Pete Shelley Dies
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (70197)
United States
December 6, 2018 6:47pm CST
The “December surprise” music obituary hits in the gut again. Last year, it was Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens. This time, it’s Pete Shelley.
Shelley, the lead singer and songwriter for the legendary British punk band the Buzzcocks, died today (12/6) of a heart attack.
The Buzzcocks were formed after Shelley and Howard Devoto saw the Sex Pistols. Their music was punk but also paved the way for “power pop” that rose in the wake of the demise of punk.
They broke up because of publishing disputes, with Shelley going solo with the song “Homosapien,” banned by the BBC for “gay references.” Shelley reunited with the band, and they were still going strong, appreciated by two generations of fans, at the time of his death.
Pete Shelley was 63.
Great punk/power pop from the Buzzcocks:
Album: Another Music In A Different Kitchen Track: 7 Year: 1978 Genre: Punk
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5 responses
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
9 Dec 18
Funny, I only remember him for 'Love me, love my dog'. I didn't know he was part of the Buzzcocks.
1 person likes this
@davefranklin (51)
• Swindon, England
8 Dec 18
I think that we are at a time when the wave of real innovators from 60's and 70's the generation that really defined contemporary music are starting to leave us. I think we feel the impact more as this group of people really are the inspiration for everything that has followed. There are some great artists around today but you always remember the pioneers.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Dec 18
That is a bummer. A punk pioneer.
1 person likes this
