Biography

Introduction

Magazine were an English post-punk group active between 1977 and 1981. 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 The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving punk band Buzzcocks in early 1977, deciding to create a more experimental and less punk band who later influenced many musicians. Magazine reunited for a tour through Britain in February 2009, with almost all the most remaining and "classic" line-up during their brief time, with the exception of guitarist John McGeoch who died in 2004 and was replaced by Noko, who had played with Devoto in Luxuria.

Biography

The band was formed in Manchester by Howard Devoto shortly after he left The Buzzcocks in early 1977. In April 1977 he met guitarist John McGeoch, then an art student, and they began writing songs, some of which would appear on the first Magazine album. They then recruited Barry Adamson on bass, Bob Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson (previously of The Freshies) on drums, to form the first line-up of the band, which signed to Virgin Records. The band played their debut live gig at the Rafters, in Manchester, on 28 October 1977.

Dickinson, co-writer of 'Motorcade' and whose background was in classical and avant-garde music, left shortly after a number of gigs in late 1977, and in early 1978 the band released their first single Shot By Both Sides, recorded by the band as four-piece and an only guitar-bass-drums sound similar to punk. Shortly after the single's release, Dave Formula, who had played with a 1960's shortly famed rock band from Manchester called St. Louis Union, joined as keyboardist. "Shot By Both Sides", the chorus of which shared the same progression as The Buzzcocks' "Lipstick," reached the Top 50 in the UK singles chart. Its cover was an early example of the goth influence in punk. The band, with Formula on keyboards, made its first major TV appearance on Top Of The Pops in February 1978, performing the single.

Following a British tour to promote their first album Real Life, Jackson left in late July, and was replaced briefly by Paul Spencer, who performed with the band for gigs across Europe and some television appearances, including the Old Grey Whistle Test, where they played "Definitive Gaze". Spencer quit partway through the tour, joining The Speedometors shortly afterwards, and he was replaced in October by John Doyle, who completed the Real Life promotional tour and remained in the band.

In 1979 Magazine's second album, Secondhand Daylight was released. Secondhand Daylight features more experimental, synthesizer-based material. That same year, McGeoch, Adamson and Formula joined electronic project Visage, recording and releasing the single Tar.

After the release of the album, Devoto decided to change producer, choosing Martin Hannett, who produced their next album in the same year, The Correct Use of Soap. Following its release John McGeoch decided to leave the band, tired of the low sales of the band's previous recordings and their not so guitar playing-oriented songs joining Siouxsie And The Banshees. To replace him the band called Robin Simon, who previously was in Ultravox and Neo. That line-up toured across Europe and Australia, recording their next release, the live album Play. Simon made some initial recordings and rehearsals for the Magic Murder And The Weather album, including co-writing the song "So Lucky", but he left the band before the album was released so that he could record on the John Foxx solo album The Garden.

Again without a guitarist, Devoto called in his former college mate at Bolton, Ben Mandelson (former Amazorblades member). This lineup completed the recording of Magic, Murder And The Weather in 1981, but Devoto quit in May of the same year months before its release of the album. A year later, After The Fact, the first Magazine compilation was released.

Adamson continued collaborating with Visage, and also began to work with The Birthday Party and Pete Shelley, Formula continued as member of Visage and joined Ludus, Mandelson joined The Mekons , and Doyle joined The Armoury Show in Scotland in 1983, along with John McGeoch. After a brief solo outing and two albums with Luxuria Devoto quit music to become a photo archivist until a collaboration with Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley produced the Buzzkunst album in 2002.

Legacy

Magazine's music continues to be an influence in modern music today. While having roots in the punk and new-wave movements, Magazine combined elements of avant-garde and pop. Radiohead in particular draws on the lyrical style of the group, and have performed "Shot By Both Sides" in concert. What's more, Radiohead's 1995 single "Just", with its ascending guitar hook, bears a passing resemblance to "Shot By Both Sides". Former Smiths singer Morrissey, a fan and acquaintance of Devoto's, covered "A Song From Under The Floorboards" as a B-side to his 2006 single "The Youngest Was the Most Loved". "Floorboards" was covered by My Friend The Chocolate Cake on their 1994 album Brood. Half Man Half Biscuit have performed live covers of a number of Magazine songs. "The Light Pours Out Of Me", from the album Real Life, has been covered by The Mission, Peter Murphy, Sleep Chamber and Ministry. Swedish punk band No Fun At All did a cover of "Shot By Both Sides" on their record "And Now For Something Completely Different". Devoto co-wrote two songs with Mansun, "Everyone Must Win" and "Railings", contributing vocals to the latter, and the band later covered "Shot By Both Sides" for John Peel.

Reformation

It was confirmed in July 2008 that Howard Devoto and Magazine would reform for five dates in February 2009. The lineup includes Devoto, Formula, Adamson and Doyle. In November 2008, the band announced Noko, Devoto's bandmate in Luxuria, would be the guitarist in the reformation lineup, taking the place of John McGeoch, who died in 2004.

The sold out shows received widespread critical acclaim. [7][8][9] The group then went on to play at festivals in the UK and abroad over summer, before performing 'The Soap Show' in Manchester, Edinburgh and London. At these concerts, the band played two sets - a performance of The Correct Use of Soap in full, followed by a set comprising of other songs from their catalogue.

Devoto has not ruled out the group trying out new material. [10]

Discography

All records were released on Virgin. All listings are UK releases.

Albums

Real Life (June 1978) # 29 UK
Secondhand Daylight (March 1979: V2121) # 38 UK
The Correct Use of Soap (May 1980: V2156) # 28 UK
Play (Live at Melbourne Festival Hall) (September 16 1980: V2184) # 69 UK
Magic, Murder and the Weather (June 1981: V2200) # 39 UK

Singles and EPs

"Shot By Both Sides" b/w "My Mind Ain't So Open" (VS200, 1978) UK #41
"Touch And Go" b/w "Goldfinger" (VS207, 1978)
"Give Me Everything" b/w "I Love You You Big Dummy" (VS237, 1978)
"Rhythm of Cruelty" b/w "TV Baby" (VS251, 1979)
"A Song From Under The Floorboards" b/w "Twenty Years Ago" (VS321, 1980)
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" b/w "The Book" (VS328, 1980)
"Upside Down" b/w "The Light Pours Out Of Me" (VS334, 1980)
"Sweetheart Contract" EP (VS36812, 1980) UK #54
"About The Weather" EP (VS412-12, 1981)

Compilations

After The Fact (1982) - Virgin (UK) IRS Records (US)
Rays and Hail 1978-1981: the Best of Magazine (1987) - Virgin
Scree - Rarities 1978-1981 (1991) - Virgin
BBC Radio 1 in Concert (1993) - BBC Windsong
Where The Power Is (2000) - Virgin
(Maybe It's Right to Be Nervous Now) (2000) - Virgin
The Complete John Peel Sessions (2008) - Virgin EMI
Touch & Go: Anthology 02.78–06.81 (2009) - Virgin EMI
Live and Intermittent (2009) - Wire-Sound
No Thanks: the 70's Punk Reblion" (2003) - Rhino

Bootlegs

Pre Real Life Demos & Live, a collection of demos and live tracks before the release of the Real Life album.
Definitive Daze
Live in Boston, in 1979. Named Back To Nature (Centrifugal 12CENT-10C).