That Petrol Emotion was formed in 1984 in Derry City , Ireland by ex-Undertones guitarist and chief songwriter Sean O’Neill with friend and fellow guitar player/DJ Reámann O'Gormain. Sean's brother Damian (who had also been in the 'Tones) then joined on bass along with fellow Derry born drummer Ciaran McLaughlin. American singer Steve Mackcompleted the line-up once they had relocated to London. Much of their music is guitar based, high-energy and melodic.

The band's sound evolved over the years from John Peel approved heavy indie rock on the albums Manic Pop Thrill and Babble, to melodic pop rock after Sean O'Neill's departure on the albums Chemicrazy and Fireproof, via dance and sample experimentation. Many believe that this diversity alienated people in the contemporary scene and so, That Petrol Emotion are considered very much before their time and pioneers for bands such as The Stone Roses, Oasis, Blur and Radiohead.

That Petrol Emotion were also renowned for a devastating live performance of tight musicianship and intense playing. They were described by Rolling Stone as "The Clash crossed with Creedence" but their influences range from The Beatles to Television to Wire to Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band to Can. They split in 1994, ironically just before the Brit Pop scene that they helped spearhead became massive.