Howard Devoto
Encyclopedia
Howard Devoto is an English
rock and roll
singer-songwriter
, who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks
, but then left to form Magazine
, one of the first post-punk
bands. After Magazine, he went solo and, later, formed indie band Luxuria.
, Nuneaton
, Warwickshire and Yorkshire
, and attended Leeds Grammar School
, where he met and befriended future Buzzcocks
manager Richard Boon. In 1972, he went to Bolton Institute of Technology (now the University of Bolton
) to study psychology
, and, later, humanities
. During these college years, he met his future bandmates Pete Shelley
and Ben Mandelson
.
, Devoto co-formed Buzzcocks with singer/guitarist Pete Shelley
in 1975. He left Buzzcocks in February 1977 after only one record (the Spiral Scratch
EP
) and a small number of performances.
in 1977. Their unique style was not easily categorized but they were more often than not described rather simplistically as "post-punk" or "new wave". They went on to release several critically acclaimed ground-breaking albums, which met with only moderate commercial success, as well as minor hits such as "Shot By Both Sides
" and "A Song From Under the Floorboards". Magazine reformed for five dates in February 2009.
. Though criticism of Jerky Versions of the Dream
was mixed, the single "Rainy Season" was consistently picked as a stand-out track. Jerky Versions of the Dream, which reached #57 in the UK Albums Chart
in August 1983, was reissued in 2007 by Virgin/EMI, featuring several tracks of bonus material.
in 1983. This was followed by a rendering of Big Star's "Holocaust" for the loose collective This Mortal Coil
. The album It'll End in Tears contained contributions from many of the 4AD label's best artists, Devoto's presence being somewhat atypical.
In 1997, Devoto wrote the lyrics to the Mansun track, 'Everyone Must Win', which appeared on the 'Closed For Business' EP. A year later, he collaborated again with the band, writing lyrics for and singing on 'Railings', a B-side for 'Being A Girl'.
multi-instrumentalist Noko
. As Luxuria they released two albums and a music video for the single "Redneck".
In 2001, Devoto teamed up for the first time in twenty-five years with Buzzcocks Pete Shelley
and released the much-anticipated Buzzkunst
under the name ShelleyDevoto
. Reviews were mixed.
In 2002, Devoto had a small part in the movie 24 Hour Party People
, a film about Manchester's Factory Records
. In his brief cameo appearance, Devoto appears as a janitor
cleaning a men's toilet while actor Martin Hancock
portrays Devoto having a tryst with the wife of promoter/journalist Tony Wilson
. The real-life Devoto breaks the fourth wall
by addressing the camera and stating in deadpan, "I definitely don't remember this happening".
In February 2009 Magazine reformed, with former Luxuria partner Noko replacing John McGeoch
on guitar.
On 9 July 2009, Devoto was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for his contribution to music.
recorded the tribute song "The Most Important Man Alive" for the Bungalow Records compilation Suite 98 in 1988. Devoto has collaborated with the Chester
band Mansun
, appearing on their EP Being A Girl (Part One), and writing a song for the band's earlier EP Closed For Business. Mansun
have also covered "Shot By Both Sides" live. Both Ministry
and Peter Murphy have covered Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me", whilst Morrissey
has covered Magazine's "A Song From Under The Floorboards". Radiohead
and Jarvis Cocker
have both covered "Shot By Both Sides".
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, but then left to form Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
, one of the first post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
bands. After Magazine, he went solo and, later, formed indie band Luxuria.
Biography
He was brought up in Moortown, LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, Warwickshire and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and attended Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School was an independent school in Leeds established in 1552. In August 2005 it merged with Leeds Girls' High School to form The Grammar School at Leeds. The two schools physically united in September 2008....
, where he met and befriended future Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
manager Richard Boon. In 1972, he went to Bolton Institute of Technology (now the University of Bolton
University of Bolton
The University of Bolton is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region...
) to study psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and, later, humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. During these college years, he met his future bandmates Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
and Ben Mandelson
Ben Mandelson
Ben Mandelson is an English world musician, and also manager and producer.-Punk and New Wave years:...
.
Buzzcocks
Inspired by the Sex PistolsSex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, Devoto co-formed Buzzcocks with singer/guitarist Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
in 1975. He left Buzzcocks in February 1977 after only one record (the Spiral Scratch
Spiral Scratch (EP)
Spiral Scratch is a four-track EP by the British punk rock band Buzzcocks, recorded in 1976 and released in January 1977. It was the first punk record to be self-released , and only the third record ever by a British punk band When reissued in 1979, it...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) and a small number of performances.
