Wikipedia

Buzzcocks

For the TV panel show, see Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band that singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto formed in Manchester in 1976.[5]During their career, the band combined elements of punk rock, power pop,[6] and pop punk.[7] They achieved commercial success with singles that fuse pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy; these singles were later collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album music journalist and critic Ned Raggett described as a "punk masterpiece".[8]

Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks in 2022
From left: Marco Perazzoli, Steve Diggle, Chris Remington and Danny Farrant (on drums).
Background information
OriginBolton, Greater Manchester, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1976–1981
  • 1989–present
Labels
Spinoffs
MembersSteve Diggle
Chris Remington
Danny Farrant
Mani Perazzoli (touring)
Past membersPete Shelley
Howard Devoto
Garth Smith
Mick Singleton
John Maher
Barry Adamson
Steve Garvey
Mike Joyce
Tony Barber
Phil Barker
Websitebuzzcocks.com

Devoto left the band in 1977 and formed Magazine, after which Pete Shelley became the principal singer-songwriter.[9] The classic lineup of Shelley, Steve Diggle (guitar), Steve Garvey (bass) and John 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 included Tony 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]

Career

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Early years

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Howard Trafford, a student at Bolton Institute of Technology who had been involved in electronic music, placed a notice in the college looking for musicians to play The Velvet Underground's song "Sister Ray".[12][13] Fellow student Peter 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 series Rock Follies in Time 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 an NME review of Sex Pistols' first performance, in February 1976, Shelley and Devoto travelled to High Wycombe together to see Sex Pistols.[14] Shelley and Devoto were impressed by the show and arranged for Sex Pistols to perform at the Lesser 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 guitarist Steve Diggle and drummer John 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 performing the Troggs' "I Can't Control Myself" appears in the documentary Punk: Attitude, which was directed by Don Letts. Buzzcocks made their London debut at The Screen on the Green in support of the Clash and Sex Pistols, while the next month they played the two-day 100 Club Punk Festival, which was organised by Malcolm McLaren, and would later replace the 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-track EP called Spiral Scratch, which they released on their own label New Hormones, making them one of the first punk groups to establish an independent record label.[7] The EP was produced by Martin 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 called Magazine. 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]

Mainstream success

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The new line-up signed with United Artists Records (UA) at Electric Circus, Manchester, on 16 August 1977, the day Elvis Presley died. The first UA Buzzcocks single "Orgasm Addict" was released in October 1977;[14] It was the start of a collaboration with producer Martin 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 with Steve 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 album Another 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 album Love 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 as Magazine'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 at Hammersmith Odeon; the concert was recorded and released in 1992 as Entertaining 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 compilation Singles Going Steady there.[23]

The band's third album A 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 the double-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]

Break-up and reunion

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After recording demos for a fourth album, Buzzcocks disbanded in 1981; Shelley took up a solo career, and Diggle and Maher formed Flag of Convenience and released several singles between 1982 and 1989.[14] Garvey formed Motivation and joined Blue Orchids, moving to New York shortly afterwards to continue with Motivation. Maher had joined Wah! by the time Buzzcocks broke up; as of 2012, he owned John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance-tuning workshop on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.[27]

Between 1988 and 1989, EMI re-released much of Buzzcocks' back catalogue on Compact Disc (CD), as well as a Peel Sessions album and a box set called Product.[14] This prompted the band to reform with the original line-up for a world tour. Maher was briefly replaced with The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. In 1991, Buzzcocks released new material on the four-track EP Alive Tonight.[14] In the US, interest in the band increased after I.R.S. Records released the compilation album Operator's Manual: Buzzcocks Best.[23] It was followed two years later by the fourth studio album Trade Test Transmissions.[28]

In 1992, bassist Tony Barber and drummer Phil Barker joined Buzzcocks; this line-up toured with Nirvana in 1994, one of Nirvana's last tours.[29] In 1996, Buzzcocks released the live album French, which was recorded in Paris the previous year.[7] Also in 1996, the band's fifth studio album All Set was released. Buzcocks continued to tour and in September 1999, they released the album Modern.[30]

In 2000, Mute Records released the 1976 demos that were recorded while Devoto was in the band as Time's Up, which had long been available as a bootleg. This album includes alternative takes of all the tracks from the EP Spiral Scratch and early versions of tracks that later appeared on Another Music in a Different Kitchen.[31]

21st century

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Buzzcocks performing in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006

in 2002, Shelley and Devoto collaborated for the first time since 1976, producing the album Buzzkunst, Kunst being the German word for 'Art'. The album is a mix of electronic music and punk.[29] Buzzcocks toured as support for Pearl Jam in 2003 and released their seventh, self-titled studio album.[32]

