Saw them at the Russell Cub/Factory in ‘78 or ‘79 and they were terrific. But they especially enamoured themselves to me when they dedicated Barbed Wire Love to Buzzcocks, which, on reflection, was a no-brainer for any band playing in Manchester at that time!
And Suspect Device still burns with a passion undimmed or diminished by the passing years.
Yes, it’s a shame Steve Garvey and John Maher eventually left the fold, because they were never the same after that. Buzzcocks, to my mind, at least, in name only.
Garvey’s introduction to the band was a real bonus, as Garth Smith was unreliable in drink, and, without wishing to be unkind, simply didn’t look the part, whereas Steve could play really well and look like a proper pop star, too!
Yes, it was only short lived, but what a life they gave us. Still sound brilliant, and as I said in my piece on them, you’ll struggle to find any other artist with a list of singles that had both brilliant A and B sides as theirs did!
Saw them at the Russell Cub/Factory in ‘78 or ‘79 and they were terrific. But they especially enamoured themselves to me when they dedicated Barbed Wire Love to Buzzcocks, which, on reflection, was a no-brainer for any band playing in Manchester at that time!
And Suspect Device still burns with a passion undimmed or diminished by the passing years.
If you're curious, I have an interview from 1991 in my Alternating Currents section with The Buzzcocks' Steve Garvey:
https://writehearpopculture.substack.com/p/the-buzzcocks-buck-the-biz
And here is that Buzzcocks piece that you may have missed, Amy…I don’t have many followers or subscribers…ha-ha!
https://open.substack.com/pub/markkureishy/p/reasons-to-be-cheerful-buzzcocks?r=2k7tqg&utm_medium=ios
Thanks, Amy!
Yes, it’s a shame Steve Garvey and John Maher eventually left the fold, because they were never the same after that. Buzzcocks, to my mind, at least, in name only.
Garvey’s introduction to the band was a real bonus, as Garth Smith was unreliable in drink, and, without wishing to be unkind, simply didn’t look the part, whereas Steve could play really well and look like a proper pop star, too!
Yes, it was only short lived, but what a life they gave us. Still sound brilliant, and as I said in my piece on them, you’ll struggle to find any other artist with a list of singles that had both brilliant A and B sides as theirs did!
Ooh! Ta, Amy!