Buzzcocks

Punk band the Buzzcocks got its start in Manchester, England. The group is commonly associated with the Sex Pistols, with whom the band played on its first major tour. The band released its first three albums within one year, then the members decided to break up the band rather than cede control of their publishing schedule to a major label. The Buzzcocks later reformed, releasing several new albums over the following decades. The Buzzcocks has had many members through the years. Its most consistent member was the late Peter McNeish, also known as Pete Shelley (1955–2018). Other prominent members include Steve Garvey, Tony Barber, Phil Barter, and Howard Trafford. The Buzzcocks is considered an historically important punk band. Their work inspired generations of other musicians. Unlike many other punk rock musicians, the artists in the Buzzcocks achieved significant mainstream success with their first three albums.

Background

The Buzzcocks traces its origin to the Bolton Institute of Technology in Greater Manchester, England. Howard Trafford, then a student at the Bolton Institute, posted a notice searching for fellow musicians inspired by the Velvet Underground. He was quickly contacted by fellow student Peter McNeish, and the two began planning a band. In February 1976, the fledgling act officially became the Buzzcocks. McNeish took on the stage name Pete Shelley, and Trafford took on the stage name Howard Devoto.

The duo recruited bassist Garth Davies and drummer Mick Singleton. They played their first show on April 1, 1976, on their college campus. Though an extremely early iteration of the band, the gig was a success, and the group planned future shows together. In June 1976, the Buzzcocks intended to play a concert in Manchester alongside the famous punk band the Sex Pistols; however, immediately prior to the concert, Davies and Singleton dropped out of the band. While attending the show, McNeish and Devoto met bassist Steve Diggle, who quickly joined the band. Through personal advertisements, they later met drummer John Maher, who would replace Singleton.

In October 1976, the Buzzcocks recorded its first demo tape. However, that demo tape was never released. Later that year, the band joined the Sex Pistols on the famous Anarchy Tour. The fledgling punk rock band quickly made a name for itself and developed an early following. Following the tour, McNeish borrowed enough money from his father to record Spiral Scratch, the first Buzzcocks EP. Spiral Scratch was published by New Hormones, the band’s own independent record label. It quickly sold out of its initial print run of one thousand copies. Despite this success, following the release of Spiral Scratch, Trafford decided to leave the band to focus on finishing his college degree. McNeish then took over Trafford’s role as lead vocalist, Diggle moved from bass to guitar, and Davies rejoined the band as its bassist under the name Garth Smith.

Overview

The Buzzcocks continued performing and built a loyal following. The band soon began to attract the attention of major record labels and decided to sign with United Artists, who promised the artists that they would be allowed to retain their creative freedom. The Buzzcocks released its first single, “Orgasm Addict,” in October 1977. Though popular with the band’s fans, the track did not achieve widespread success because its explicit nature barred it from radio play. Soon after, bassist Davies was removed from the band and was replaced by Garvey. The band then released its first full-length album, entitled Another Music in a Different Kitchen, in March 1978.

Another Music in a Different Kitchen was an immediate hit, reaching the UK Top Thirty chart. It includes the hit single “I Don’t Mind,” as well as the popular tracks “Fast Cars” and “No Reply.” The album cemented the band’s place as one of the most successful punk bands of the era and helped popularize McNeish’s unique vocal style.

The Buzzcocks released its second album, Love Bites, in September 1978. The album was written and recorded in July and August of that year while the band was touring. Love Bites peaked at number thirteen on the UK Albums Chart, the highest out of any of the band’s albums. Some of its most popular tracks include “Just Lust” and “Nostalgia.” Over the coming decades, Love Bites would be regarded as one of the most important albums in the history of punk rock.

The band released its third album, A Different Kind of Tension, in September 1979. The album, which features the notable tracks “Paradise,” “Money,” and “I Believe,” peaked at number twenty-six on the UK Albums Chart. Some critics praised A Different Kind of Tension as the best of the Buzzcocks’s original trio of albums.

In 1980, United Artists was purchased by the much larger EMI record label. Whereas United Artists had honored its promise to grant the Buzzcocks full creative freedom, EMI did not. The label refused to advance the funds necessary for the Buzzcocks to record a fourth album unless the band agreed to follow EMI’s preferred release schedule. The band refused, choosing to break up rather than relinquish control of its works.

The band reformed in 1989, resumed touring, and released its fourth album, Trade Test Transmissions. The group said that the reunion would be permanent. In 1996 the band released All Set. Modern. The Buzzcocks continued touring and releasing albums under various lineups over the decades that followed. On December 6, 2018, McNeish died of a suspected heart attack. At the time of his passing, he was sixty-three years old. The remaining members of the Buzzcocks continued to tour and release new music, including the EP Senses Out of Control in April 2022. The band’s first full-length studio album without McNeish, Sonics in the Soul, was released in September 2022.

Bibliography

“Buzzcocks.” Last.fm, 6 Dec. 2018, www.last.fm/music/Buzzcocks/+wiki. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

Diggle, Steve. “Interview: Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks.” Interview by Mark Dean. Antihero Magazine, 24 Oct. 2022, www.antiheromagazine.com/interview-steve-diggle-of-buzzcocks/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2022.

Emery, Jonathon. “Buzzcocks—History, Members, Songs, and Fun Facts.” Reflexively Contrarian, 25 Sept. 2022, reflexivelycontrarian.com/buzzcocks-history-members-songs-fun-facts/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

Shelley, Pete, and Steve Diggle. “Buzzcocks.” Interview by Patrick Sisson. Pitchfork, 2009, pitchfork.com/features/interview/7583-buzzcocks/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

Stewart, Allison. “As Origin Stories Go, the Buzzcocks’ Is Brilliant.” Chicago Tribune, 2016, www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-buzzcocks-ott-0916-20160913-story.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

“Today in Music History: The Buzzcocks Played (or Tried to Play) Their Debut Gig.” The Current/Minnesota Public Radio, 2019, www.thecurrent.org/feature/2019/03/28/today-in-music-history-the-buzzcocks-played-or-tried-to-play-their-debut-gig. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.