You know me, I’m acting dumb
You know the scene, very humdrum
Boredom boredom – boredom
If you didn’t know these lyrics came from original UK punk band The Buzzcocks, you’d think they were from the Seattle scene during the grunge era. Many grunge and punk bands from the 1990’s felt like The Buzzcocks were an influence and when the band’s frontman Pete Shelley passed away recently, it reminded us that grunge and alt. rock had punk and Pete Shelley as major motivators. Numerous tributes have come along since Shelley’s passing from members of Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, R.E.M. etc.
The Buzzcocks played tours with grunge bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana that shared their angst and aggression. They opened for Nirvana in 1994. You can see Kurt Cobain joking with The Buzzcocks backstage at a show in this video. Shelley is pouring champagne and then sits with Kurt. The band and Kurt talk about pissing in the shower, wordplay about sanitary and sanitarium, Tori Amos, touring. Kurt mentions Lollapalooza 1994, the one Nirvana never played, and names the headliners Smashing Pumpkins and Beastie Boys.
Krist Novoselic re-tweeting on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ian__Curtis___/status/1070842866979753987
Kurt Cobain with Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks, 1994.
Pearl Jam on Twitter:
Pete Shelley RIP
Playing shows with the @Buzzcocks was one of the highlights of my life. I listened to Singles and Tension as much as any records I’ve owned. Thank you, Pete, for all the great words and music. Condolences to Steve and the boys.
Hollow Inside,
JA pic.twitter.com/FKu23xzBTQ— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) December 7, 2018
With songs like “Boredom”, “Orgasm Addict”, “Ever Fallen in Love” and their compilation Singles Going Steady, The Buzzcocks cemented their place in punk rock history and also motivated a rock revolution later when grunge hit. Shelley’s voice had a sensitive, painful whine that hit the spot when singing lyrics like:
I only get sleepless nights, Alone here in my half-empty bed For you things seem to turn out right, I wish they’d only happen to me instead, What do I get, oh-oh, what do I get?
Billy Corgan on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrEWq-sl6Ri/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
R.E.M.’s Mike Mills on Twitter:
Damn. Pete Shelley gone. The Buzzcocks were and are a favorite of mine, and I was fortunate to be able to hang with Pete a few times and tell him so. R.I.P., Pete. #Buzzcocks
— Mike Mills 🌞⚾️✌🏼 (@m_millsey) December 6, 2018
Billie Joe Armstrong on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrD8ysRFDZx/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Definitely a sad time for his family, rockers and rock fans everywhere.