Collected Lyrics - Pete Shelley

Bought this back in the summer and hadn't got round to reviewing it. I think I should do so now.I am 53 and bought my first Buzzcocks record (Love You More) after seeing it on TOTP, August 1978, when I was 12. From then on I was Buzzcocks mad and feverishly collected their records, badges, cuttings, etc.My claim to fame was seeing them at my first gig in October 1980 at Birmingham Odeon on the Parts Tour. Just before they started “Love Battery”, Pete said “Is there anyone called <my name> in the audience?” I put my hand up - along with everyone else! - and he dedicated the song to me. Unknown to me my stepdad had written to the band saying what a big fan I was. That Christmas I got a signed photo and card, still have them.I was genuinely gutted when I heard about the passing of Pete. His music has been with me since that August day in 1978 and over the years I have collected every piece of vinyl and CD the band released. I was also a big fan of his solo material and “Homosapien” helped me through my mocks at school back in the early 80s. People talk about musical heroes all the time. Pete Shelley was mine and he always will be.Anyway, onto the book. As has been said many times in the last week or so, Pete was a fantastically accomplished lyricist. Every page of this book oozes with his views on everyday life, particularly the subject of unrequited love. All the lyrics to Buzzcocks albums and singles are here, plus his solo material too. If you want to know the lyrics to the Homosapien limited edition b-side “Love In Vain” then it’s here. Want to know what he’s singing in “Pulsebeat” (as it is sung soooooo fast)? With this book you can now decipher what he’s singing!The book is lovingly created, is superb quality and is topped off by a fantastic cover design by none other than Malcolm Garrett himself.The first lyrics I looked at? “I Believe”.“I'm skippin' the pages of a book that takes ages for the foreword to endTriangular cover concealing another aspect from viewMy relative motion is just an illusion from stopping too fastThe essence of being these feelings I'm feeling I just want them to last.”

Love bites in a different kitchenThank you Pete in so many waysIt seems everyone is happy nowadaysYou won us over with songs of love not hateAnd about that train for which you had to waitA catchy riff, a melodyYou didn't write Running FreeThere was music in a different kitchenBut in Fast Cars you were not hitchingThose little plastic robins on the Christmas cakeA song about a highly charged sexual stateWith Howard Devoto what a teamBoredom Boredom Razor cut cleanYou hit us next, we got love bitesWe fell in love, should not have by rightsOur heartstrings plucked by your touching wordsThe Punk Pop lines they had been blurredMy mother said turn it downAs Noise Annoys went round and roundBut my Promises were not keptSomething went wrong, how we weptSongs that had a wall of soundSongs of youth I'm glad I foundYou had your own Raison D'treI had to look up that one you seeWas it love or Just LustI guess I wasn't really fussedIt felt like I was sixteen again sonNostalgia for an age yet to comeThe thorn beneath the rose you criedIt left you feeling hollow insideParadise is hard to conceiveIt's half as nice I do believeI remember Pete Shelley the man from LeighBeing interviewed in a field on a setteeWith every heartbeat at the coreI guess we all loved you moreSo off on a sidetrack techno phaseThat Martin Rushent did amazeWhat was PS telling youThat you were homosapien tooI think if i must tell the truthPete Shelley helped me misspend my youthI sang along to all the hitsJust as loud as the less known bitsAnd so Pete Shelley, we saluteYour song writing skills and your tip top groupYou will be missed by all our kindOn TV Buzzcocks never mindThe Bard of Bicton Heath

The scribbles of a musical genius. My first musical hero. Sorely missed.

All you ever need to appreciate and reflect upon the genius of Leigh's favourite son!

Love his work, fast delivery

Really enjoyed flicking through this. Dont often read a book like this straight through. Just keep coming back to it bit by bit. Only one minor fault . Wish it had the few co-writes he did. Now how about one by steve diggle. So the complete buzzcocks output is available