Buzzcocks | |
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.jpg) Buzzcocks in 2022 From left: Mani Perazzoli,Steve Diggle, Chris Remington andDanny Farrant (on drums). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Bolton,Greater Manchester, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Spinoffs | |
| Members | Steve Diggle Chris Remington Danny Farrant Mani Perazzoli (touring) |
| Past members | Pete Shelley Howard Devoto Garth Smith Mick Singleton John Maher Barry Adamson Steve Garvey Mike Joyce Tony Barber Phil Barker |
| Website | buzzcocks |
Buzzcocks are an Englishpunk rock band that singer-songwriter-guitaristPete Shelley and singer-songwriterHoward Devoto formed inManchester in 1976.[5] During their career, the band combined elements of punk rock,power pop,[6] andpop punk.[7] They achieved commercial success with singles that fuse pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy; these singles were later collected onSingles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album music journalist and critic Ned Raggett described as a "punk masterpiece".[8]
Devoto left the band in 1977 and formedMagazine, after which Pete Shelley became the principal singer-songwriter.[9] The classic lineup of Shelley,Steve Diggle (guitar),Steve Garvey (bass) andJohn Maher (drums) recorded Buzzcocks' first three albums, after which the band broke up in 1981 following a dispute with their record label. The band reunited in 1989 and released six more albums before Shelley's death in 2018.[10] Prolific members during that time includedTony Barber (bass) and Phil Barker (drums). The band has remained active, being anchored by long-time guitarist Diggle, who has since also assumed lead vocal duties. As of 2019, the band consists of Diggle,Danny Farrant (drums), Chris Remington (bass) and touring member Mani Perazzoli (guitar, backing vocals). This line-up released the band's tenth album,Sonics in the Soul in 2022.[11]
Howard Trafford, a student atBolton Institute of Technology who had been involved in electronic music, placed a notice in the college looking for musicians to playThe Velvet Underground's song "Sister Ray".[12][13] Fellow studentPeter McNeish, who had played in a rock band called Jets of Air, responded to the notice.[12][14]
By late 1975, Trafford and McNeish had recruited a drummer and formed an early version of what would become Buzzcocks. The band formed in February 1976; McNeish assumed the stage name Pete Shelley and Trafford named himself Howard Devoto.[15]
Devoto and Shelley chose the name "Buzzcocks" after reading the headline "It's the Buzz, Cock!" in a review of the television seriesRock Follies inTime Out magazine.[16] The "buzz" is the excitement of playing on stage and "cock" is northern English slang meaning "friend". They thought the name captured the excitement of the nascent punk scene and had humorous sexual connotations following Pete Shelley's time working in a Bolton adult shop.[17]
Buzzcocks performed live for the first time on 1 April 1976 at their college.Garth Davies played bass guitar and Mick Singleton, who also played in local band Black Cat Bone, played drums.[18]
After reading anNME review ofSex Pistols' first performance, in February 1976, Shelley and Devoto travelled toHigh Wycombe together to see Sex Pistols.[14] Shelley and Devoto were impressed by the show and arranged for Sex Pistols to perform at theLesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976. Buzzcocks intended to play at this concert but the other musicians dropped out, and Shelley and Devoto were unable to recruit replacements in time for the gig. Once they had recruited bass guitaristSteve Diggle and drummerJohn Maher, Buzzcocks made their debut opening for Sex Pistols' second Manchester concert on 20 July 1976 at the same venue.[14] A brief clip of Devoto-era Buzzcocks performingthe Troggs' "I Can't Control Myself" appears in the documentaryPunk: Attitude, which was directed byDon Letts. Buzzcocks made their London debut atThe Screen on the Green in support ofthe Clash and Sex Pistols, while the next month they played the two-day100 Club Punk Festival, which was organised byMalcolm McLaren, and would later replacethe Damned on the Anarchy in the UK Tour.[14][19]
In between these live performances, Buzzcocks began developing their own material and recorded an 11-track demo at Stockport Studios which was eventually released in 1991.[14] By the end of the year, Buzzcocks had recorded and released a four-trackEP calledSpiral Scratch, which they released on their own label New Hormones, making them one of the first punk groups to establish anindependent record label.[7] The EP was produced byMartin Hannett at Indigo Sound Studios; the music was roughly recorded, insistently repetitive and energetic.[20] The EP was re-released in September 1979 and reached number 31 in the charts.[14]
In March 1977, Devoto announced his departure from the band, expressing his dissatisfaction at the direction punk was taking in his statement: "I don't like movements. What was once unhealthily fresh is now a clean old hat".[21] He returned to college for a year then formed a band calledMagazine. Pete Shelley took on the vocal duties for Buzzcocks and moved away from social commentary to adolescent themes.[7] Steve Diggle switched from bass to guitar, and Garth Davies—also known as Garth Smith—rejoined Buzzcocks to play bass. The band joined The Clash as support on their White Riot tour.[14]
The new line-up signed withUnited Artists Records (UA) atElectric Circus, Manchester, on 16 August 1977, the dayElvis Presley died. The first UA Buzzcocks single "Orgasm Addict" was released in October 1977;[14] It was the start of a collaboration with producerMartin Rushent that would last until the end of the decade.[7] The band embarked on a headlining tour, during which Smith was found to be unreliable and was replaced withSteve Garvey.[14]
Buzzcocks' next single "What Do I Get?", which was released in February 1978, reached number 37 in the UK chart.[22] It was followed the next month by their debut albumAnother Music in a Different Kitchen, which reached number 15 in the chart.[14] In May, the band embarked on the Entertaining Friends tour while a third single "I Don't Mind" reached number 55 in the singles chart. In July, a fourth single "Love You More" reached number 34.[14] The band spent mid 1978 recording their second albumLove Bites, which reached number 13 in the chart. After a 26-date UK tour, Buzzcocks gained success as their single "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" reached number 12 in the UK chart in October 1978.[14] In December, the band released the single "Promises", which reached number 20 in the UK chart.[14] The single's B-side "Lipstick" shared the same ascending progression of notes in its chorus asMagazine's first single "Shot By Both Sides", which was released earlier that year.[7]
In 1979, Buzzcocks prepared for their first European tour while working on new material. In March, the band released the single "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", which reached number 29 in the chart. The tour that followed culminated atHammersmith Odeon; the concert was recorded and released in 1992 asEntertaining Friends.[14] in mid 1979, the band completed the recording of their third album while a second single "Harmony in my Head" reached number 32 in August. Prior to their first venture to the US,I.R.S. Records released the band's singles compilationSingles Going Steady there.[23]
The band's third albumA Different Kind of Tension was released the end of September 1979 and reached number 26 in the chart while the band completed a second UK tour.[14] The album's single "You Say You Don't Love Me" failed to chart.[24][25] A period of inactivity lasted until September 1980 when thedouble-A side "Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore/Are Everything" was released. It reached number 61 and was the band's last charting single.[14] Two further singles "Strange Thing" and "Running Free" failed to chart while the band embarked on a truncated UK tour.[14][26]
After recording demos for a fourth album, Buzzcocks disbanded in 1981; Shelley took up a solo career, and Diggle and Maher formedFlag of Convenience and released several singles between 1982 and 1989.[14] Garvey formedMotivation and joinedBlue Orchids, moving to New York shortly afterwards to continue with Motivation. Maher had joinedWah! by the time Buzzcocks broke up; as of 2012, he owned John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance-tuning workshop on theIsle of Harris, Scotland.[27]
Between 1988 and 1989, EMI re-released much of Buzzcocks' back catalogue on Compact Disc (CD), as well as aPeel Sessions album and a box set calledProduct.[14] This prompted the band to reform with the original line-up for a world tour. Maher was briefly replaced withThe Smiths drummerMike Joyce. In 1991, Buzzcocks released new material on the four-track EPAlive Tonight.[14] In the US, interest in the band increased after I.R.S. Records released the compilation albumOperator's Manual: Buzzcocks Best.[23] It was followed two years later by the fourth studio albumTrade Test Transmissions.[28]
In 1992, bassistTony Barber and drummer Phil Barker joined Buzzcocks; this line-up toured withNirvana in 1994, one of Nirvana's last tours.[29] In 1996, Buzzcocks released the live albumFrench, which was recorded in Paris the previous year.[7] Also in 1996, the band's fifth studio albumAll Set was released. Buzzcocks continued to tour and in September 1999, they released the albumModern.[30]
In 2000,Mute Records released the 1976 demos that were recorded while Devoto was in the band asTime's Up, which had long been available as a bootleg. This album includes alternative takes of all the tracks from the EPSpiral Scratch and early versions of tracks that later appeared onAnother Music in a Different Kitchen.[31]
in 2002, Shelley and Devoto collaborated for the first time since 1976, producing the albumBuzzkunst,Kunst being the German word for 'Art'. The album is a mix of electronic music and punk.[29] Buzzcocks toured as support forPearl Jam in 2003 and released their seventh, self-titled studio album.[32]
In 2005, as a tribute toBBC Radio 1 disc jockeyJohn Peel, Shelley re-recorded "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" with a group includingRoger Daltrey,David Gilmour,Peter Hook,Elton John,Robert Plant and several contemporaneous bands. Proceeds from the single were donated toAmnesty International.[33] Shelley also performed the song live with Plant, Daltrey, Gilmour, Hook andJeff Beck at the 2005UK Music Hall of Fame.[34]
In April 2006, Barker left Buzzcocks and was replaced withDanny Farrant. In March 2006, the band released their eighth studio albumFlat-Pack Philosophy onCooking Vinyl Records.[35] On the supporting tour, Buzzcocks played on a leg of the mid-2006Vans Warped Tour and made an appearance atMaxïmo Park's homecoming gig inNewcastle upon Tyne on 15 December 2007. In April 2008, Barber left the band and was replaced with Chris Remington.
In January 2009, Buzzcocks embarked on a UK and European tour, the "Another Bites Tour", in which they played their first two albums in full, as well as an encore of their other hits.[36]
In the same year, Buzzcocks played in Serbia for the second time at the EXIT festival inNovi Sad. Their song "Why Can't I Touch It" was played in the second episode of the sixth season of the television seriesEntourage. On 9 November 2009, Buzzcocks gave a performance on a small balcony overlooking Dame Street, Dublin, for the viral music showBalconyTV.[37]
In December 2009, the band played as the main support act forThe Courteeners.[38] In August 2011, they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival inBedfordshire.[39]
On 25 May 2012 in Manchester at theO2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at theO2 Academy, Buzzcocks performed with the original line-up, including Devoto.[29] On 26 May 2012, the band announced for the first time they would headline Thursday night atEmpress Ballroom at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, performing withRancid,Public Image Limited andSocial Distortion.[40]
On 1 May 2014, Buzzcocks released the albumThe Way viaPledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014, they played "a brief but triumphant set" atRiot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, US.[41] In October 2014, they toured the UK for three weeks withThe Dollyrots as main support.[citation needed]
In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour "Buzzcocks 40".[citation needed] In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of theTelltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.[citation needed]
Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018 from a suspected heart attack at his home inTallinn, Estonia.[10]
In June 2019, Buzzcocks performed with several guest vocalists as a tribute to Shelley. The concert had been planned before his death.[42] Steve Diggle said that Buzzcocks would continue, with the post-Shelley Buzzcocks being a 'new era'.[43]Sonics in the Soul, the band's first album without Shelley, was released in September 2022.[44] It featured Diggle on all vocals, and included a tribute to Shelley in the form of the track "You've Changed Everything Now".
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Buzzcocks are apunk rock band that exhibit "crisp melodies", "driving guitars" and "biting lyrics". According to Mark Deming ofAllMusic, that instead of drawing on political lyrical themes, the band "brought an intense, brilliant vigor to the three-minute pop song, powered by Shelley's alternately funny and anguished lyrics aboutadolescence and love, backed by melodies and hooks that were concise and memorable."[45] Buzzcocks' distinctive sound combines catchy pop melodies with punk guitar energy, backed by an unusually tight and skilled rhythm section. They grew in musical and lyrical sophistication; by the end, they were quoting American writerWilliam S. Burroughs' "A Different Kind of Tension", declaiming their catechism in the anthem "I Believe", and tuning in to a fantasy radio station on which their songs could be heard ("Radio Nine").[citation needed]
Buzzcocks have had a significant impact on American punk,hardcore, andalternative rock acts, being cited as an influence byDead Kennedys guitaristEast Bay Ray,[46]Parquet Courts,[47]Hüsker Dü,[48]Superchunk,[49] andDag Nasty.[50]
Buzzcocks' name was combined with the title of Sex Pistols' albumNever Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols to create the title of the long-running UK comedy television panel game showNever Mind the Buzzcocks. Diggle said in his autobiography he and Shelley only granted theBBC use of their name under the impression it would be a one-off, probably unsuccessful, pilot, and that they are now mildly disgruntled the name is more readily associated in Britain with the series than with their band.[51] Shelley appeared on the programme in 2000, when hostMark Lamarr introduced Shelley by saying without Buzzcocks "there'd be no Smiths or Radiohead, and this show would be calledNever MindJoan Armatrading ".[52]
Mark Deming ofAllMusic called Buzzcocks "one of the best, most influential punk bands of all time".[53]
Current
Touring
Former
Timeline
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)On top of the social impact, Buzzcocks' wiry pop toned punk influenced new genres like power pop and even emo, which shares similar soaring riffs and emotional lyrics.
Everyone's always surprised by my influences," [Ray] laughs. "I really was into The Buzzcocks and The Ramones andThe Undertones.
I feel like we wear our influences on our sleeve. In,Light Up Gold I hearRamones, Black Flag, Buzzcocks, The Fall,Guided By Voices,Tyvek… I think a lot of people in the indie world assume we listen to a lot of currentindie rock bands, but we really don't.
The Buzzcocks were a big influence on us.
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| International | |
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| Other | |
