Buzzcocks
United Kingdom, 1976–now
Manchester punk band formed in 1976 by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto after seeing the Sex Pistols. Their pairing of fast, distorted guitar with concise pop hooks ('Ever Fallen in Love', 'What Do I Get?') became the model for later pop-punk.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Buzzcocks and 3 artists Buzzcocks influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Buzzcocks?
- Sex Pistols — Shelley and Devoto formed Buzzcocks after seeing the Sex Pistols and booked the Pistols' famous 1976 Manchester gig, opening for them.
- Ramones — The Ramones' fast, tight two-minute songs were the model Buzzcocks refined into melodic punk-pop.
Which artists did Buzzcocks influence?
- Green Day — Billie Joe Armstrong has repeatedly cited Buzzcocks' melodic punk as a defining influence on Green Day's songwriting.
- Supergrass — Supergrass's roots lie in the infectiously catchy punk-pop of the Buzzcocks — speed, hooks and youthful energy.
- Orange Juice — Not the sound so much as the permission: Spiral Scratch proved a band could put out its own record. Collins played the riff from 'Boredom' into 'Rip It Up' as an acknowledgement.