The Buzzcocks.
The name alone conjures up some amazing memories of days gone by.
I was and am a great fan of the band and lyrically they’re fantastic.
Its difficult for me to believe they’re celebrating 35 years since their formation.
Guitarist Steve Diggle did a rather interesting interview with Spinner.
But what he said leads me to really wonder.
“It’s amazing [that our albums] have stood the test of time,” said Diggle. “It’s because they have lyrics that people can relate to, because they deal with a whole range of emotions and the human condition … When those records were made, they were made in a live situation with all those emotions flying around and all the distortion as well. They are very real records. They come at you and assault you to a certain extent — in a good way.”
Which is very true. I think any alt fan can find themselves in at least one of their songs. They’re untidy manifests of the human condition.
What led me to wonder was Diggles comparison of music today vs the 70s.
Claiming the that the1970s “it inspired people to have more confidence in themselves and be imaginative.”
“Today’s artists aren’t allowed the artistic freedom that The Buzzcocks once were,
“It’s like they’ve been defeated,” said Diggle. “They are up against these corporations who don’t know about art. It’s crushing the simple spirit of a band just getting up and playing. Everything is carefully planned and marketed. There’s no reality.”
I suppose that’s true to an extent. But I’m out there and I see real creativity in a harsh over saturated industry. I hear new music but aside from genre similarities there are GaGas and Deadmau5s turning things around.
I think the problem with the forefathers is sometime they don’t quite get it.
They may have started the revolution but trust me its still happening.
The DIY movement is alive and well, look at Shinobi Ninja who whore themselves out better than a 5th Ave call girl but they’re getting it out there- and they are getting noticed.
Kevin Greenspon, a genius at his craft who basically says FU to the industry making his own rules and not deviating in anyway. But still being creative.
Its a compromise perhaps but that’s reality. There’s no crushing there’s more fighting now than ever. But 35 years ago perhaps a path was forged- but its still being defined, within each decade.
Is he perhaps referring to the bands that have ‘made it’?
Those arena bands?
If so, the point becomes even less factual since The Buzzcocks didn’t exactly sell out the Garden, as my dear Iman points out they did sell out the Palladium, but alas not a true ‘arena’.
Simply said The Buzzcocks freaking kicked ASS.
I love them and I think music is just as artistically driven, for those who are not cash flow driven.
Quit sounding like a arrogant old man and support the new new wave.
For those of you who’ve never swooned over these boys,
I offer you this tasty morsel..yowza….