Background information
Origin	Manchester, England
Genre(s)	Punk rock[1] Power pop[2][3] Pop punk[4][5] New Wave[6][7][8]
Years active	1975 - 1981, 1989 - present
Label(s)	Cooking Vinyl Records
Website	www.buzzcocks.com
Members
Pete Shelley Steve Diggle Tony Barber Danny Farrant
Former 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, led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Pete Shelley for nearly their entire existence.^[9] Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game show with a pop and rock music theme, presented by Simon Amstell and produced by talkbackTHAMES for the BBC. It is usually aired on BBC Two. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Power pop is a long-standing musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop music. ... Pop punk is used for two separate subgenres of punk rock music: the kind typically found on Lookout! Records, which stray very little from the three-chord formula that The Ramones pioneered, as well as a newer subgenre of melodic, more emotional punk, which includes by bands like NOFX and... The New Wave was a movement in American, Australian and British popular music, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, growing out of the New York City musical scene centered around the club CBGB. The term itself is a source of much confusion. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. ... Pete Shelley Pete Shelley (born Peter McNeish, April 17, 1955 in Leigh, Lancashire) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks, one of the first generation punk rock groups from England. ... Steve Diggle (b. ... Tony Barber (born in England) is the current bassist in the British pop-punk band Buzzcocks. ... Danny Farrant (born in Weston-super-Mare, England) is the current drummer in the legendary British punk band Buzzcocks. ... Howard Devoto (born Howard Trafford 1955 in Manchester) is an English rock and roll singer/songwriter who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks, and who then formed several other groups, notably Magazine. ... Mike Joyce (born Michael Joyce on 1 June 1963) is a drummer from Fallowfield, Manchester, England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Pete Shelley Pete Shelley (born Peter McNeish, April 17, 1955 in Leigh, Lancashire) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks, one of the first generation punk rock groups from England. ...

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.^[10] 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"^[11] The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love?" remains one of their best-known songs. For Mancunians, the popular musical heritage of the city has always been a source of great pride. ... An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... Power pop is a long-standing musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop music. ... Pop punk is used for two separate subgenres of punk rock music: the kind typically found on Lookout! Records, which stray very little from the three-chord formula that The Ramones pioneered, as well as a newer subgenre of melodic, more emotional punk, which includes by bands like NOFX and... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... Singles Going Steady was the Buzzcocks 1979 compilation album featuring their UK single releases to date along with the corresponding B-sides. ... Ever Fallen In Love? (With Someone You Shouldnt Have) is a song written by Pete Shelley and performed by his group, Buzzcocks. ...

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!"^[12] Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... Rock Follies, and its sequel, Rock Follies of 77, was an innovative and groundbreaking comedy musical drama shown on British television in the mid 1970s. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ...

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 and The Velvet Underground. 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. Pete Shelley Pete Shelley (born Peter McNeish, April 17, 1955 in Leigh, Lancashire) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks, one of the first generation punk rock groups from England. ... Howard Devoto (born Howard Trafford 1955 in Manchester) is an English rock and roll singer/songwriter who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks, and who then formed several other groups, notably Magazine. ... The University of Bolton (formerly Bolton Institute of Higher Education) is a university in Bolton in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Electronic music (disambiguation). ... Brian Eno (pronounced ) (born Brian Peter George St. ... Protopunk is a term used to describe a number of performers who were important precursors of punk rock, or who have been cited by early punk rockers as influential. ... The Stooges are an American rock band that was first active from around 1967 to 1974, and then reformed in 2003. ... This article is about the rock band. ...

