The Buzzcocks

As the support act for the Stranglers at Bristol Beacon, the Buzzcocks tore through a 45-minute set that bristled with a cracking retrospection of the band’s late 70s hey-day along with a healthy dollop of more recent material.

The quartet enter from stage left to the strains of Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, otherwise known as the theme to 2001 : A Space Odessey, with the distinctive sustained bass bursting into a brass-driven fanfare that further elevates an already heightened level of collective expectations.

Steve Diggle, sole-surviving member of what is regarded as the ‘classic lineup’, gives the Beacon an appreciative thumbs up. An 11-track barrage gets underway with the iconic rumbustious buzzsawing of the impactful ‘What Do I Get?’; the band’s first ever top 40 single.

Stoical bassist Chris Remington is in head down mode hammering out the low-end whilst guitarist Mani Perazzoli and drummer Danny Farrant inject the energy.

Razor-sharp, as ever, ‘I Don’t Mind’ sustains the frenetic pace as the years are brusquely rolled back. There’s little time to draw breath as the latter-day snarling beast ‘Senses Out of Control’ sits comfortably in its position immediately following the strongarm opening triplet of classics.

The ponderous meanderings of ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ change the gears from the hard-edged ‘Sick City Sometimes’ as Buzzcocks finally get a chance to gather their senses.

Debut single ‘Orgasm Addict’ ensues hustling and bustling. A poignant homage to their home city ‘Manchester Rain’ bounces along jauntily and its position in the set preceding the set-closing one-two slam demonstrates the strength of feeling the band have with this 2022 release.

There can be no finer tribute to Shelley’s legacy. Next up the timeless ‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) – the band’s chart peak performance topping out at 12 – ups the ante. And then the final song , ‘Harmony in My Head’. Penned by the frontman its razor-wire punk kinetics well and truly Buzzcocks erupted onto the stage like a spark to dry tinder, launching into their frenetic anthem “What Do I Get?” Lead singer and guitarist Steve Diggle, a whirlwind of motion and charisma, commanded the spotlight with infectious grins and boundless vigor.

Drummer Danny Farrant hammered the kit with relentless precision, while bassist Chris Remington anchored the frenzy with deft, driving lines. The crowd roared in unison as Diggle coaxed chants for the irreverent “Orgasm Addict” and the bittersweet heartbreak of “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve),” transforming the Beacon into a communal catharsis of punk nostalgia.

If Buzzcocks embodied punk’s playful urgency, head of the main act came The Buzzcocks with founding member and de facto frontman Steve Diggle steering the ship. The set included fan favourites such as opener What Do I Get?, Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), Harmony in My Head and Promises. These songs feel less like “something left behind in the ‘70s” and more like urgently discovered moments tonight. The riffs still punch, the vocals still crackle with energy, and the crowd still know every word.

Tonight, Diggle, alongside bassist Chris Remington and drummer Danny Farrant, took us through a rapid set of the group’s classic hooks. Their tight stage-presence belied the fact that the only original member on stage was Steve Diggle himself. The rest of the current band carry the songs with evident respect and skill. It felt like watching a punk band that had grown up but refused to lose its edge.