By DONNA BALANCIA
Buzzcocks frontman Pete Shelley has died at 63 from a heart attack, according to reports.
The Buzzcocks had a significant impact on the rise of punk rock in Manchester UK in the 1970s and had carried on as a leader in the genre through the present day.
Shelley co-founded the Buzzcocks in 1976 with original singer Howard Devoto, who left the band in 1977.
With contemporaries like the Sex Pistols and The Clash, the beloved punkers brought an urgent light to issues of the day and challenged authority, with simple and succinct tunes. The band had hits with “Ever Fallen in Love,” “What Do I Get,” “I Don’t Mind” and “Love You More,” all in 1978.
See this Interview with Pete Shelley courtesy of Cherry Red Records:
Earlier this week it was announced that the Buzzcocks would play Royal Albert Hall on Friday 21 June 2019 as part of a three-band bill with The Damned and The Skids.
The band is widely considered to be the first British punk group to create its own label, in 1976.
The Buzzcocks, whose 40th anniversary was celebrated two years ago, have influenced many bands over the years in the UK, Europe and in the U.S. Husker Du, REM, and Nirvana have all cited the influence of the Buzzcocks in their music.