In 2005, as a tribute to BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel, Shelley re-recorded "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" with a group including Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant and several contemporaneous bands. Proceeds from the single were donated to Amnesty International.[33] Shelley also performed the song live with Plant, Daltrey, Gilmour, Hook and Jeff Beck at the 2005 UK Music Hall of Fame.[34]

In April 2006, Barker left Buzzcocks and was replaced with Danny Farrant. In March 2006, the band released their eighth studio album Flat-Pack Philosophy on Cooking Vinyl Records.[35] On the supporting tour, Buzzcocks played on a leg of the mid-2006 Vans Warped Tour and made an appearance at Maxïmo Park's homecoming gig in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 December 2007. In April 2008, Barber left the band and was replaced with Chris Remington.

 
Left to right: Steve Diggle, Pete Shelley, Danny Farrant and Chris Remington, performing live at Hellfest 2013.

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 in Novi Sad. Their song "Why Can't I Touch It" was played in the second episode of the sixth season of the television series Entourage. On 9 November 2009, Buzzcocks gave a performance on a small balcony overlooking Dame Street, Dublin, for the viral music show BalconyTV.[37]

In December 2009, the band played as the main support act for The Courteeners.[38] In August 2011, they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.[citation needed]

On 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 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 at Empress Ballroom at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, performing with Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.[39]

On 1 May 2014, Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014, they played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, US.[40] In October 2014, they toured the UK for three weeks with The 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 the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.[citation needed]

Shelley's death and aftermath

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Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018 from a suspected heart attack at his home in Tallinn, Estonia.[10]

In June 2019, Buzzcocks performed with several guest vocalists as a tribute to Shelley. The concert had been planned before his death.[41] Steve Diggle said that Buzzcocks would continue, with the post-Shelley Buzzcocks being a 'new era'.[42] Sonics in the Soul, the band's first album without Shelley, was released in September 2022.[43] It featured Diggle on all vocals, and included a tribute to Shelley in the form of the track "You've Changed Everything Now".

Style

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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 writer William 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").

Legacy

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Buzzcocks have had a significant impact on American punk, hardcore, and alternative rock acts, being cited as an influence by Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray,[44] Hüsker Dü,[45] Superchunk,[46] and Dag Nasty.[47]

Buzzcocks' name was combined with the title of Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols to create the title of the long-running UK comedy television panel game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Diggle said in his autobiography he and Shelley only granted the BBC 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.[48] Shelley appeared on the programme in 2000, when host Mark Lamarr introduced Shelley by saying without Buzzcocks "there'd be no Smiths or Radiohead, and this show would be called Never Mind Joan Armatrading ".[49]

Band members

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Band photo, at the Cropredy Festival, 13 August 2009

Current

  • Steve Diggle – vocals, guitar (1977–1981, 1989–present); bass (1976–1977)
  • Danny Farrant – drums (2006–present)
  • Chris Remington – bass (2008–present)

Touring

  • Mani Perazzoli - guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)[50]

Former

Timeline

Discography

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Main article: Buzzcocks discography

