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.
Never Gonna Give It Up
Buzzcocks Lyrics
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I'm try'n'a tell you something you'll understand
I wanna spend my time in a passionate way
These feelings keep on growing inside me day by day
The things you do make me so hot
I'd give you everything I've got to give
Let's cut in two the Gordian Knot
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Hey there, you with your head in a cloud
Don't let nobody tell you're not allowed
You'd have no hesitation if only you knew
The sweetness of sensations in store for you
The things you do make me so hot
I'd give you everything I've got to give
Let's cut in two the Gordian Knot
Release a power much greater than this foolish pride
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
The things you do make me so hot
I'd give you everything I've got to give
Let's cut in two the Gordian Knot
Unleash a power much greater than this foolish pride
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
I'm never ever gonna give it up
The Buzzcocks' song "Never Gonna Give It Up" is a passionate love song that encourages listeners to follow their desires and not be held back by societal norms or their own pride. The lyrics open with a directive to someone who appears to be avoiding reality, urging them to pay attention and listen to what the singer is saying. The singer then goes on to express the intensity of their feelings for someone else, promising to devote all they have to a relationship. This level of devotion, the singer suggests, would require breaking free from societal expectations and taking a bold leap into the unknown.
The Gordian Knot, referred to in the song, is a legend from Greek mythology about an intricate knot tied by King Gordius, said to be impossible to untangle. Alexander the Great famously solved the puzzle by simply slicing the knot in two with his sword. The metaphor in the song suggests that the obstacles to this passion are similarly complex and seemingly insurmountable, but can be overcome with a decisive and bold action. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's steadfast commitment to their passion and determination not to let go.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to take risks, follow their hearts, and not be held back by societal expectations or their own fears. It is a poignant reminder of the power of love and the importance of living fully in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there you with your head in the sand
Addressing someone who is deliberately ignoring something important
I'm try'n'a tell you something you'll understand
Explaining a desire that the singer thinks will be relatable
I wanna spend my time in a passionate way
Desiring to engage in activities that bring intense pleasure and excitement
These feelings keep on growing inside me day by day
Having a persistent and intensifying desire
The things you do make me so hot
Being sexually aroused by someone's actions
I'd give you everything I've got to give
Willingness to fully commit to a relationship or sexual encounter
Let's cut in two the Gordian Knot
Suggesting that they should overcome a difficult problem together
Release a power much greater than this foolish pride
Believing that their combined effort will lead to an even greater outcome
Oh, no, I'm never gonna give it up
Expressing determination and commitment to their desires
Hey there, you with your head in a cloud
Addressing someone who seems unaware or oblivious
Don't let nobody tell you're not allowed
Encouraging the person to follow their desires despite what others may say
You'd have no hesitation if only you knew
Suggesting that the person would be more willing if they understood the pleasure that awaits them
The sweetness of sensations in store for you
Highlighting the pleasurable experiences that could be had
Unleash a power much greater than this foolish pride
Encouraging the person to put aside their ego and embrace what could be achieved together
I'm never ever gonna give it up
Reiterating their determination to pursue their desires
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind