Manchester, UK · punk · power-pop

Buzzcocks

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Manchester punk that invented lovesick pop-punk two decades early — 'Ever Fallen in Love' and a singles run where every hook still lands perfect.

Buzzcocks formed in Manchester in 1976 after Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley saw the Sex Pistols play, and the pair went on to organise the Pistols' well-documented Manchester shows. Devoto and Shelley had originally intended to open one of those gigs themselves, but withdrew when other musicians pulled out; they recruited Steve Diggle and John Maher and made their live debut opening the Pistols' second Manchester date in July 1976.

Their Spiral Scratch EP, self-released in 1977, is often cited as an early landmark of independent record-making in Britain. Devoto left soon after to form Magazine, leaving Pete Shelley as the band's principal singer and songwriter.

The classic lineup of Shelley, Diggle, bassist Steve Garvey and drummer John Maher recorded the band's first three albums, pairing fast, buzzing guitars with short, hook-driven songs about infatuation and frustration. The band broke up in 1981 following a dispute with their record label, having built a run of singles later collected on the compilation Singles Going Steady.

Buzzcocks reformed in 1989 and released six further albums before Shelley's death in 2018, including four made between 1993 and 2006 with Shelley, Diggle, bassist Tony Barber and drummer Phil Barker. Since Shelley's death, guitarist Steve Diggle has led the band and taken over lead vocals, working with drummer Danny Farrant, bassist Chris Remington and touring guitarist Mani Perazzoli on the albums Sonics in the Soul and Attitude Adjustment.

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punkpower-pop