Studio albums

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Buzzcocks – Biography & History – AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ "A Different Kind of Tension". Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ "Time to mind the Buzzcocks – they're back!". Independent.co.uk. 10 March 2006.
  4. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (25 January 2019). "Buzzcocks, "Another Music in a Different Kitchen" / "Love Bites" [Reissues]". Flood. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ Diggle, Steve (2024). Autonomy. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 78–78. ISBN 978-1-9158-4108-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ Laban, Linda (8 February 2010). "Buzzcocks Reissue First Three Albums". Spinner. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013. 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Lauk, Len (1996). "Buzzcocks". In Buckley, Jonathan (ed.). Rock - The Rough Guide (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 129–130.
  8. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Singles Going Steady – Buzzcocks : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Buzzcocks Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley dies at 63". Bbc.com. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  11. ^ Blistein, Jon (14 February 2020). "Buzzcocks Unveil First New Music Since Death Of Pete Shelley". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b Aidan O'Rourke (12 August 2005). "Event Review: An Evening with Buzzcocks". Urbis Manchester. Archived from the original on 31 October 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  13. ^ "Pitchfork: Buzzcocks interview". Pitchfork Media. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Crampton, Luke; Rees, Dafydd (1996). The Q Book of Punk Legends. Enfield, UK: Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 32–37.
  15. ^ Some sources claim the surname came from a "bus driver in Cambridge" mentioned by a philosophy tutor at Bolton (e.g. Dave Wilson, 2004, Rock Formations: Categorical Answers to how Band Names Were Formed, San Jose:, Cidermill Books, pp. 38–9). Other accounts link it to US novelist Bernard DeVoto. (See, for example, Adrian Room, 2010, Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed., Jefferson, North Carolina/London, McFarland & Company, pp. 38, 144.)
  16. ^ Nicholds, Andrew (1976). ""It's The Buzz, Cock!"". Time Out (310, 20-26 February 1976): 11.
  17. ^ Gimarc, George (2005). Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970–1982. Backbeat Books. p. 27. ISBN 0-87930-848-6.
  18. ^ "Discography". Buzzcocks.com. 24 February 2004. Archived from the original (TXT) on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  19. ^ Welch, Jon (3 December 2016). "Sex Pistols: Anarchy in the UK and the tour they tried to ban". BBC News. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  20. ^ Ogg, Alex, Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch Album Review, retrieved 18 September 2023
  21. ^ "Howard Devoto on why it's the right time for a Magazine reunion". the Guardian. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  22. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Buzzcocks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  23. ^ a b Coleman, Mark (1992). DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone album guide: completely new reviews, every essential album, every essential artist (3rd ed.). London: Virgin. pp. 100–1001. ISBN 978-0-86369-643-5.
  24. ^ "Buzzcocks You Say You Don't Love Me. Vintage Advert 1979 (ref AD14086)". The Nostalgia Shop. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  25. ^ Shelley, Pete; Shelley, Louie (10 June 2021). Ever Fallen in Love: The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes. Octopus. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-78840-289-7.
  26. ^ Savage, Jon (17 February 2011). England's Dreaming. Faber & Faber. p. 435. ISBN 978-0-571-26119-2.
  27. ^ "John Maher Racing". Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  28. ^ Stegall, Tim (March 1996). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly: 34. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  29. ^ a b c Bryans, Chris (2012). "Buzzcocks". In Roberts, David (ed.). Rock Chronicles: A Visual History of the Greatest 250 Rock Acts (1st ed.). London: Quintessence. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-84566-498-5.
  30. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, "Buzzcocks - Modern Album Review", allmusic.com, retrieved 24 September 2023
  31. ^ Deming, Mark, "Buzzcocks - Time's Up Album Review", Allmusic.com, retrieved 18 September 2023
  32. ^ Demming, Marc, "Buzzcocks - Buzzcocks Album Review", allmusic.com, retrieved 24 September 2023
  33. ^ Dickson, Andrew; agencies (23 September 2005). "Music legends unite for Peel tribute single". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media.
  34. ^ Andrew, Dickson (23 September 2005). "Music legends unite for Peel tribute single". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  35. ^ Raposa, David (14 March 2006). "Buzzcocks: Flat-Pack Philosophy". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Live Dates". Buzzcocks.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  37. ^ "BUZZCOCKS – Video Archive – BALCONYTV – Over 20 million video views – Music with a View". Balconytv.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. ^ Stokes, Paul (2 September 2009). "The Courteeners announce massive Manchester homecoming gig". NME. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Announcement of Back To Front tour". Ents24.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  40. ^ McGartland, Tony (25 May 2017). "1997–2017". Buzzcocks: The Complete History. John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78606-520-9.
  41. ^ McMahon, James (22 June 2019). "Buzzcocks at Royal Albert Hall: a holy celebration of music, memories and Pete Shelley". NME. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  42. ^ "STEVE DIGGLE (BUZZCOCKS) - interview by Peek-A-Boo magazine". www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Buzzcocks Announce New Album 'Sonics In The Soul'". Clash. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  44. ^ Tauber, Dani (18 June 2014). "An Interview with The Dead Kennedys: The Great American Rip-Off". The Aquarian Weekly. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024. Everyone's always surprised by my influences," [Ray] laughs. "I really was into The Buzzcocks and The Ramones and The Undertones.
  45. ^ Woods, Austin (April 2004). "GREG NORTON - On Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade and his new band Ultrabomb". Perfect Sound Forever. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024. The Buzzcocks were a big influence on us.
  46. ^ Panetta, Giovanni (20 January 2022). "Mac McCaughan, Superchunk, New Springtime Sounds: "The bands that clearly influenced our early records – Buzzcocks, Hüsker Dü, etc – were also bands that were known for catchy, great pop songs with loud guitars"". iye zine. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  47. ^ "Dag Nasty". Fear and Loathing Fanzine. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  48. ^ Diggle, S.; Rawlings, T. (2003). Harmony in My Head. Helter Skelter. ISBN 1-900924-37-4.
  49. ^ "Obituary: Pete Shelley, influential songwriter who brought melody to punk rock". The Scotsman. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  50. ^ Press - Buzzcocks. Buzzcocks. November 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
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