Buzzcocks frontman and all-round punk legend Steve Diggle shares his Top 10 Punk Tracks for Punktuation!
Part of Buzzcocks’ front line since they supported the Sex Pistols in 1976, and the man in the middle post-Pete Shelley, Steve Diggle, has a rare songwriting talent – genuine consistency. From the likes of ‘Fast Cars‘, ‘Autonomy‘ and ‘Harmony In My Head‘ right through to ‘Senses Out Of Control‘ and ‘Manchester Rain‘ more than 40 years later, you won’t find Diggle sitting around at home. He’s as committed to what comes next for Buzzcocks as he’s ever been.
Steve Diggle also knows a few things about punk rock; he helped write the no-rules book.
“I picked these songs within minutes, off the top of my head. It might have been a completely different ten depending on the mood of the moment, but this lot covers a lot of punk ground.”
10: The Clash - Complete Control (The Clash- US Version)
“Produced by Lee Scratch Perry, I just love that one. It’s so exciting. Reminds me of 1977.”
9: Sex Pistols- Bodies (Never Mind the Bollocks)
“Opening line ‘She was a girl from Birmingham’. When I first heard it I remember thinking ‘where do we go from here?’
8: The Jam- The Modern World (This is the Modern World)
“The Jam played a couple of dates with us on the White Riot Tour. I remember watching them from behind the side curtain at the Edinburgh Playhouse. They were doing this new song which sounded better than the stuff off ‘In The City” – released only a couple of months earlier.”
7: The Buzzcocks- Harmony In My Head (Singles Going Steady)
“Because I can’t do a list like this and leave Buzzcocks out!”
6:Wire- Map Ref. 41°N 93°W (154)
“Great song. It was experimental. Different from straight ahead punk.”
5: The Slits- Typical Girls (Cut)
“The Slits came on tour with us in 1978 and I have great memories of it. ‘Typical Girls‘, their first single, is really good.”
4: The Fall- Industrial Estate (Live at the Witch Trials)
“Early song from The Fall that I like now as much as I did then. It’s off ‘Live At The Witch Trials‘.”
3: MC5- Looking At You (Back In the USA)
“This is pre-punk. There’s a black and white video of ‘Looking At You‘ on YouTube, MC5 playing some college field in 1970. That’s the version, the crowd right around the stage.”
2: Iggy Pop- Some Weird Sin (Lust For Life)
“One of my favourites of his, David Bowie on backing vocals. It’s not conventional, there’s an intensity about ‘Some Weird Sin‘.”
1: Slaughter and the Dogs- Cranked Up Really High (The Slaughterhouse Tapes)
“The only song of theirs I know! Slaughter And The Dogs were on the bill, with Buzzcocks, when the Sex Pistols came up to Manchester Free Trade Hall for the second time, summer 1976.”
Follow Buzzcocks on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Desperate Measures / Split Dogs / Dead Fun, London Water Rats, 6th Nov 2024
Tonight’s bill features three bands, none of whom outstay their welcome, and there are only 15-minute breaks between their sets. Of course, such antics wouldn’t
Slam Dunk reveals its 2025 line up in full!
The news many of you have been waiting for – next year’s Slam Dunk festival is now revealing their final, remaining bands for 2025! Following
Fear The Lord/King Street/RAD/Skrapper, London New Cross Inn, 4th Nov 2024
Sigh. Yes, it’s a cold Monday evening, but with four quality bands (including one that’s come all the way from Portugal) for only seven quid,
Six of the best – 6th November 2024
Recent releases from Heed Case, Pinhead Gunpowder, Authority Zero, Talking Knives, The Jackets and Poets Corner
Album review: Noopinion – ‘Revolt And Resolve’ (SBÄM)
Noopinion (yep, it’s one word!) are from Germany, and after just over a decade’s hiatus, they’ve returned with ‘Revolt And Resolve’ – album number six.
The Bronx – London Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, 1st Nov 2024
Oooh, this looks like it’s going to be a special one. The Bronx are currently in the middle of a tour of the UK’s arenas,
Writer/hip old gunslinger. Written about/reviewed live music records/recording for years – in the process interviewing Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, David Johansen & Syl Sylvain, Pete Shelley & Steve Diggle, Hugh Cornwell, JJ Burnel, Dave Vanian & Captain Sensbile, Seggs, Jaz Coleman, Youth and more…
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
