records titled “Sons of Sparticus” in 2002 featured the track “Anti Nazi” that became a staple in the live set till the end.  In 2015 he released the album “Bullingdon Bastards,” which is probably my favorite album to date with the new edition of Neil “Newts” Newtown on guitar, breathing new life into the band. 

Tom Mensforth was a genuine warrior who fought for justice, equality, and the ordinary person. To say we lost a great musician is an insult; Mensi was so much more than that. He was a spokesman for a generation and a genuinely incredible human being. Rest in peace, brother. I’m forever grateful for our relationship over the last ten years and your friendship. You were my idol, my mentor, my friend. RIP Comrade.