Buzzcocks

Howard Trafford, a student at Bolton Institute of Technology who had been involved in electronic music, placed a notice in the college looking for musicians to play The Velvet Underground's song "Sister Ray".{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7583-buzzcocks/ |title=Pitchfork: Buzzcocks interview |date=29 January 2009 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |access-date=15 April 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313020230/http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7583-buzzcocks/ |archive-date=13 March 2009 }} Fellow student Peter McNeish, who had played in a rock band called Jets of Air, responded to the notice.{{cite web |author=Aidan O'Rourke |url=http://www.aidan.co.uk/article_urbis_buzzcocks.htm |title=Event Review: An Evening with Buzzcocks |date=12 August 2005 |publisher=Urbis Manchester |access-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051031010125/http://www.aidan.co.uk/article_urbis_buzzcocks.htm |archive-date=31 October 2005 }}

By late 1975, Trafford and McNeish had recruited a drummer and formed an early version of what would become Buzzcocks. The band formed in February 1976; McNeish assumed the stage name Pete Shelley and Trafford named himself Howard Devoto.Some sources claim the surname came from a "bus driver in Cambridge" mentioned by a philosophy tutor at Bolton (e.g. Dave Wilson, 2004, Rock Formations: Categorical Answers to how Band Names Were Formed, San Jose:, Cidermill Books, pp. 38–9). Other accounts link it to US novelist Bernard DeVoto. (See, for example, Adrian Room, 2010, Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed., Jefferson, North Carolina/London, McFarland & Company, pp. 38, 144.)

Devoto and Shelley chose the name "Buzzcocks" after reading the headline "It's the Buzz, Cock!" in a review of the television series Rock Follies in Time Out magazine.{{cite journal |last1=Nicholds |first1=Andrew |title="It's The Buzz, Cock!" |journal=Time Out |date=1976 |issue=310, 20-26 February 1976 |page=11}} The "buzz" is the excitement of playing on stage and "cock" is northern English slang meaning "friend". They thought the name captured the excitement of the nascent punk scene and had humorous sexual connotations following Pete Shelley's time working in a Bolton adult shop.{{cite book |last=Gimarc |first=George |year=2005 |title=Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970–1982 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0-87930-848-6 |page=27}}

Buzzcocks performed live for the first time on 1 April 1976 at their college. Garth Davies played bass guitar and Mick Singleton, who also played in local band Black Cat Bone, played drums.{{cite web |title=Discography |url=http://www.buzzcocks.com/buzzcocksdiscography.txt |website=Buzzcocks.com |format=TXT |date=24 February 2004 |access-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905082535/http://www.buzzcocks.com/buzzcocksdiscography.txt |archive-date=5 September 2009 }}

After reading an NME review of The Sex Pistols' first performance, in February 1976, Shelley and Devoto travelled to High Wycombe together to see the band.{{cite book |last1=Crampton |first1=Luke |title=The Q Book of Punk Legends |last2=Rees |first2=Dafydd |publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd |year=1996 |location=Enfield, UK |pages=32–37}} Shelley and Devoto were impressed by the show and arranged for The Sex Pistols to 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 replacements in time for the gig. Once they had recruited bass guitarist Steve Diggle and drummer John Maher, Buzzcocks made their debut opening for The Sex Pistols' second Manchester concert on 20 July 1976 at the same venue. A brief clip of Devoto-era Buzzcocks performing the Troggs' "I Can't Control Myself" appears in the documentary Punk: Attitude, which was directed by Don Letts. Buzzcocks made their London debut at The Screen on the Green in support of The Clash and The Sex Pistols, while the next month they played the two-day 100 Club Punk Festival, which was organised by Malcolm McLaren, and would later replace the Damned on the Anarchy in the UK Tour.{{Cite news |last=Welch |first=Jon |date=2016-12-03 |title=Sex Pistols: Anarchy in the UK and the tour they tried to ban |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-38165091 |access-date=2023-09-17}}

In between these live performances, Buzzcocks began developing their own material and recorded an 11-track demo at Stockport Studios which was eventually released in 1991. By the end of the year, Buzzcocks had recorded and released a four-track EP called Spiral Scratch, which they released on their own label New Hormones, making them one of the first punk groups to establish an independent record label. The EP was produced by Martin Hannett at Indigo Sound Studios; the music was roughly recorded, insistently repetitive and energetic.{{Citation |last=Ogg |first=Alex |title=Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch Album Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spiral-scratch-mw0000605723 |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en}} The EP was re-released in September 1979 and reached number 31 in the charts.