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 of 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. For other uses, see NME (disambiguation). ... The Sex Pistols were an iconic and highly influential English punk rock band, formed in London in 1975. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, was for many years a focal point for public debate and cultural activity in the city. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Steve Diggle (b. ... The Troggs were a successful English rock band of the 1960s, who had a number of hits in Britain and America, including their most famous song, Wild Thing. The Troggs were from the town of Andover in southern England. ... Don Letts is a British film director and musician. ... The 100 Club Punk Festival was a two day event held at the 100 Club, a (usually) jazz-oriented venue in Oxford Street, London, England on the 20th and 21st of September 1976. ... Malcolm McLaren (born Malcolm Robert Andrew Edwards, 22 January 1946, in London) is an English impresario, musician and self-publicist who is best known as being the manager of the punk rock band Sex Pistols. ... One of the original (and best) British punk bands, Subway Sects posthumous reputation has suffered because of their comparatively small output. ... Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band that formed in 1976. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Vibrators are a British punk rock band, formed in 1976. ... The Damned are an English punk rock and gothic rock band formed in London in 1976. ... The Stinky Toys were a Parisian rock band featuring Eli Medeiros, Herve Zenouda and Jacno, from 1979 to 1981. ...

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 perhaps the first punk group to establish an independent record label. 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. // Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single but are too short to qualify as albums. ... Spiral Scratch was a four-track EP by the punk rock band Buzzcocks, recorded in 1976 and released in January 1977. ... An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... Martin Hannett (May 31, 1948 – April 18, 1991), sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was an innovative record producer who helped develop Joy Division and co-founded Factory Records with Tony Wilson. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

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; due to Smith's alcoholism, he was quickly replaced with Steve Garvey. This new line-up signed with United Artists Records. Magazine were an English rock group active from 1977 to 1981. ... Revival of the Pub Rock Scene made popular by Dire Straits and Elvis Costello. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... United Artists Records was a record label founded by United Artists soon after its own founding in 1919 to distribute soundtracks from its movies. ...

Signing 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. For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... “Bisexual” redirects here. ... This article is about human sexual perceptions. ...

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. Another Music in a Different Kitchen was Buzzcocks first album, released in 1978 and includes the hit single I Dont Mind which reached No. ... Love Bites was Buzzcocks second album, released in 1978. ... A Different Kind of Tension was Buzzcocks third album, released in 1979. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Rhythm section refers to the musicians whose primary jobs in a jazz or popular music band or ensemble is to establish the rhythm of a song or musical piece, often via repeated riffs or ostinati. ... William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914) - August 2, 1997), more commonly known as William S. Burroughs (pronounced ), was an American novelist, essayist, social critic, painter and spoken word performer. ...

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. Buzzkunst is an album by former Buzzcocks members Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto under the name ShelleyDevoto. ...

John Maher now owns and runs John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance tuning workshop located on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.^[13] 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.^[14] Volkswagen AG (ISIN: DE0007664005), or VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. ... This article is about Harris in Scotland. ... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944) is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. ... David Jon Gilmour CBE (born March 6, 1946 in Cambridge) is an English musician best known as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter in the band Pink Floyd. ... Peter Hooky Hook (born February 13, 1956 in Salford, Lancashire) is an English bass player. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Robert Anthony Plant (born August 20, 1948, West Bromwich, West Midlands, England) is an English rock singer and songwriter, most famous for his membership in the rock band Led Zeppelin, but also for his successful solo career. ... “Peel Sessions” redirects here. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ... Geoffrey Arnold (Jeff) Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, Greater London) is an English rock guitarist. ... The UK Music Hall of Fame honours musicians for their lifetime fame in music. ...

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. The Smiths were an English rock band active from 1982 to 1987. ... Mike Joyce (born Michael Joyce on 1 June 1963) is a drummer from Fallowfield, Manchester, England. ... This article is about the American grunge band. ... This article is about the rock group. ... Danny Farrant (born in Weston-super-Mare, England) is the current drummer in the legendary British punk band Buzzcocks. ... Flat-Pack Philosophy is an album by Buzzcocks, released in 2006. ... Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. ... Warped Tour is a touring punk/ska music and extreme sports festival. ...

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 a 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.^[15]. Shelley himself appeared in the programme in the mid 1990s. The Sex Pistols were an iconic and highly influential English punk rock band, formed in London in 1975. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... The word comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humor with an intent to provoke laughter in general). ... A game show is a radio or television program, involving members of the public or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, playing a game, perhaps involving answering quiz questions, for points or prizes. ... Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game show with a pop and rock music theme, presented by Simon Amstell and produced by talkbackTHAMES for the BBC. It is usually aired on BBC Two. ... A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ...

