This industrial, electronic, experimental music act was started by John Stephen Corrigan (aka Jack Dangers) and Jonny Stephens, in 1987 in Swindon, United Kingdom. Jack Dangers has led the group and been the only permanent member, collaborating with other members along the way.

Meat Beat Manifesto's earlier work is widely credited with influencing trip-hop, drum & bass, and big beat. Their tracks, Radio Babylon in particular, have been widely sampled, including by artists such as The Prodigy, Goldie, Aphex Twin, and The Chemical Brothers.

Meat Beat Manifesto worked with Consolidated and The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy to pioneer the early '90s industrial hip-hop sound.