In March 1977, Devoto announced his departure from the band, expressing his dissatisfaction at the direction punk was taking in his statement: "I don't like movements. What was once unhealthily fresh is now a clean old hat".{{Cite web |date=2008-12-12 |title=Howard Devoto on why it's the right time for a Magazine reunion |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/12/magazine-howard-devoto |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} He returned to college for a year then formed a band called Magazine. Pete Shelley took on the vocal duties for Buzzcocks and moved away from social commentary to adolescent themes. Steve Diggle switched from bass to guitar, and Garth Davies—also known as Garth Smith—rejoined Buzzcocks to play bass. The band joined The Clash as support on their White Riot tour.

The new line-up signed with United Artists Records (UA) at Electric Circus, Manchester, on 16 August 1977, the day Elvis Presley died. The first UA Buzzcocks single "Orgasm Addict" was released in October 1977; It was the start of a collaboration with producer Martin Rushent that would last until the end of the decade. The band embarked on a headlining tour, during which Smith was found to be unreliable and was replaced with Steve Garvey.

Buzzcocks' next single "What Do I Get?", which was released in February 1978, reached number 37 in the UK chart.{{cite web |url = https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title = The Official Charts Company – Buzzcocks |publisher = Official Charts Company |access-date = 31 July 2009 |df = dmy-all}} It was followed the next month by their debut album Another Music in a Different Kitchen, which reached number 15 in the chart. In May, the band embarked on the Entertaining Friends tour while a third single "I Don't Mind" reached number 55 in the singles chart. In July, a fourth single "Love You More" reached number 34. The band spent mid 1978 recording their second album Love Bites, which reached number 13 in the chart. After a 26-date UK tour, Buzzcocks gained success as their single "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" reached number 12 in the UK chart in October 1978. In December, the band released the single "Promises", which reached number 20 in the UK chart. The single's B-side "Lipstick" shared the same ascending progression of notes in its chorus as Magazine's first single "Shot By Both Sides", which was released earlier that year.

In 1979, Buzzcocks prepared for their first European tour while working on new material. In March, the band released the single "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", which reached number 29 in the chart. The tour that followed culminated at Hammersmith Odeon; the concert was recorded and released in 1992 as Entertaining Friends. in mid 1979, the band completed the recording of their third album while a second single "Harmony in my Head" reached number 32 in August. Prior to their first venture to the US, I.R.S. Records released the band's singles compilation Singles Going Steady there.{{Cite book |last=Coleman |first=Mark |title=The Rolling Stone album guide: completely new reviews, every essential album, every essential artist |publisher=Virgin |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-86369-643-5 |editor-last=DeCurtis |editor-first=Anthony |edition=3rd |location=London |pages=100–1001 |editor-last2=Henke |editor-first2=James |editor-last3=George-Warren |editor-first3=Holly}}

The band's third album A Different Kind of Tension was released the end of September 1979 and reached number 26 in the chart while the band completed a second UK tour. The album's single "You Say You Don't Love Me" failed to chart.{{Cite web |title=Buzzcocks You Say You Don't Love Me. Vintage Advert 1979 (ref AD14086) |url=https://www.thenostalgiashop.co.uk/products/buzzcocks-you-say-you-dont-love-me-vintage-advert-1979-ref-ad14086 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=The Nostalgia Shop |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Shelley |first1=Pete |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ozD9DwAAQBAJ&dq=Buzzcocks+you+say+you+don't+love+me+1979&pg=PT228 |title=Ever Fallen in Love: The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes |last2=Shelley |first2=Louie |date=2021-06-10 |publisher=Octopus |isbn=978-1-78840-289-7 |pages=225 |language=en}} A period of inactivity lasted until September 1980 when the double-A side "Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore/Are Everything" was released. It reached number 61 and was the band's last charting single. Two further singles "Strange Thing" and "Running Free" failed to chart while the band embarked on a truncated UK tour.{{Cite book |last=Savage |first=Jon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xNbgOXwwWhQC&dq=buzzcocks+strange+thing+1980&pg=PT435 |title=England's Dreaming |date=2011-02-17 |publisher=Faber & Faber |isbn=978-0-571-26119-2 |pages=435 |language=en}}

After recording demos for a fourth album, Buzzcocks disbanded in 1981; Shelley took up a solo career, and Diggle and Maher formed Flag of Convenience and released several singles between 1982 and 1989. Garvey formed Motivation and joined Blue Orchids, moving to New York shortly afterwards to continue with Motivation. Maher had joined Wah! by the time Buzzcocks broke up; as of 2012, he owned John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance-tuning workshop on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.{{cite web |title=John Maher Racing |url=http://www.johnmaherracing.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430102003/http://www.johnmaherracing.co.uk/ |archive-date=30 April 2012 |access-date=12 November 2023}}

Between 1988 and 1989, EMI re-released much of Buzzcocks' back catalogue on Compact Disc (CD), as well as a Peel Sessions album and a box set called Product. This prompted the band to reform with the original line-up for a world tour. Maher was briefly replaced with The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. In 1991, Buzzcocks released new material on the four-track EP Alive Tonight. In the US, interest in the band increased after I.R.S. Records released the compilation album Operator's Manual: Buzzcocks Best. It was followed two years later by the fourth studio album Trade Test Transmissions.{{cite journal |last=Stegall |first=Tim |date=March 1996 |title=Reviews |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ywEAAAAMBAJ&q=buzzcocks+%22trade+test+transmissions%22+review&pg=RA1-PA34 |journal=CMJ New Music Monthly |page=34 |accessdate=1 January 2015}}

In 1992, bassist Tony Barber and drummer Phil Barker joined Buzzcocks; this line-up toured with Nirvana in 1994, one of Nirvana's last tours. In 1996, Buzzcocks released the live album French, which was recorded in Paris the previous year. Also in 1996, the band's fifth studio album All Set was released. Buzzcocks continued to tour and in September 1999, they released the album Modern.{{Citation |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=Buzzcocks - Modern Album Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-mw0000247542 |work=allmusic.com |access-date=2023-09-24 |language=en}}

In 2000, Mute Records released the 1976 demos that were recorded while Devoto was in the band as Time's Up, which had long been available as a bootleg. This album includes alternative takes of all the tracks from the EP Spiral Scratch and early versions of tracks that later appeared on Another Music in a Different Kitchen.{{Citation |last=Deming |first=Mark |title=Buzzcocks - Time's Up Album Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/times-up-mw0000057355 |work=Allmusic.com |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en}}

File:Buzzcocks in Porto Alegre, Brasil.jpg, Brazil, 2006]]

in 2002, Shelley and Devoto collaborated for the first time since 1976, producing the album Buzzkunst, Kunst being the German word for 'Art'. The album is a mix of electronic music and punk.{{Cite book |last=Bryans |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y2-CMAEACAAJ |title=Rock Chronicles: A Visual History of the Greatest 250 Rock Acts |publisher=Quintessence |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84566-498-5 |editor-last=Roberts |editor-first=David |edition=1st |location=London |pages=90–91 |language=en |chapter=Buzzcocks}} Buzzcocks toured as support for Pearl Jam in 2003 and released their seventh, self-titled studio album.{{Citation |last=Demming |first=Marc |title=Buzzcocks - Buzzcocks Album Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/buzzcocks-mw0000593646 |work=allmusic.com |access-date=2023-09-24 |language=en}}

In 2005, as a tribute to BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel, Shelley re-recorded "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" with a group including Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant and several contemporaneous bands. Proceeds from the single were donated to Amnesty International.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/arts/news/story/0,11711,1577076,00.html|title=Music legends unite for Peel tribute single|work=guardian.co.uk|date=23 September 2005|last1=Dickson|first1=Andrew|last2=agencies|location=London|publisher=Guardian News and Media}} Shelley also performed the song live with Plant, Daltrey, Gilmour, Hook and Jeff Beck at the 2005 UK Music Hall of Fame.{{cite news |last1=Andrew |first1=Dickson |title=Music legends unite for Peel tribute single |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/sep/23/johnpeel.popandrock |access-date=14 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=23 September 2005 |language=en}}

In April 2006, Barker left Buzzcocks and was replaced with Danny Farrant. In March 2006, the band released their eighth studio album Flat-Pack Philosophy on Cooking Vinyl Records.{{Cite web |last=Raposa |first=David |date=14 March 2006 |title=Buzzcocks: Flat-Pack Philosophy |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1053-flat-pack-philosophy/ |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} On the supporting tour, Buzzcocks played on a leg of the mid-2006 Vans Warped Tour and made an appearance at Maxïmo Park's homecoming gig in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 December 2007. In April 2008, Barber left the band and was replaced with Chris Remington.

