Post by Fuggle on Jan 23, 2006 14:48:05 GMT -5
The Buzzcocks made Manchester a punk rock city
By Katherine A. Jurras Jan. 20, 2006
The Buzzcocks were formed by a group of teenage boys in Manchester, England in 1975, who had no way of knowing that they would one day be known as one of the most influential punk bands to emerge from Britain. Inspired by the then popular punk band the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks created a pop-inspired sound that was less angry and more accessible.
The Buzzcocks were formed by guitarist and former metal-band member Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto. The two met at a meeting of an electronic music society of which they were members. They also shared an interest in the Velvet Underground and formed a band with a drummer while they were still in college.
The band reformed after Shelley and Devoto went to see a live Sex Pistols concert in London and were extremely moved by the sound. Their goal in forming the Buzzcocks was to create a similar sensation in Manchester that the Sex Pistols had formed in London. At the concert they met Steve Diggle, a bass player, and later John Maher joined the band as a drummer.
Shelley and Devoto changed their names (originally Peter McNeish and Howard Traford) and chose the band name from a phrase in a magazine. By 1976, the Buzzcocks had played a few gigs, including opening for the Sex Pistols. In fact, later in the year they joined the Sex Pistols on their Anarchy tour. Within that year the Buzzcocks helped to establish Manchester as the second biggest punk rock city in the United Kingdom, after London.
After the Anarchy tour was over, the Buzzcocks borrowed money to help fund the cost of a self-recorded debut E.P., entitled "Spiral Scratch." In fact, they were the first band to self-release an album, and it started a kind of era for punk bands. Although the album was quite successful, Devoto left the band shortly after its release to return to college. This left Shelley as the band's lead vocalist. Devoto later went on to form a band called Magazine.
In 1997 United Artists Records offered the Buzzcocks a deal that would allow them total creative control of their work. Taking advantage of this freedom the band released a song called "Orgasm Addict." Although BBC radio refused to play the song due to its explicit content, it created enough of a buzz on its own to become somewhat popular. Steve Garvey joined the band for the release of its first chart-topping single, "What do I Get?" At the end of 1977, the Buzzcocks produced their first real album, "Another Music in a Different Kitchen." This album was followed shortly by a second, titled "Love Bites."
With success came stresses: the band members were drinking heavily and using drugs. Some of this stress was expressed with the release of the Buzzcocks' third album, "A Different Kind of Tension." The band went on a tour in the United States, which was unsuccessful, and returned home to their fans in Britain. Nevertheless, a singles album was released in the United States. Despite the band's popularity in England, the Buzzcocks never really caught on in the United States.
Because of the growing tensions caused by such a busy schedule, the band cut back on performances and focused more on recording. They released the E.P. "Parts 1, 2, 3," which they released in parts throughout 1980. It was in this year that the Buzzcocks began experiencing conflicts of interest with their record label. This conflict prevented the Buzzcocks from successfully releasing a fourth album in 1981, and instead of fighting the record label, the band members chose to split up.
Some of the members attempted solo efforts, and later with the addition of several new members, a new Buzzcocks was formed. In 1993, the new version of the band released "Trade Test Transmissions," which was followed by a tour. "All Set," was released a few years later, and then "Modern" would be the band's sixth album.
Although the Buzzcocks were much more popular in the United Kingdom, their popularity spread across several decades and the band was a huge influence for a range of bands, including American bands like Nirvana. A wildly popular band, the Buzzcocks played a huge role in music history.
By Katherine A. Jurras Jan. 20, 2006
The Buzzcocks were formed by a group of teenage boys in Manchester, England in 1975, who had no way of knowing that they would one day be known as one of the most influential punk bands to emerge from Britain. Inspired by the then popular punk band the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks created a pop-inspired sound that was less angry and more accessible.
The Buzzcocks were formed by guitarist and former metal-band member Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto. The two met at a meeting of an electronic music society of which they were members. They also shared an interest in the Velvet Underground and formed a band with a drummer while they were still in college.
The band reformed after Shelley and Devoto went to see a live Sex Pistols concert in London and were extremely moved by the sound. Their goal in forming the Buzzcocks was to create a similar sensation in Manchester that the Sex Pistols had formed in London. At the concert they met Steve Diggle, a bass player, and later John Maher joined the band as a drummer.
Shelley and Devoto changed their names (originally Peter McNeish and Howard Traford) and chose the band name from a phrase in a magazine. By 1976, the Buzzcocks had played a few gigs, including opening for the Sex Pistols. In fact, later in the year they joined the Sex Pistols on their Anarchy tour. Within that year the Buzzcocks helped to establish Manchester as the second biggest punk rock city in the United Kingdom, after London.
After the Anarchy tour was over, the Buzzcocks borrowed money to help fund the cost of a self-recorded debut E.P., entitled "Spiral Scratch." In fact, they were the first band to self-release an album, and it started a kind of era for punk bands. Although the album was quite successful, Devoto left the band shortly after its release to return to college. This left Shelley as the band's lead vocalist. Devoto later went on to form a band called Magazine.
In 1997 United Artists Records offered the Buzzcocks a deal that would allow them total creative control of their work. Taking advantage of this freedom the band released a song called "Orgasm Addict." Although BBC radio refused to play the song due to its explicit content, it created enough of a buzz on its own to become somewhat popular. Steve Garvey joined the band for the release of its first chart-topping single, "What do I Get?" At the end of 1977, the Buzzcocks produced their first real album, "Another Music in a Different Kitchen." This album was followed shortly by a second, titled "Love Bites."
With success came stresses: the band members were drinking heavily and using drugs. Some of this stress was expressed with the release of the Buzzcocks' third album, "A Different Kind of Tension." The band went on a tour in the United States, which was unsuccessful, and returned home to their fans in Britain. Nevertheless, a singles album was released in the United States. Despite the band's popularity in England, the Buzzcocks never really caught on in the United States.
Because of the growing tensions caused by such a busy schedule, the band cut back on performances and focused more on recording. They released the E.P. "Parts 1, 2, 3," which they released in parts throughout 1980. It was in this year that the Buzzcocks began experiencing conflicts of interest with their record label. This conflict prevented the Buzzcocks from successfully releasing a fourth album in 1981, and instead of fighting the record label, the band members chose to split up.
Some of the members attempted solo efforts, and later with the addition of several new members, a new Buzzcocks was formed. In 1993, the new version of the band released "Trade Test Transmissions," which was followed by a tour. "All Set," was released a few years later, and then "Modern" would be the band's sixth album.
Although the Buzzcocks were much more popular in the United Kingdom, their popularity spread across several decades and the band was a huge influence for a range of bands, including American bands like Nirvana. A wildly popular band, the Buzzcocks played a huge role in music history.