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.
Pariah
Buzzcocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't get back to normal like before
Everywhere I look and see the same
Every time I turn around you're back again
Can't you see I'm burning inside
Can't you see I'm yearning inside
I'm sick of all this stubborn pride
It seems to me you think that love's a crime
You've taken what is yours and now you're after mine
I'm running round in circles
Nowhere else to go
Hermes trimegistus
As above so below
Can't you see I'm burning inside
Can't you see I'm yearning inside
These feelings cannot be denied
Pariah
The lyrics of the Buzzcocks' song Pariah speak to the feelings of isolation and frustration felt by the singer. They describe a sense of disconnection from the world around them, unable to return to the way things were before. The repetition of someone or something that keeps coming back despite the singer's attempts to move on only adds to their sense of helplessness.
Throughout the song, the singer also expresses their desire for someone to see the pain they are feeling, both physically and emotionally. They seem to be caught in a cycle, feeling as though they are running in circles with nowhere else to turn. The reference to Hermes Trimegistus, a philosophical figure associated with alchemy and ancient mystery religions, adds a mystical element to the song and perhaps suggests that the singer is searching for a deeper understanding of their situation.
Overall, the lyrics of Pariah convey a deep sense of frustration and isolation that many people can likely relate to, particularly in times of personal hardship. The singer's desire for validation and recognition from others is a common human experience, highlighting the ways in which we are all interconnected in our struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
No one seems to matter anymore
The singer feels ignored and unimportant in the eyes of others.
Can't get back to normal like before
The singer is having a difficult time adjusting to changes in their life and can't seem to return to their previous state of mind.
Everywhere I look and see the same
The singer is surrounded by sameness and monotony, leading to a feeling of boredom or frustration.
Every time I turn around you're back again
The presence of someone in the singer's life is overwhelming and inescapable.
Can't you see I'm burning inside
The singer is suffering emotionally and it is visible in their actions and behavior.
Can't you see I'm yearning inside
Deep down, the singer desires something they do not have and it is causing them pain.
I'm sick of all this stubborn pride
The singer is frustrated with the behavior of someone who is being excessively stubborn or proud.
Pariah
The singer feels like an outcast or social pariah.
It seems to me you think that love's a crime
The singer believes that someone close to them does not value love in the same way they do.
You've taken what is yours and now you're after mine
The singer feels like someone is encroaching on their personal space and possessions.
I'm running round in circles
The singer feels like they are going nowhere and making no progress in their life.
Nowhere else to go
The singer feels trapped with limited options for a way out of their current situation.
Hermes trimegistus
This line references a historical, mystical figure associated with ancient spiritual knowledge and mysteries.
As above so below
This is a phrase found in esoteric or spiritual teachings and implies a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
These feelings cannot be denied
The singer acknowledge their emotional state and cannot ignore or suppress it any longer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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