They are commonly regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement and the punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock genres in general. They are primarily remembered for their singles, a string of would-be hits that combined a strong grasp of pop song craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece" The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love?" remains one of their best-known songs.
The name "Buzzcocks" partially comes from the Manchester slang term cock meaning youngster, and its use in the 1970s ITV drama serial Rock Follies which included the catch phrases "that's the buzz, cocks" and "give me a buzz, cock!"
Buzzcocks were one of the key first generation British punk rock bands to form in the wake of the Sex Pistols in 1976. They were founded by Mancunians Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, however Devoto left soon after the group released their Spiral Scratch EP (on their own independent label), leaving Shelley to take over vocals.
They are best known for their catchy, poppy punk sound, which has been widely influential, which was adopted as Peter Shelley took over on the vocals, singing about what the whole punk rock scene opted not to sing about: love. Devoto in the meanwhile formed Magazine.
They rehearsed in a friend's kitchen and played at the all-day 100 club punk "festival", in London. At the end of 1977 the band signed to United Artists and released "Orgasm Addict", with Shelley's high-pitched vocal delivery and Ramones-esque fuzz-guitar sound ensuring the controversial single would be played over again. Later came "What Do I Get?" which hit the UK charts and showed Shelley's brilliance in songwriting.
An LP was then released, Another Music in a Different Kitchen which came with its own carrier bag, labelled "Product". In 1978-79 five chart-hitting singles were released including "Ever Fallen in Love?" and had captured a pop-loving audience by this time. Love Bites, their second LP was released later on, which had less excitement than the last album, though it did sell well, with Steve Diggle taking over lyric-writing.
October 1979 saw A Different Kind of Tension which was panned by some critics, quite unfairly, as it contains some excellent songs, the title track being the stand-out. It perhaps suffered from being the second album to be released that year, with the record company keen to capitalise on the band's chart success at the time.
3 more singles followed in 1980, but the spark had clearly gone out for a while. Musical differences and the long slog behind them led to the band splitting in early 1981. Pete Shelley embarked in a solo career..
He released three dance/electronic influenced solo albums: Homosapien, XL1 and Heaven and The Sea - all with the same fine songwriting skills. Meanwhile, Steve Diggle formed Flag of Convenience - a power pop combo - and toured with some success.
A 5 album/CD set was released in 1989 called Product, which contained all the albums to date, plus the greatest hits and B sides album, Singles Going Steady, and the last non-album singles, Why She's A Girl From the Chainstore, Airwaves Dream and Running Free, plus the B sides
In 1992 the Buzzcocks reformed, without original drummer John Maher and bassist Steve Garvey, and releasd Trade Test Transmissions in 1993, quite different from their earlier material, with nods to the power pop scene popular at the time. All Set in 1996 saw a return to form with familiar riffs and pin sharp lyrics pop-punk. Next year Chronology was released, the missing album, including outtakes from the three United Artists albums. In 1999 they released Modern, which saw Shelley in reflective mode and Steve Diggle taking over more of the vocal duties.
Then followed another brief break in 2000, with Shelley teaming up with old band-mate Howard Devoto to release a largely disappointing album, Buzzkunst. Compilations followed, including Inventory in 2003, which contained every single to date, and 30 in 2005 to celebrate 30 years performing
2005 saw the Buzzcocks back touring and in 2007 they released the superb Flat Pack Philosophy, widely agreed to rank up with the best of Buzzcocks output
2008/9 saw a short tour where the band played tracks from Another Music and Love Bites.
In August 2011 they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.
In November 2011 it was announced they would be playing two shows in 2012 that would feature the original line-up as well as the classic line-up of the band reunited for the first time in many years; these shows took place on 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy. It was announced on 26 May 2012 that, for the first time, they would headline Thursday night in the Empress Ballroom at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool sharing the stage with the likes of Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.
On 1 May 2014 Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014 Buzzcocks played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In October 2014 Buzzcocks toured the U.K. for three weeks with The Dollyrots as main support.
In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour (dubbed "Buzzcocks 40"). In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.
Buzzcocks continue to be a huge influence on many bands and are still enjoyed by a large, and very loyal, fanbase.
Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018.
Falling in Love
Buzzcocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me feel I'm dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame, what a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel I'm dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
The Buzzcocks' song "Ever Fallen in Love" explores the pain and confusion of falling in love with someone you shouldn't have. The lyrics express the conflict between the natural emotions of love and the fear of rejection and loss. The singer is hurt and made to feel like dirt by the object of his affection, but he finds himself unable to resist the pull of love. However, he also realizes that the relationship has little future unless they can figure out what is causing the turmoil between them.
The repetition of the chorus "Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with" highlights the universal nature of the experience of falling for someone who is not the right fit. The song captures the feelings of passion and confusion that come with love, as well as the frustration that arises when those feelings are not reciprocated.
The somber tone of the song is matched by the melodic guitar riffs and the driving beat of the drums. The Buzzcocks were part of the punk movement of the late '70s and early '80s, and their music reflects the energy and rebellion of that era.
Line by Line Meaning
You spurn my natural emotions
You reject my natural feelings
You make me feel I'm dirt and I'm hurt
You make me feel like I am worthless and causing pain
And if I start a commotion
And if I make a fuss
I run the risk of losing you and that's worse
I risk losing you, which is even more painful
Ever fallen in love with someone
Have you ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
That you should not have been in love with
I can't see much of a future
I don't see a future
Unless we find out what's to blame, what a shame
Unless we figure out what caused this, it's a pity
And we won't be together much longer
And we won't be together for much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
Unless we understand that we are similar
You disturb my natural emotions
You disrupt my natural feelings
And if I start a commotion
And if I create a scene
I'll only end up losing you and that's worse
I will end up losing you, which is even more painful
Ever fallen in love with someone
Have you ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
That you should not have been in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Have you ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
That you should not have been in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Have you ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
That you should not have been in love with
Fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Have you ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with?
That you should not have been in love with
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter Shelley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jugh4140
Lyrics:
You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame, what a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
@ricardocabe
You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame, what a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt and I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losing you and that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with
@alanmac6454
Around the time this came out they also had an album called Love Bites and I went into my local record store in Camberley and asked the girl if she had love bites. She got all embarrassed but I explained it was by the Buzzcocks and she found me a copy. We chatted, I asked her for a date and we have been married for 40 years now. Brings back great memories. Thanks guys.
@ilikethisnamebetter
I hope this is true :)
@baerbyrant3411
He had us in the first and second halves
@peneleapai
best comment ever!!!!¡!!!!!!!
@ramshacklealex7772
This comment makes me so happy and so sad at the same time
@RSR423
Wow man that's a neat tale.
@kevinadamson5768
The Buzzcocks were ahead of the times in the late 70,s, looking back forty years later the lyrics still have a meaning and the melodies are catchy to almost everyone not just old punks like me.
@citydogband
We are supporting these legends at the Concorde in brighton in March! Here’s our music video if you wanna hear our sound! Big love and rest in peace to this legend.
https://youtu.be/MkatA5t1a9s
@spark300c
yep they take influence of the Ramones but pop punk did not become big until 1990s.
@321bytor
Just 'Buzzcocks'