Buzzcocks can confirm their performance on Friday 21 June 2019 at the Royal Albert Hall. After the tragic death of their frontman and founder member Pete Shelley, the remaining members felt that the evening should become a tribute to Pete and a celebration of his life.
They will be performing with some special guest vocalists including Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible (The Damned), Peter Perrett (Only Ones), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Pauline Murray (Penetration), Richard Jobson (The Skids), original Buzzcocks Steve Garvey and John Maher and compere for the evening Paul Morley, with more guests to be announced soon.
This will be first time that the Royal Albert Hall has hosted an evening of music featuring a three-band bill of some of the premier artists from the 1970’s punk and new wave scene.
Buzzcocks formed in Manchester in February 1976 having witnessed The Sex Pistols live onstage, they then became the first British punk band to form their own label releasing their debut and seminal Spiral Scratch EP on New Hormones later that year.
A few months later they signed to United Artists becoming one of the punk and new wave scene’s most enduring and successful bands enjoying consistent chart success with hits such as ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’, ‘What Do I Get?’, ‘Promises’ and ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’. They toured with Nirvana and Pearl Jam and even had a BBC TV show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks named after them. An indication of their longevity and influence.
Veteran punk band, The Damned, broke the mould two years ago and became the first band from 70’s punk explosion to play the prestigious venue, selling it out completely and playing a three -hour career-spanning set. Such a success was the event that the public demanded more similar appearances the Royal Albert Hall was equally keen. Three bands were approached and all leapt at this once in a lifetime opportunity to grace a stage on which none of them ever expected to appear.
Closing the evening are punk first wave legends The Buzzcocks. Formed in Manchester in February 1976 having witnessed The Sex Pistols play, they became the first British punk band to form their own label. They released their debut Spiral Scratch EP on New Hormones later that year.
A few months later they signed to United Artists becoming one of the punk and new wave scene’s most enduring and successful bands enjoying consistent chart success with hits such as ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’, ‘What Do I Get?’ and ‘Promises’. As an indication of their longevity and influence along the way they’ve even had a BBC TV show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks named after them!
The Skids from Falkirk were one of Scotland’s first ever punk bands. Formed by guitarist Stuart Adamson (later of Big Country) they were fronted by the charismatic Richard Jobson, often remembered for his electrifying Top Of The Pops appearances.
Radio support from John Peel for their self-released ‘Charles’ EP led them to sign to Virgin Records in April 1978 with whom they had many successful singles including ‘Masquerade’, ‘Working For The Yankee Dollar’ and the Top 10 hit ‘Into The Valley’, before evolving their sound into a more post-punk direction. Their influence is still felt today with two of the biggest contemporary rock bands, Green Day and U2, uniting in 2006 to cover The Skids’ ‘The Saints Are Coming’, a track from the band’s ‘Wide Open’ EP from 1978 as a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The song reached number one in ten countries worldwide and number two in the UK charts.
This will be The Skids last full band electric show for the foreseeable future.
Opening the evening is Penetration, the north-east of England’s first punk band and one of the few to be fronted by a woman; in this case the irrepressible Pauline Murray. Their debut single, ‘Don’t Dictate’, released in 1977 on Virgin Records, remains an enduring classic of the era as does their seminal debut album Moving Targets.
One of the first punk bands to move in a new wave direction, this brought them their greatest success with the hit single ‘Come Into The Open’, before Pauline Murray left to pursue a solo career.
Artist quotes:
“I’m looking forward to an amazing show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s going to be the perfect setting for us and our fans to pay tribute to Pete Shelley.” – Steve Diggle, Buzzcocks
“The Albert Hall gig is going to be an extraordinary event. Hopefully our greatest gig! I’m practising my back flip especially for the night (LOL) It’s going to be the the last Skids gig for a while so my friends lets rip the roof off AHOY! AHOY!” – Richard Jobson, vocalist The Skids