File:W0809-Hellfest2013 Buzzcocks 71306.JPG, Pete Shelley, Danny Farrant and Chris Remington, performing live at Hellfest 2013.]]

In January 2009, Buzzcocks embarked on a UK and European tour, the "Another Bites Tour", in which they played their first two albums in full, as well as an encore of their other hits.{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzcocks.com/site/livedates.html |title=Live Dates |website=Buzzcocks.com |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708110139/http://www.buzzcocks.com/site/livedates.html |archive-date=8 July 2011 }}

In the same year, Buzzcocks played in Serbia for the second time at the EXIT festival in Novi Sad. Their song "Why Can't I Touch It" was played in the second episode of the sixth season of the television series Entourage. On 9 November 2009, Buzzcocks gave a performance on a small balcony overlooking Dame Street, Dublin, for the viral music show BalconyTV.{{cite web |url=http://www.balconytv.com/v/buzzcocks--2 |title=BUZZCOCKS – Video Archive – BALCONYTV – Over 20 million video views – Music with a View |website=Balconytv.com |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028023558/http://www.balconytv.com/v/buzzcocks--2 |archive-date=28 October 2010 }}

In December 2009, the band played as the main support act for The Courteeners.{{Cite web |last=Stokes |first=Paul |date=2009-09-02 |title=The Courteeners announce massive Manchester homecoming gig |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-courteeners-86-1313542 |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} In August 2011, they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.{{Cite web |title=Buzzcocks – The Vogue |url=https://thevogue.com/artists/buzzcocks/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |language=en}}

On 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy, Buzzcocks performed with the original line-up, including Devoto. On 26 May 2012, the band announced for the first time they would headline Thursday night at Empress Ballroom at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, performing with Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.{{cite web|url=http://www.ents24.com/web/news/Buzzcocks_are_back_00178165.html|title=Announcement of Back To Front tour|website=Ents24.com|access-date=29 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203040129/http://www.ents24.com/web/news/Buzzcocks_are_back_00178165.html|archive-date=3 December 2011}}

On 1 May 2014, Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014, they played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, US.{{cite book| first=Tony| last= McGartland| title= Buzzcocks: The Complete History| chapter= 1997–2017| chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LKGpDgAAQBAJ&q=%22Buzzcocks+played+a+brief+but+triumphant+set%22&pg=PT189

| publisher= John Blake Publishing Ltd.| date=25 May 2017| isbn= 978-1-78606-520-9 }} In October 2014, they toured the UK for three weeks with The Dollyrots as main support.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour "Buzzcocks 40".{{cn|date=November 2023}} In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018 from a suspected heart attack at his home in Tallinn, Estonia.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46476369|title=Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley dies at 63|date=6 December 2018|access-date=6 December 2018|website=Bbc.com}}

In June 2019, Buzzcocks performed with several guest vocalists as a tribute to Shelley. The concert had been planned before his death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/buzzcocks-at-royal-albert-hall-a-holy-celebration-of-music-memories-and-pete-shelley|title=Buzzcocks at Royal Albert Hall: a holy celebration of music, memories and Pete Shelley|last=McMahon|first=James|website=NME|date=22 June 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-21}} Steve Diggle said that Buzzcocks would continue, with the post-Shelley Buzzcocks being a 'new era'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/steve-diggle-buzzcocks-2019/|title=STEVE DIGGLE (BUZZCOCKS) - interview by Peek-A-Boo magazine|website=www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21}} Sonics in the Soul, the band's first album without Shelley, was released in September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/buzzcocks-announce-new-album-sonics-in-the-soul/|title=Buzzcocks Announce New Album 'Sonics In The Soul'|work=Clash|date=31 May 2022|access-date=20 July 2022}} It featured Diggle on all vocals, and included a tribute to Shelley in the form of the track "You've Changed Everything Now".