Magazine
Devoto afterwards formed the influential, genre-defying MagazineMagazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
in 1977. Their unique style was not easily categorized but they were more often than not described rather simplistically as "post-punk" or "new wave". They went on to release several critically acclaimed ground-breaking albums, which met with only moderate commercial success, as well as minor hits such as "Shot By Both Sides
Shot By Both Sides
"Shot by Both Sides" is a song written by Howard Devoto featuring a guitar riff from Pete Shelley, and performed by the English post punk band Magazine, which appeared on their debut album Real Life in 1978 and was released as a single in the same year, reaching #41 on the UK charts.The name of the...
" and "A Song From Under the Floorboards". Magazine reformed for five dates in February 2009.
Solo years
After Magazine split in 1981 Devoto spent two years putting together a solo album with former Magazine keyboard player Dave FormulaDave Formula
Dave Formula, , is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk band Magazine, and New Romantic ensemble Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.-Early Years and St...
. Though criticism of Jerky Versions of the Dream
Jerky Versions of the Dream
Jerky Versions of the Dream is the only solo album recorded by Howard Devoto, original singer of Buzzcocks and Magazine. It was his only studio album, which was released at the time with two singles, "Cold Imagination" and "Rainy Season", being a short-lived solo career for Devoto, who in 1986,...
was mixed, the single "Rainy Season" was consistently picked as a stand-out track. Jerky Versions of the Dream, which reached #57 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in August 1983, was reissued in 2007 by Virgin/EMI, featuring several tracks of bonus material.
Collaborations
A collaboration (three songs) with Bernard Szajner on the Brute Reason LP was released on Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in 1983. This was followed by a rendering of Big Star's "Holocaust" for the loose collective This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
. The album It'll End in Tears contained contributions from many of the 4AD label's best artists, Devoto's presence being somewhat atypical.
In 1997, Devoto wrote the lyrics to the Mansun track, 'Everyone Must Win', which appeared on the 'Closed For Business' EP. A year later, he collaborated again with the band, writing lyrics for and singing on 'Railings', a B-side for 'Being A Girl'.
Luxuria
One of his next projects was a 1988 collaboration with LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
multi-instrumentalist Noko
Norman Fisher-Jones
Norman Fisher-Jones also known as Noko, is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and producer, has formed and/or played with a number of bands primarily as a guitarist or bassist...
. As Luxuria they released two albums and a music video for the single "Redneck".
Life after popular music
For most of the 1990s, Devoto was little involved in music, earning his living by working for a photo agency.In 2001, Devoto teamed up for the first time in twenty-five years with Buzzcocks Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
and released the much-anticipated Buzzkunst
Buzzkunst
Buzzkunst is an album by former Buzzcocks members Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto under the name ShelleyDevoto.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto# "Can You See Me Shining?"# "Strain of Bacteria"# "Deeper"...
under the name ShelleyDevoto
ShelleyDevoto
ShelleyDevoto is a musical collaboration between singer Howard Devoto and singer/guitarist Pete Shelley. Both were founding members of the Buzzcocks in the mid-1970s, and ShelleyDevoto was their first collaboration in over two decades....
. Reviews were mixed.
In 2002, Devoto had a small part in the movie 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
, a film about Manchester's Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
. In his brief cameo appearance, Devoto appears as a janitor
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
cleaning a men's toilet while actor Martin Hancock
Martin Hancock
Martin Hancock is an English actor well known for his role as Emily Bishop's nephew Geoffrey "Spider" Nugent in the British soap Coronation Street and Reg Lund in Holby City....
portrays Devoto having a tryst with the wife of promoter/journalist Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
. The real-life Devoto breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
by addressing the camera and stating in deadpan, "I definitely don't remember this happening".
In February 2009 Magazine reformed, with former Luxuria partner Noko replacing John McGeoch
John McGeoch
John Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
on guitar.
On 9 July 2009, Devoto was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for his contribution to music.
Tributes, references and cover songs
A number of bands continue to be influenced by his work. MomusMomus (artist)
Nick Currie , more popularly known under the artist name Momus , is a songwriter, blogger and former journalist for Wired...
recorded the tribute song "The Most Important Man Alive" for the Bungalow Records compilation Suite 98 in 1988. Devoto has collaborated with the Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
band Mansun
Mansun
Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
, appearing on their EP Being A Girl (Part One), and writing a song for the band's earlier EP Closed For Business. Mansun
Mansun
Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
have also covered "Shot By Both Sides" live. Both Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
and Peter Murphy have covered Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me", whilst Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
has covered Magazine's "A Song From Under The Floorboards". Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
and Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
have both covered "Shot By Both Sides".
Discography
For Magazine and Luxuria, see Discography of Magazine and Discography of Luxuria. This is from his solo career:- Jerky Versions of the DreamJerky Versions of the DreamJerky Versions of the Dream is the only solo album recorded by Howard Devoto, original singer of Buzzcocks and Magazine. It was his only studio album, which was released at the time with two singles, "Cold Imagination" and "Rainy Season", being a short-lived solo career for Devoto, who in 1986,...
(album) (1983) - Rainy Season (single) (1983)
- Cold Imagination (1983)