MENSWEAR! – Matt Everitt of Britpop’s arch-blaggers on Camden capers and conning the music biz

The 1990s Britpop scene defined the rapid, chaotic rise of Menswear, a band formed through sheer charisma and style rather than long-standing musical collaboration. Without a traditional backstory or deep-rooted friendships, the members navigated a gullible music industry, securing major label deals and high-profile media coverage despite having minimal material. This accelerated success created a bubble of intense excitement that eventually burst as internal pressures, lack of emotional support, and the absence of a shared history took their toll. The band’s trajectory—from playing Top of the Pops before releasing a record to a swift, unceremonious decline—serves as a case study in the unsustainable intensity of the era. Ultimately, the experience left a lasting impact on the members, who transitioned into successful careers in music management and broadcasting, viewing their brief, meteoric fame as a unique, unrepeatable moment in cultural history.