{{Refimprove section|date=November 2023}}

Buzzcocks are a punk rock band that exhibit "crisp melodies", "driving guitars" and "biting lyrics". According to Mark Deming of AllMusic, that instead of drawing on political lyrical themes, the band "brought an intense, brilliant vigor to the three-minute pop song, powered by Shelley's alternately funny and anguished lyrics about adolescence and love, backed by melodies and hooks that were concise and memorable."{{Cite web |title=Buzzcocks Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}}... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buzzcocks-mn0000629564#biography |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} Buzzcocks' distinctive sound combines catchy pop melodies with punk guitar energy, backed by an unusually tight and skilled rhythm section. They grew 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").{{Cn|date=November 2024}}

Buzzcocks have had a significant impact on American punk, hardcore, and indie rock acts, being cited as an influence by Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray,{{Cite web |last=Tauber |first=Dani |date=June 18, 2014 |title=An Interview with The Dead Kennedys: The Great American Rip-Off |url=https://www.theaquarian.com/2014/06/18/an-interview-with-the-dead-kennedys-the-great-american-rip-off/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923032319/https://www.theaquarian.com/2014/06/18/an-interview-with-the-dead-kennedys-the-great-american-rip-off/ |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2024 |website=The Aquarian Weekly |quote="Everyone’s always surprised by my influences," [Ray] laughs. "I really was into The Buzzcocks and The Ramones and The Undertones."}} Parquet Courts,{{Cite web |last=Noyd |first=John |date=May 2013 |title=An Interview with Parquet Courts Lead Singer Andrew Savage |url=https://www.maximumink.com/index.php/articles/permalink/parquet_courts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522212222/https://www.maximumink.com/index.php/articles/permalink/parquet_courts |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Max Ink |quote=I feel like we wear our influences on our sleeve. In, Light Up Gold I hear Ramones, Black Flag, Buzzcocks, The Fall, Guided By Voices, Tyvek… I think a lot of people in the indie world assume we listen to a lot of current indie rock bands, but we really don’t.}} Hüsker Dü,{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Austin |date=April 2004 |title=GREG NORTON - On Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade and his new band Ultrabomb |url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/huskerdugregnorton.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528174615/https://www.furious.com/perfect/huskerdugregnorton.html |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=Perfect Sound Forever |quote=The Buzzcocks were a big influence on us.}} Superchunk,{{Cite web |last=Panetta |first=Giovanni |date=January 20, 2022 |title=Mac McCaughan, Superchunk, New Springtime Sounds: "The bands that clearly influenced our early records – Buzzcocks, Hüsker Dü, etc – were also bands that were known for catchy, great pop songs with loud guitars" |url=https://www.iyezine.com/en/mac-mccaughan-superchunk-new-springtime-sounds |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508024334/https://www.iyezine.com/en/mac-mccaughan-superchunk-new-springtime-sounds |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=iye zine}} and Dag Nasty.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2023 |title=Dag Nasty |url=http://www.fearandloathingfanzine.com/dag-nasty.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528220856/http://www.fearandloathingfanzine.com/dag-nasty.html |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Fear and Loathing Fanzine |quote=The Buzzcocks and The Clash were also big influences. We loved the bands with high energy.}} The Smiths' Johnny Marr has stated that Buzzcocks influenced them "massively in the way we approached our record sleeves and our choice of independent record company – because of the Buzzcocks we took on a Mancunian DIY ethic."{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=John |date=June 16, 2015 |title=Rubber Rings: Johnny Marr's Favourite Albums – 9. Buzzcocks – Another Music In A Different Kitchen |url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/johnny-marr-favourite-albums-interview/10/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910072713/https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/johnny-marr-favourite-albums-interview/10/ |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |access-date=April 11, 2025 |website=The Quietus}}

Buzzcocks' name was combined with the title of Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols to create the title of the long-running UK comedy television panel game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Diggle said in his autobiography he and Shelley only granted the BBC use of their name under the impression it would be a one-off, probably unsuccessful, pilot, and that they are now mildly disgruntled the name is more readily associated in Britain with the series than with their band.{{cite book |last1=Diggle |first1=S. |last2=Rawlings |first2=T. |title=Harmony in My Head |publisher=Helter Skelter |year=2003 |isbn=1-900924-37-4}} Shelley appeared on the programme in 2000, when host Mark Lamarr introduced Shelley by saying without Buzzcocks "there'd be no Smiths or Radiohead, and this show would be called Never Mind Joan Armatrading{{sp}}".{{Cite web |title=Obituary: Pete Shelley, influential songwriter who brought melody to punk rock |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituary-pete-shelley-influential-songwriter-who-brought-melody-punk-rock-1425523 |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=The Scotsman}}

