Buzzcocks

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

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

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]

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]

  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. ^ 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. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc_shelley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Blistein, Jon (14 February 2020). "Buzzcocks Unveil First New Music Since Death Of Pete Shelley". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 May 2023.