Orgasm Addict
{{more citations needed|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Orgasm Addict
| cover = Buzzcocksorgasmaddictedit.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Buzzcocks
| album =
| B-side = Whatever Happened To...?
| released = {{Start date|1977|11|4|df=y}}
| format =
| recorded = September 1977 at T.W. Studios, Fulham, England
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Punk rock{{cite web|last=Travers|first=Paul|date=21 November 2019|title=12 rock and metal songs that feature people having sex|url=https://www.kerrang.com/12-rock-and-metal-songs-featuring-people-having-sex/|access-date=18 April 2022|website=Kerrang!}}
| length = 2:02
| label = United Artists
| writer = Pete Shelley, Howard Devoto
| producer = Martin Rushent
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = What Do I Get?
| next_year = 1978
}}
"Orgasm Addict" is a song by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was the A-side of the Buzzcocks' first single, with "What Ever Happened To?" as the B-side, which was released on 4 November 1977 by record label United Artists.
Cover image
The sleeve was devised by graphic designer Malcolm Garrett and showed a collage, created by Linder Sterling (known as "Linder"), depicting a nude woman with smiling mouths instead of nipples, and whose head is a clothes iron.{{cite book |last1=Lowey |first1=Ian |last2=Prince |first2=Suzy |year=2014 |title=The Graphic Art of the Underground: A Countercultural History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DYbhAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA118 |location=London; New York |publisher=Bloomsbury |page=118 |isbn=978-1-47257-355-1}} Linder has said "When I die, I'll tell my son that he can finally show the world the source image, because once you see it, you can't get it out of your head."{{cite news| last=Needham | first=Alex | title='I was always obsessed with death': how Linder turned pornography and trauma into art |publisher=The Guardian | date=10 February 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/10/i-was-always-obsessed-with-death-how-linder-turned-pornography-and-trauma-into-art }}
Release
"Orgasm Addict" was released as the Buzzcocks' debut single on 4 November 1977.{{cite web |url=http://www.45cat.com/record/up36316 |title=45cat – Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict / Whatever Happened To? – United Artists – UK – UP 36316 |website=45cat |access-date=2 January 2015}}
The 7" French vinyl release contains different takes of the same two tracks.
This was the only Buzzcocks single featuring bassist Garth Smith, who joined in early 1977 to replace Steve Diggle, who switched to guitar. Shortly after its release, he was expelled from the band.{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzcocks.com/buzzcocksdiscography.txt |format=TXT |title=Buzzcocks Discography |website=Buzzcocks.com |access-date=2016-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905082535/http://www.buzzcocks.com/buzzcocksdiscography.txt |archive-date=5 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}
The song later appeared on the album Singles Going Steady and also on CD reissues of Another Music in a Different Kitchen.
Reception
The song was controversial due to its sexual content and was banned by the BBC.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/07/when-punk-rock-raged-pete-shelley-buzzcocks-stuck-with-love-songs-changed-musical-history/?noredirect=on |title=When punk rock raged, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks stuck with love songs and changed music history |first=Kyle |last=Swenson |date=7 December 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley later said that the song "is embarrassing. It's the only one I listen to and... shudder".{{cite book |last=Dimery |first=Robert |year=2010 |title=1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=Cassell Illustrated |isbn=978-1-84403-736-0 |location=United Kingdom |page=384}}
Track listing
- "Orgasm Addict" (Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley) (1:58)
- "Whatever Happened To?" (Pete Shelley, Dial – alias of ex-manager Richard Boon) (2:07)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|13278|type=single}}
{{Buzzcocks}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Pete Shelley
Category:Song recordings produced by Martin Rushent
Category:Songs written by Howard Devoto