Pete Shelley - Homosapian

I first heard this song in the 90s on a collection of 80s New Wave CDs. I knew Pete Shelley as the lead singer of the Buzzcocks but not his solo work.

This song is amazing.

I still remember hearing a Buzzcocks song for the first time - it was "Orgasm Addict" and it grabbed me and never let go.

Equally I still remember hearing the Buzzcocks on the radio back in December of 2018 . . . and then another song right after. I just went, "Oh no . . . "

Sad to lose him, so great to have had him.

Happy Birthday Wendy O. Williams

Wendy O. Williams would have been 71 today.

She's my favorite woman in rock.

I'm still very sad that depression caused her to take her own life. It's her life, and she did what she liked, but I'm so sorry she chose to end it.

Here is some awesome stuff by The Plasmatics to make up for her loss.


I miss you WOW!

Magazine - Shot by Both Sides

This song alone should cement Magazine's place in Rock and Roll history:



The riff might sound familiar - if so, it's because Pete Shelley wrote it and gave it to his former Buzzcocks member and Magazine founder Howard Devoto. He then used it for the Buzzcock's song Lipstick:



Howard Devote gets songwriting credit on that one, and Pete Shelley on "Shot by Both Sides." Can't go wrong with that kind of post-split collaboration.

I Like the Cover Better: Without You

The song Without You, done by Harry Nilsson, is one of my favorite songs of all time.



He didn't write it, though. The original is by Badfinger, and it's also excellent:



Still . . . as the title says, I like the cover better.

Neil Young - Unknown Legend

This song is more country than rock, really, but has some of the finest guitar playing ever by Neil Young . . . who has played some of the best guitar in rock and roll, period.

The Stranglers - Get a Grip on Yourself

Dammit, COVID-19 took another musician from a band I love - the keyboardist from The Stranglers.

Wendy O Williams - It's My Life

Wendy Orleans Williams, one of my punk rock heroes, took her own life on this date. I'm still not over that.

It was her life . . . but I sure wish that wasn't what she felt like she wanted to do.



Thanks for the music and the attitude Wendy. Rule in Metal-Punk Heaven with Lemmy at your side.

Bonus track - Masterplan (live)