U.K. pop-punk stalwarts the Buzzcocks finally return to the U.S. for a Fall tour that includes a Detroit stop at St. Andrew's Hall on Sunday, September 14 at 7 p.m.
The band is on tour promoting their ninth studio album, “The Way.” They returned to their roots by self-releasing the album thru the crowd-funding website pledgemusic.com last May. The band has not toured stateside since being a part of the 2006 Vans Warped Tour after the release of the album “Flat-Pack Philosophy” on the indie label Cooking Vinyl. Being included on the Warped Tour was their introduction to a new generation of fans who may have heard their influence on bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, and every pop-punk band that emerged in the '90s.
The Buzzcocks' legacy runs deep. The band was part of the early 1976-77 British punk trinity that included the Sex Pistols and The Clash. They were innovators of the independent D.I.Y. record scene by recording and releasing their first EP, “Spiral Scratch,” on their own label, New Hormones. They were later signed to United Artists Records and their first single, “Orgasm Addict,” was banned by the BBC due to its lyrics. They released three seminal albums with the label and toured extensively before calling it quits and focusing on side projects during much of the '80s.
In 1988 the pop group Fine Young Cannibals resurrected their song “Ever Fallen in Love” for the Something Wild soundtrack and it became a top ten hit in the U.K. and charted on the U.S. dance charts. The band re-emerged in 1993 with the album “Trade Test Transmissions” and has released an album every three years since.
The current lineup consists of two original members - vocalist Pete Shelley and guitarist Steve Diggle - with drummer Danny Farante and bassist Chris Remmington. Fans of the band won't want to miss this show as they will showcase songs from the new album and classics from their vast collection of infectious pop-punk tunes. They will bring their high-energy show to the St. Andrew's Hall stage for the second time since 1989. (The last tour they played The Shelter.)
Two local supporting acts will be kicking off the night with their new generation punk sound so get there early to check out the bands Destroy This Place and The Ill Itches.
Check out the Buzzcocks website at Buzzcocks.com