Buzzcocks

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Buzzcocks


Img_size = 200px
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Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
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Died =
Origin = Manchester, England
Instrument =
Genre = Punk rock [ [http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/1407.cfm Buzzcocks Get Philosophical On New Album ] ]
Pop punk [ [http://punkmusic.about.com/od/artistprofiles/p/buzzcocksfinal.htm The Buzzcocks, Pop Punk Pioneers ] ] [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/buzzcocks/biography Buzzcocks: Biography : Rolling Stone ] ]
New Wave [ [http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/1407.cfm Buzzcocks Get Philosophical On New Album ] ] [ [http://www.phillyburbs.com/musicguide/buzzcocks.shtml phillyBurbs.com | The Must-Have Music Guide ] ] [ [http://www.cyberspike.com/clarke/reviews/nme-78.html John Cooper Clarke - New Musical Express Review 1978 Review ] ]
Occupation =
Years_active = 1975 - 1981,
1989 - present
Label = I.R.S. Records
Cooking Vinyl Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.buzzcocks.com/site/index.html www.buzzcocks.com]
Current_members = Pete Shelley
Steve Diggle
Tony Barber
Danny Farrant
Past_members = Phil Barker
Howard Devoto
Steve Garvey
Mike Joyce
John Maher
Garth Smith

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Manchester in 1975. They have been led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Pete Shelley for nearly their entire existence. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:rxkqikx6bb39~T1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Allmusic.com profile of Buzzcocks; URl accessed Jan 06, 2007] ]

They are commonly regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement and the punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock genres in general. [ [http://punkmusic.about.com/od/artistprofiles/p/buzzcocksfinal.htm The Buzzcocks, Pop Punk Pioneers ] ] They are primarily remembered for their singles, a string of would-be hits that combined a strong grasp of pop song craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on "Singles Going Steady", described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece" [ [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:diftxqw5ld6e allmusic ((( Singles Going Steady > Overview ))) ] ] The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" remains one of their best-known songs.

The name "Buzzcocks" partially comes from the Manchester slang term "cock" meaning "youngster", and its use in the 1970s ITV drama serial "Rock Follies" which included the catch phrases "that's the buzz, cocks" and "give me a buzz, cock!"Smith, Steve - "Bits and Pieces: the Penguin Book of Rock and Pop Facts and Trivia". (Penguin, 1988) ISBN 0-14-010743-6

Career

Early years

The band was formed in 1975 by guitarist/singer Pete Shelley (real name Peter McNeish) and singer Howard Devoto (real name Howard Trafford), both students at Bolton Institute of Technology (now the University of Bolton). They shared common interests in electronic music, the idiosyncratic work of British musician Brian Eno, and American protopunk groups like The Stooges. In late 1975, Shelley and Devoto recruited a drummer and formed an embryonic version of Buzzcocks that never performed and which dissolved after a number of rehearsals.

After reading an "NME" review of the Sex Pistols' first performance, Shelley and Devoto travelled to London together to see the Sex Pistols in February 1976. Shelley and Devoto were impressed by what they saw and arranged for the Sex Pistols to come and 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 other musicians in time for the gig. Once they had recruited bass guitarist Steve Diggle and drummer John Maher, they made their debut opening for the Sex Pistols' second Manchester concert in July 1976. A brief clip of Devoto-era Buzzcocks performing The Troggs "I Can't Control Myself" appears in the "Punk: Attitude" documentary directed by Don Letts. In September 1976 the band travelled to London to perform at the two-day 100 Club Punk Festival, organized by Malcolm McLaren. Other performers included: the Sex Pistols, Subway Sect, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Clash,
The Vibrators, The Damned and the French band Stinky Toys.

By the end of the year, Buzzcocks had recorded and released a four-track EP, "Spiral Scratch" on their own "New Hormones" label, making them one of the first punk groups to establish an independent record label trailing only The Saints's "(I'm) Stranded". Produced by Martin Hannett, the music was roughly recorded, insistently repetitive, and energetic. "Boredom" announced punk's rebellion against the status quo while templating a strident musical minimalism (the guitar solo consisting of two repeated notes). The demos recorded while Devoto was in the band were later issued officially as "Time's Up". Long available as a bootleg, this album includes the alternative takes of all the tracks from the "Spiral Scratch" EP as well as early version of tracks that later appeared on the official debut "Another Music in a Different Kitchen".

After a few months, Devoto left the group; he returned to school for a year, then formed Magazine. Pete Shelley continued as vocalist; his high-pitched, melodic singing stood in stark contrast to the gruff pub rock vocal stylings of many punk contemporaries. Diggle switched from bass to guitar, and Garth Smith joined on bass; Smith appeared on the band’s first Radio 1 Peel Session, in September 1977, but due to his alcoholism he was quickly replaced with Steve Garvey. This new line-up signed with United Artists Records.

igning to UAI

Their first UAI Buzzcocks single, "Orgasm Addict", was a playful examination of compulsive sexuality that was (and remains) uncommonly bold. The BBC refused to play the song, but the single sold well. Later, more ambiguous songs staked out a territory defined by Shelley's bisexuality and punk's aversion to serious examination of human sexuality. The next single, "What Do I Get?" reached the UK top 40 charts. "Lipstick", the B-side to "Promises," shared the same ascending progression of notes in its chorus as Magazine's first single, "Shot By Both Sides," also released in 1978.

Their original career consisted of three LPs: "Another Music in a Different Kitchen", "Love Bites", and "A Different Kind of Tension", each supported by extensive touring in Europe and the U.S. Their trademark sound was a marriage of catchy pop melodies with punk guitar energy, backed by an unusually tight and skilled rhythm section. They advanced drastically 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"). In 1980, Liberty Records signed the band, and three singles were released. However, only one of these, the double 'A' side "Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore/Are Everything" made the Top 75.

Breakup and reunions

After recording demos for a fourth album the group disbanded in 1981, when Shelley took up a solo career. Diggle formed the short-lived Flag of Convenience, who released an EP in 1982. Shelley and Devoto teamed up in 2002 for the first time since 1976, producing the album Buzzkunst, a play on the German word for 'Art'. The album was a mix of electronic music and punk.

John Maher now owns and runs John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance tuning workshop located on the Isle of Harris, Scotland. [ [http://www.johnmaherracing.co.uk/ John Maher Racing: VW Performance ] ] He has built and raced several Volkswagen Beetles. In 2005, Shelley re-recorded "Ever Fallen In Love" with an all-star group, including Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant and several contemporary bands, as a tribute to John Peel. Proceeds went to Amnesty International. Shelley also performed the song live, with Plant, Daltrey, Gilmour, Hook and Jeff Beck at the 2005 UK Music Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1577076,00.html "Music legends unite for Peel tribute single"] (The Guardian, 23 September 2005)]

Buzzcocks have reformed several times since 1989, featuring Shelley and Diggle with other musicians; initially with Maher and Garvey for a world tour, then briefly replacing Maher with Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. In 1993, Tony Barber joined on bass and Phil Barker on drums. This line-up toured on one of Nirvana's last-ever tours in 1994, and in 2003, toured with Pearl Jam. In April 2006, Barker left and was replaced by Danny Farrant. In March 2006, the band released their eighth studio album, "Flat-Pack Philosophy", on Cooking Vinyl Records, the supporting tour found them playing on a leg of the mid-2006 Vans Warped Tour.

They made an appearance for Maximo Park's homecoming gig in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 December 2007.

TV show title

Buzzcocks' name was combined with the title of the Sex Pistols' album "Never Mind The Bollocks" to create the title of the UK comedy panel game show "Never Mind The Buzzcocks". Diggle claimed in his autobiography that he and Shelley had only granted the BBC use of their name under the impression that it would be a one-off, probably unsuccessful pilot, and that they are now mildly disgruntled that the name is more readily associated with the TV series than with their band. [Diggle, S and Rawlings, T, "Harmony In My Head" (Helter Skelter, 2003, ISBN 1-900924-37-4 )] Shelley himself appeared on the programme in the mid 1990s.

Discography

Albums

* "Another Music in a Different Kitchen" (1978)
* "Love Bites" (1978)
* "A Different Kind of Tension" (1979)
* "The Peel Sessions Album" (1989)
* "Entertaining Friends" (1992) - live at the Hammersmith Odeon, March 1979
* "Live At The Roxy Club April ’77" (1993)
* "Trade Test Transmissions" (1993)
* "All Set" (1996)
* "Modern" (1999)
* "Buzzcocks" (2003)
* "Flat-Pack Philosophy" (2006)

Compilations

* "Singles Going Steady" (1980)
* "Product" (1989) - three-CD set containing "Another Music in a Different Kitchen", "Love Bites", "A Different Kind of Tension", "Singles Going Steady" and additional material.
* "Operator's Manual: Buzzcocks Best" (1991)
* "I Don't Mind The Buzzcocks" (1999)
* "Ever Fallen in Love? Buzzcocks Finest" (2002)
* "Inventory" (2003)
* "The Complete Singles Anthology" (2004)

ingles

; non-album singles:
* "Spiral Scratch EP" - 1976
* "Orgasm Addict" - (8 October 1977)
* "What Do I Get" - (3 February 1978) #37 UK; from "Another Music In A Different Kitchen":
* "I Don't Mind" - (14 April 1978) #55 UK; non-album single:
* "Love You More" - (30 June 1978) #34 UK; from "Love Bites":
* "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" - (8 September 1978) #12 UK; non-album singles:
* "Promises" - (17 November 1978) #20 UK
* "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" - (2 March 1979) #29 UK
* "Harmony in My Head" - (13 July 1979) #32 UK
* "Spiral Scratch EP" - (August 1979) #31 UK (Reissue); from "A Dirrerent Kind Of Tension":
* "You Say You Don't Love Me" - 1979
* "I Believe" - 1980; non-album singles:
* "Are Everything - Part 1" - 1980 #61 UK
* "Strange Thing - Part 2" - 1980
* "Running Free - Part 3" - 1980
* "Alive Tonight EP" - 1991; from "Trade Test Transmissions":
* "Innocent" - 1993
* "Do It" - 1993; non-album single:
* "Libertine Angel" - 1994; from "Buzzcocks":
* "Jerk" - 2003
* "Sick City Sometimes" - 2003; from "Flat-Pack Philosophy":
* "Wish I Never Loved You" - 2006
* "Sell You Everything" - 2006
* "Reconciliation" - 2007

Notes

External links

* [http://www.buzzcocks.com Official Buzzcocks website]
* [http://freespace.virgin.net/pete.shelley/contents.htm Buzzcocks and Pete Shelley Discography]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h86gtq9ztu4a~T1 Buzzcocks biography at allmusic.com]
* [http://www.johnmaherracing.co.uk/ John Maher's website]
* [http://punkmusic.about.com/od/artistprofiles/p/buzzcocksfinal.htm The Buzzcocks, Founders of Pop Punk]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/buzzcocks/biography Buzzcocks biography from "Rolling Stone"]
* [http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/1407.cfm Article about Buzzcocks from "Chart Attack"]
* [http://www.cyberspike.com/clarke/reviews/nme-78.html 1978 Buzcocks review from "NME"]