Originally called the Sherbert Monsters, the quartet first formed in the spring of 1985 in Wolverhampton, in the English Midlands Black Country. Group members Dave Newton and Tony Linehan were the principal songwriters for the group. Their sound can best be described as neo-psychedelia in the vein of Echo & the Bunnymen played with a ringing Rickenbacker as the lead instrument which allowed them to transcend, and not merely imitate, the work of their influences. They were very popular on the College radio circuit and were the soundtrack for many students lives in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In December of 1985 the quartet, now officially The Mighty Lemon Drops, released their first single, Like an Angel, which shot to the top of the UK Indie charts. They also recorded a session for John Peel around the same time. They soon landed a major recording contract when Chrysalis Records signed the group for UK distribution.

Derek Jarman produced the video for the polished Out of Hand EP in 1987 which was followed by their hit Inside Out in 1988. They were eventually dropped by Chrysalis after three albums (Happy Head, World Without End and Laughter) when failing to repeat their initial independent success. During the sessions for Laughter, Linehan left the band being replaced by Marcus Williams.

Releasing a further two albums (Sound... and Ricochet) before finally breaking up in 1992. Three further posthumous album releases followed (All the Way Live in Cincinnati, Rollercoaster: The Best of the Mighty Lemon Drops and Young Gifted And Black Country) and at the end of 2000 the band played a one-off comeback gig.