Discography

Albums

• Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1978)
• Love Bites (1978)
• A Different Kind of Tension (1979)
• 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)
• Love It's A Thing (2007)

Another Music in a Different Kitchen was Buzzcocks first album, released in 1978 and includes the hit single I Dont Mind which reached No. ... Love Bites was Buzzcocks second album, released in 1978. ... A Different Kind of Tension was Buzzcocks third album, released in 1979. ... Trade Test Transmissions was Buzzcocks fourth album, released in 1993. ... All Set is the 5th studio album by punk rock band Buzzcocks. ... Modern is the 6th studio album by punk rock band Buzzcocks. ... Buzzcocks is the seventh studio album from the punk band Buzzcocks, released on 18th March 2003. ... Flat-Pack Philosophy is an album by Buzzcocks, released in 2006. ...

Compilations

• Singles Going Steady (1979)
• 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)

Singles Going Steady was the Buzzcocks 1979 compilation album featuring their UK single releases to date along with the corresponding B-sides. ... The Complete Singles Anthology is an anthology of singles released by the Buzzcocks during their original (1975-1981) and second (1989-present) incarnations. ...

Singles

Promotional poster for Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict" single.

• "Spiral Scratch EP" - 1976
• "Time's Up EP" - 1976
• "Orgasm Addict" - (7 October 1977)
• "What Do I Get" - (3 February 1978) #37 UK
• "I Don't Mind" - (14 April 1978) #55 UK
• "Love You More" - (30 June 1978) #34 UK
• "Ever Fallen in Love?" - (8 September 1978) #12 UK
• "Promises" - (17 November 1978) #20 UK
• "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" - (2 March 1979) #29 UK
• "Harmony in My Head" - (13 July 1979) #32 UK
• "Time's Up EP" - (August 1979) #31 UK (Reissue)
• "You Say You Don't Love Me" - 1979
• "I Believe" - 1980
• "Are Everything - Part 1" - 1980 #61 UK
• "Strange Thing - Part 2" - 1980
• "Running Free - Part 3" - 1980
• "Wish I Never Loved You" - 2006
• "Sell You Everything" - 2006
• "Reconciliation" - 2007

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (480x640, 39 KB)Edited from Buzzcocksorgasmaddict. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (480x640, 39 KB)Edited from Buzzcocksorgasmaddict. ... Spiral Scratch was a four-track EP by the punk rock band Buzzcocks, recorded in 1976 and released in January 1977. ... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Ever Fallen In Love? (With Someone You Shouldnt Have) is a song written by Pete Shelley and performed by his group, Buzzcocks. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Harmony in My Head is a song by the Buzzcocks. ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/1407.cfm
2. ^ http://starling.rinet.ru/music/temp/buzzcocks.html
3. ^ http://www.scaruffi.com/vol4/buzzcock.html
4. ^ http://punkmusic.about.com/od/artistprofiles/p/buzzcocksfinal.htm
5. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/buzzcocks/biography
6. ^ http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/1407.cfm
7. ^ http://www.phillyburbs.com/musicguide/buzzcocks.shtml
8. ^ http://www.cyberspike.com/clarke/reviews/nme-78.html
9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Allmusic.com profile of Buzzcocks; URl accessed Jan 06, 2007
10. ^ http://punkmusic.about.com/od/artistprofiles/p/buzzcocksfinal.htm
11. ^ http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:diftxqw5ld6e
12. ^ Smith, Steve - Bits and Pieces: the Penguin Book of Rock and Pop Facts and Trivia. (Penguin, 1988) ISBN 0-14-010743-6
13. ^ http://www.johnmaherracing.co.uk/
14. ^ "Music legends unite for Peel tribute single" (The Guardian, 23 September 2005)
15. ^ Diggle, S and Rawlings, T, Harmony In My Head (Helter Skelter, 2003, ISBN 1-900924-37-4 )

is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Official Buzzcocks Website
• Buzzcocks and Pete Shelley Discography
• Buzzcocks biography at allmusic.com
• John Maher's website
• The Buzzcocks, Founders of Pop Punk