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.
Reconciliation
Buzzcocks Lyrics
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You are the one I care about, the only one I love
And though we may be separated by the sea
It's still just you I'm dreaming of, you must believe me
Para siempre means forever
And I intend to keep that promise, you know
Of how goos things still would be
If we made a brand new start
Seven empty days fill weeks tough months become years
But I still cherish memories of romantic beers
And so I'll tell you something you already know
Para siempre means forever
I still intend to keep that promise, you know
What I want is reconciliation
This separation's more than I can bear
Don't wanna be alone, my love is guaranteed
I want to know that you still care
And so I'll tell you something you already know
Para siempre means forever
I still intend to keep that promise, you know
No need to be alone
Your love is all I need
Just say the word and I'll be there
In "Reconciliation," the Buzzcocks explore what it means to truly care for someone and to maintain a strong connection despite physical distance. The singer is clearly in love with someone who is far away, but they are holding onto the hope that they will someday be reunited. The lyrics express a longing for reconciliation - a desire to overcome whatever obstacles may be keeping the two apart and to start anew.
The song is full of vivid imagery and strong emotion. The opening lines essentially set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer declares that the person they're singing to is the only one they love. Despite being separated by the sea, he can't help but dream of this person and hope that they believe him when he says they're the only one for him.
One of the interesting things about "Reconciliation" is the use of the Spanish phrase "para siempre," which means "forever." This phrase is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's commitment to this person and their desire for a lasting relationship.
Another notable element is the use of the imagery of drinking beer together. The lyrics suggest that the singer and their love interest used to spend time together in this way, and that these were happy times that the singer still cherishes. This reinforces the idea that the singer is hoping to recapture the past and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Been contemplating lately what you mean to me
I have been thinking recently about the value you hold in my life
You are the one I care about, the only one I love
You are the most important person to me, and the only one that I love
And though we may be separated by the sea
Even if we are far apart from each other by distance
It's still just you I'm dreaming of, you must believe me
I'm only imagining a future with you, trust me when I say that
Para siempre means forever
The Spanish phrase 'Para siempre' means 'forever'
And I intend to keep that promise, you know
I will make sure that my promise to you of forever will be kept, you already know that
I have this dream of yearning, burning in my heart
I have this strong desire, passion, and longing in my heart
Of how good things still would be
I keep imagining about how great things would be if we were together
If we made a brand new start
If we just started over again, things would be better
Seven empty days fill weeks tough months become years
Time seems slower when you're not with the one you love. Days feel like weeks, weeks feel like months, and months feel like years
But I still cherish memories of romantic beers
I still value the memories of our intimate moments together
What I want is reconciliation
All I crave for right now is to patch things up and reconcile
This separation's more than I can bear
The distance between us is becoming unbearable for me
Don't wanna be alone, my love is guaranteed
I don't want to be by myself, and I promise that my love for you is unbreakable
I want to know that you still care
I need reassurance and proof that you still love me
No need to be alone
You don't have to be by yourself anymore
Your love is all I need
I only require your love to be happy
Just say the word and I'll be there
I'll be right where you need me, as long as you just say the word
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind