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.
Hold Me Close
Buzzcocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say that things are not too bad
But it could be better all the same
You know how you want life to be
I know that I may disagree
But neither of us is to blame
Just hold me close don't let me go
You're just what I've been waiting for
You seem to never notice me
I dream that one day you will see
The love meant for both of us to share
You try you try to be carefree
I smile I know you're just like me
The search for truth's an awesome dare
Just hold me close don't let me go
I couldn't stand it
You're just what I've been waiting for
Just hold me close don't let me go
Not for a minute
You're just what I've been living for
When winter comes and cold winds blow
I'll keep your secret
And if they ask me I don't know
I'll keep your secret
In the middle of the darkest night
Yours will be the light that guides me through
There's no one like you
The Buzzcocks's song Hold Me Close is a classic love song that takes a departure from their usual punk rock style. It is a song with a catchy melody and lyrics that are easy to sing along to. It starts with the singer and their partner discussing the state of the world. The partner believes that the world is going mad while the singer disagrees, thinking that things are not as bad as they could be. Despite their different opinions, they both acknowledge that things could be better. The chorus is a plea from the singer to their partner to hold them close and never let them go. They explain that their partner is just what they have been waiting for.
The second verse is about unrequited love. The singer feels like their partner never notices them, but they dream that one day their partner will see that they are meant to be together. They both have different ways of dealing with the world around them; the partner tries to be carefree while the singer smiles, knowing that they are both searching for the truth. The chorus is repeated, with the singer emphasizing their need to be held close and how much they need their partner.
The last verse is about loyalty and devotion. The singer promises to keep their partner's secrets, no matter what happens. They will be there for their partner in the darkest of times, with their partner's love guiding them through. The song ends with the singer declaring that there is no one like their partner.
Overall, Hold Me Close is a simple yet touching song about love, loyalty, and devotion. It captures the feeling of wanting to be held and loved by someone you care about. The song's major chords create a sense of innocence and sweetness, setting it apart from the Buzzcocks's usual punk rock sound.
Line by Line Meaning
You say the world's just going mad
You believe that the world is becoming worse, while I see things in a different light and don't think that everything is as bad as it's made out to be.
I say that things are not too bad
I don't think everything is falling apart, and there are some good things happening in the world.
But it could be better all the same
Despite our different opinions, we both agree that life could be improved upon.
You know how you want life to be
You have a vision of how you want your life to be, and what you want to achieve.
I know that I may disagree
I have my own ideas about how life should be, even if they don't match yours.
But neither of us is to blame
Our differing opinions aren't a fault or a mistake, just natural variations in how we see the world.
Just hold me close don't let me go
In moments when things feel uncertain or difficult, I need you to be there for me, to hold me and offer comfort.
I couldn't stand it
Without your support, I don't think I could bear the pressures of life and the unknown future.
You're just what I've been waiting for
You are the person I've been hoping to find, someone who understands me and can help me through challenges.
You seem to never notice me
I feel like you don't often acknowledge my presence or care about me, even though I want to be close to you.
I dream that one day you will see
I hope that someday you will realize how much I care about you and want to strengthen our relationship.
The love meant for both of us to share
I believe that we can have a deep, meaningful connection, and that love is something we both deserve to experience.
You try you try to be carefree
You often seem like you don't have a care in the world, that you're easygoing and don't let things weigh you down.
I smile I know you're just like me
I smile at the thought that we have some similarities, that there are parts of ourselves that we share even if we don't always see eye to eye.
The search for truth's an awesome dare
The pursuit of truth and knowledge is a noble and exciting pursuit, something that I am passionate about and appreciate in others.
Not for a minute
I need you to hold me and be there for me constantly, throughout good times and bad.
You're just what I've been living for
You are the thing that gives my life meaning and purpose, and I am so grateful to have you in my life.
When winter comes and cold winds blow
During the difficult times in life, when things are uncertain and dark, I will keep your secrets and stand by your side.
I'll keep your secret
I will do whatever I can to help and support you, even if it means keeping your confidences.
And if they ask me I don't know
I'll keep your secrets even if others come asking, because I value our relationship and your trust more than anything.
Yours will be the light that guides me through
In the difficult times ahead, your virtues and positive qualities will be what keeps me moving forward and striving to be better.
There's no one like you
You are unique and special, and there is no one else who can replace you or do what you do.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind