Ex-rock band who tuned into world of business

The answer to this strange question can be found in a former Victorian mansion on a tree-lined avenue in West Leeds. It is here that a group of hi-tech studios is home to Mezzo Films, which is no longer one of the youngest but still one of the coolest of West Yorkshire businesses.

Many firms claim to have their own culture, but at Mezzo it's easier to believe. A diverse choice of niche businesses – motion graphics division Peco, pop video specialist Poison Pen Films and media composer Spike – are grouped together under the Mezzo brand, which grew out of a "moderately successful" pop band, East of Java.

"We basically had a good time at somebody else's expense," said Mike Scott of his previous life, before he set up the business with his brother, Philip, and Mark Platts. "It was a question of getting a music career or getting a real job."

All the staff seem laid back but are as passionate and informed about their oeuvre, whether it's making promos for bands, adverts or in-house films for major British businesses or the soundtrack to the documentary, The Rise and Fall of Tony Blair.

Today, Mezzo is a dynamic business which, after a 2,000 start-up grant from the Prince's Youth Business Trust, will turn over between 2m and 2.5m this year.

"We have grown organically," Mr Scott said. "For a number of years we had the specialisms and they were all housed in the one brand of Mezzo and that was confusing for clients who just wanted images or music. We found we were sending out mixed messages. It was a bit of a spaghetti junction of a business."

While the business has grown, however, it has not been easy. Tragically, Philip died after falling from a ladder. Mike and Mark were determined to keep the Headingley business going, however, and, three years ago it expanded into the neighbouring coach house.

Clients like Leeds-based Asda have been working with Mezzo Films, a media content production company, for more than two decades and the group has since added the likes of Direct Holidays, Ikea, adidas and Intermarketing, for whom it made a video to be used on fans' tours of Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge ground.

Its work with Asda has grown and now Mezzo has a presence in 105 of the chain's stores, making a "content loop" for branches with a focus on technology as well as other short pieces, for the supermarket's in-house DVD and game charts, showing clips from that week's releases.

When it comes to eye-catching work, however, Asda – as much as Mezzo is glad to have its business – is well below the radar. The same cannot be said of The Rev, the former Prodigy guitarist, who works for Poison Pen.

"Rev is the front end and salesman," said Mr Scott. "He will go and knock on doors of record companies to try to get the video promo work."

The Rev – known to his family as Paul James – uses his music industry expertise and range of contacts to pick up business in London.

So far, the music production company, Pen, has worked with artists including The Charlatans, Graham Coxon, Nitin Sawhney, The Pigeon Detectives as well as In Case of Fire, whose hit, The Cleansing, shot in Leeds, and Fightstar's The English Way, both went on to become number one video on MTV2.

"It is really good for us to get that interest and recognition," said Natasha Arciniega, a producer.

"That was a massive thing for us because we are just a little Leeds company rather than London bigwigs – but there we were on MTV.

"We are a corporate company and do a lot of stuff for blue-chips but the music industry is culturally different."

Now the imprint is trying to move into other media. Poison Pen TV, which was started several weeks ago – with a higher-profile launch planned for later in the summer – will run interviews with local bands or acts who are visiting the area, along with clips from their gigs.

"There is a big music scene in Leeds which is relatively untapped. Doing the job we do, you get to know the bands and have an insight," Natasha said.

"Fans really react to that type of content – going backstage at a gig is what they want to do."

The service could also be a huge marketing tool for Poison Pen, which is currently better known in London than in Leeds, she added.

That could be about to change, however. Poison Pen's popular music video work, as well as the success of the whole group through good times and bad, means that Mezzo could achieve what East of Java never did, and become the name on everybody's lips.

How it all began

East of Java featured Mark Platts, Philip Scott and Philip's younger brother, Mike. The group signed to RCA records in 1984 and put out three singles before changing their name to The Big Music.

After three years, however, RCA let the band go so the trio enrolled on the Government's Enterprise Allowance Scheme as an alternative to joining the dole queue.

They later got a 2,000 start-up grant from the Prince's Youth Business Trust and founded Musicforce.

The first year was spent making music for corporate videos and events, and they started to try producing music for radio commercials. They also wrote songs for Sooty.

Part of their tiny studio in Leeds included a small sound booth for recording singers, and some clients saw the potential for using the booth to record voice-overs.