The KLEASMOS were thus born, soon being joined by drummer Tom .
As the band found its sound, an unusual dynamic formed as Merv and Tom would
both play drums. Tom would move to bass, Mike would front while singing, and
Merv would pound the skins. Later, Tom left the band and Merv assumed all the
drumming duties. 
From this band many others would spin-off, some with Ange and Jer pairing up, some with others, but many with a direct lineage to this early '80s college punk rock band. Some of these future bands included ATTIC TRAGEDY, 2 WIDE 4 LIPPS, SOLE PATCH, DINK, and FULL WAVE RECTIFIER. The band blended political and social content with cynicism and humor in its lyrics , and sounded as raw and unrefined as you'd expect from a bunch of partying college guys, spouting off through the sound of punk.
The band released one self-made cassette in 1985. Titled Ray's Head, this cassette consisted of tracks that were recorded at the Frottage House on College St. during practices, at JB's down, and at the Kent State University Music Listening Center. It was at these student center performances that the band began to build a reputation for irreverent political and social stances, mocking and
poking
fun at university officials to the point of being "banned" from playing
on campus. In response, the band once changed their name in order to play on
campus, playing under the moniker Punk Rock Credit Cards. Inspired by such bands as the Minutemen, Black Flag, Husker Du, Ramones, and Captain Beefheart, to name a few, the Kleasmos started the path for a host of local Kent, Ohio bands in the years to follow.
