Buzzcocks: The Complete History

I felt a sense of Things Missing as I chewed quickly through this book. The first half of the diary-formatted coverage of Buzzcocks is full of great information, short anecdotes, etc; the second half was mostly tour dates--the updated material since the 1995 edition is presented too quickly with little very info or reasons why. While the discography mentions 2003's impressive "Buzzcocks" album, it isn't even mentioned at all in the chronology--no recording dates or release dates, or mention of songs from it.In the first half, Buzzcocks are storming the world, then all of the sudden Shelley is feeling tired and doing drugs. Not really a surprise, but it'd have been nice to get into a bit more of what was happening here--just as one example.SteveDiggle's book Harmony in My Head is similarly short but at least it allowed us to get inside his thinking a bit.Worth buying if you love Buzzcocks, but you'll still be wanting more, like I am.

Cool readings!

Punk Rock has survived to a great extent. That might be in the shape of numerous guises. Original bands are still touring, tribute bands are around in abundance and new bands have incorporated the punk spirit. The Buzzcocks have survived the turbulent nature of the music business whilst undergoing personnel changes.Tony McGartland's book as the title suggests catalogues a chronological look at the band's career and their movements in a 40 year career. It's not a book that undertakes any social scientific analysis like we might find in a Jon Savage book or a psychological digestion you might get from Paul Morley. But rather sticks to hard facts like when, where and how.There are plenty of anecdotes from their humble beginnings bringing in the Howard Devoto year until a schism results in two different bands. The format of the book is fundamentally a diaryesque one. We read about how each member ends up in one of the greatest exponents of pop power rock with the sentiments of great love poetry. Shelley's ability to tell of heartbreaks with majestic subliminal harmonies are the result of a gift that has come from somewhere. And Diggle's more aggressive-cathartic approach creates a duality that offers something different from Pete. McGartland outlines some of dynamics such as the early tight backline of Garvey and Maher. Who are instrumental to the bands growth and success. The book is interspersed with each gig date, though the Edinburgh Odeon 1979 one I attended is curiously missing. Which is special to me for the presence of some minor support band! Editing error?Throughout the book, it lists all the dates and chart placings of each official release and the resultant TOTP appearances if it was merited.As with most artists we can visual that hill model, where one starts are the bottom of the landscape, then there is the climb towards an apex, then rolling back down that hill as interest and commercial activity fades.But despite all the tribulations causing the band split, some of it due to Shelley's exhaustion they reform years later. Which is part of the subject of the book. This edition is designed as a result of a new incarnation of the original edition. It is an update of the bands output and touring right up to 2017.The book is also a catalyst for bringing back fond memories for many of us Buzzcocks fans as we search for " I was there" shows and bringing back some of the recollections of days gone by. And the book is honest enough not to patronise the band by calling it, as it is: Some songs weren't up to scratch or some live shows never delivered. That gives the book more creditability. Though this book is largely for Buzzcocks fans, it still would be of interest to any rock music fan who wished to update their knowledge on how many bands operated during the 70's and have still managed to survive the test of time. Time's not quite up yet...Graham J. Henderson 22nd May 2017

Very good day by day history of one of the best bands in the world, RIP Mr Shelley. Nice also to have an updated version carrying through the reunion years. Tony has done some amazing research here collecting all the live dates etc. The only major gripe is the author didn't interview Pete or Steve for this second edition which was a good chance to get more insight into how the band worked. I doubt there is enough room for many Buzzcocks books on the market. If you just want the facts and next to nothing more this is the book for you, great new (old) photos too. Diggle's book is ok but tells from just his view point and is more about the sex and drugs than the actual rock and roll. Going to miss this band

Chronological timeline, endless lists of dates are used to beef up a pretty thin but all the same at times interesting book.

Being a long time buzzcocks fan. This book was brilliant. Information was excellent. The book is well written . Recommended highlt

excellent purchase