Mark Deming of AllMusic called Buzzcocks "one of the best, most influential punk bands of all time".{{Cite web |title=Buzzcocks Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}}... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buzzcocks-mn0000629564#biography |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

File:The band photo of the Buzzcocks.jpg, 13 August 2009]]

Current

• Steve Diggle – vocals, guitar (1977–1981, 1989–present); bass (1976–1977)
• Danny Farrant – drums (2006–present)
• Chris Remington – bass (2008–present)

Touring

• Mani Perazzoli – guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)[https://www.buzzcocks.com/press Press – Buzzcocks]. Buzzcocks. November 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

Former

• Pete Shelley – vocals, guitar (1976–1981, 1989–2018; died 2018)
• Howard Devoto – lead vocals (1976–1977, 2012)
• Garth Smith – bass (1976, 1977)
• Mick Singleton – drums (1976)
• John Maher – drums (1976–1981, 1989, 1992, 2012)
• Barry Adamson – bass (1977)
• Steve Garvey – bass (1977–1981, 1989–1992, 2012)
• Mike Joyce – drums (1990–1991)
• Steve Gibson – drums (1992)
• Tony Barber – bass (1992–2008)
• Phil Barker – drums (1992–2006)

Timeline

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id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:album value:black legend:Studio_album

id:bars value:gray(0.95)

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ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1976

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color:album

at:03/10/1978

at:09/22/1978

at:09/01/1979

at:06/02/1993

at:05/14/1996

at:09/07/1999

at:02/18/2003

at:03/07/2006

at:05/01/2014

at:09/23/2022

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bar:Shelley text:"Pete Shelley"

bar:Smith text:"Garth Smith"

bar:Diggle text:"Steve Diggle"

bar:Anderson text:"Barry Adamson"

bar:Garvey text:"Steve Garvey"

bar:Barber text:"Tony Barber"

bar:Remmington text:"Chris Remmington"

bar:Singleton text:"Mick Singleton"

bar:Maher text:"John Maher"

bar:Joyce text:"Mike Joyce"

bar:Gibson text:"Steve Gibson"

bar:Barker text:"Phil Barker"

bar:Farrant text:"Danny Farrant"

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bar:Devoto from:01/01/1976 till:02/01/1977 color:Vocals

bar:Devoto from:05/25/2012 till:05/26/2012 color:Vocals

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bar:Shelley from:05/25/2012 till:05/26/2012 color:Guitar

bar:Shelley from:05/26/2012 till:12/06/2018 color:Vocals

bar:Shelley from:05/26/2012 till:12/06/2018 color:Guitar width:3

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bar:Garvey from:05/25/2012 till:05/26/2012 color:Bass

bar:Barber from:09/01/1992 till:04/01/2008 color:Bass

bar:Remmington from:04/01/2008 till:end color:Bass

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bar:Maher from:07/20/1976 till:03/06/1981 color:Drums

bar:Maher from:01/01/1989 till:12/31/1989 color:Drums

bar:Maher from:05/25/2012 till:05/26/2012 color:Drums

bar:Joyce from:01/01/1990 till:12/31/1991 color:Drums

bar:Maher from:01/01/1992 till:06/15/1992 color:Drums

bar:Gibson from:06/15/1992 till:09/01/1992 color:Drums

bar:Barker from:09/01/1992 till:04/11/2006 color:Drums

bar:Farrant from:04/11/2006 till:end color:Drums

}}

{{Main|Buzzcocks discography}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1978)
• Love Bites (1978)
• A Different Kind of Tension (1979)
• Time's Up (1991)
• Trade Test Transmissions (1993)
• All Set (1996)
• Modern (1999)
• Buzzcocks (2003)
• Flat-Pack Philosophy (2006)
• The Way (2014)
• Sonics in the Soul (2022)

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Buzzcocks}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{AllMusic|id=p3809|label=Buzzcocks}}

{{Buzzcocks}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1976 establishments in England

Category:English punk rock groups

Category:English new wave musical groups

Category:English pop punk groups

Category:English power pop groups

Category:United Artists Records artists

Category:I.R.S. Records artists

Category:Parlophone artists

Category:Musicians from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton

Category:Musical groups established in 1976

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1981

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1989

Category:Rock music groups from Greater Manchester

Category:ROIR artists

Category:Merge Records artists

Category:Domino Recording Company artists