Source: OttawaCitizen.com
Pete Shelley, one of the founding members of the legendary punk rock band, Buzzcocks, has tragically died at the age of 63-years-old after years of touring and performing. On Thursday, the 6th of December, Pete allegedly succumbed to a heart attack while in Estonia where he was living – states the BBC.
His fellow bandmates released a statement confirming the news of his passing, commemorating his life as a solo artist as well as a part of their band.
“He was held in the highest regard,” their statement read,” by the music industry and by his fans around the world.” Fans of the band look at Buzzcocks as easily one of the most influential acts in the Manchester music scene, as well as in the movement for independent record labels, in general.
Pete's music has inspired generations of musicians over a career that spanned five decades and with his band and as a solo artist, he was held in the highest regard by the music industry and by his fans around the world.
A more detailed statement will follow.
— Buzzcocks (@Buzzcocks) December 6, 2018
Getting their start in 1976, around the same time as the explosion of the punk rock scene in the United Kingdom, among The Clash, The Damned, The Ramones (from New York City), and the Sex Pistol, Buzzcocks have released many studio albums to critical acclaim.
Perhaps best known in the United States for their 1978 track, “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), Buzzcocks released 9 studio records as well as other EPs and compilations.
In 1981, Buzzcocks broke up and then reformed again in the late 1980s in 1989. In 2003, they toured alongside grunge rockers, Pearl Jam, and with Nirvana, in 1994, on one of the band’s last tours before Kurt’s tragic death in the same year.
In the United Kingdom, Buzzcocks are fairly well known, although, they once granted the use of their name to the BBC which went on to create a television program featuring the name of the Sex Pistols’ album, Never Mind The Bollocks, and Buzzcocks, combining the two, making it, Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
In the year 2000, the host of the series invited Shelley up on stage and said that without Buzzcocks, the name of the show would’ve never existed.
In prior interviews, the band said they thought the use of the name would only last for one pilot or just a few episodes, but the show ended up running for years. As an unintended consequence, the name, Buzzcocks, became associated with the TV series rather than their band, much to their chagrin.
