Pete Shelley

Pete Shelley born Peter Campbell McNeish 17 April 1955 6 December 2018 was an English singer songwriter and guitarist He formed early punk band Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto in 1976 and became the lead singer and guitarist in 1977 when Devoto left The group released their biggest hit Ever Fallen in Love With Someone You Shouldntve in 1978 The band broke up in 1981 and reformed at the end of the decade Shelley also had a solo career his song Homosapien charted in Australasia and Canada in 1981 and 1982 Shelley was born to Margaret and John McNeish in Leigh Lancashire His mother was an exmill worker in the town and his father was a fitter at Astley Green Colliery He had a younger brother Gary Shelleys stage name is inspired by Percy Bysshe Shelley his favourite poet Shelley formed Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto after they met at the Bolton Institute of Technology now the University of Bolton in 1975 and subsequently travelled to High Wycombe near London to see the Sex Pistols The band included bass guitarist Steve Diggle and drummer John Maher they made their first appearance in 1976 in Manchester opening for the Sex Pistols In 1977 Buzzcocks released their first EP Spiral Scratch on their independent label New Hormones When Devoto left the band in February 1977 Shelley took over as the lead vocalist and chief songwriter Working with the producer Martin Rushent the band created the punknew wave singles Orgasm Addict What Do I Get and Ever Fallen in Love With Someone You Shouldntve along with three LPs Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978 Love Bites 1978 and A Different Kind of Tension 1979 Difficulties with their record company and a dispute with Virgin Publishing over the UK release of their greatest hits record Singles Going Steady brought the band to a halt in 1981 Shelley developed a different personal image from many of his rebellious 1970s punk contemporaries telling Melody Maker in 1978 I wont be nasty Were just four nice lads the kind of people you could take home to your parents