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In 1968, Pete Shelley heard a Beatles classic, and it set him on the path to punk greatness
The article says Pete Shelley traced his musical beginnings to hearing the Beatles’ “Revolution” as a 13-year-old in 1968. Its distorted guitars and urgent sound inspired him to start a band, helping set him on the path to forming Buzzcocks and becoming a key figure in British punk.
Shelley recalled playing Beatles records on acoustic guitars with a school friend before “Revolution” prompted him to phone that friend about forming a band. Buzzcocks emerged in 1976 and helped shape independent music with their self-released *Spiral Scratch* EP. The article argues that the Beatles’ influence remained beneath the band’s punk sound and may have helped them balance punk credibility with commercial success.
In short
- “Revolution” inspired Pete Shelley at 13.
- Shelley formed Buzzcocks nearly a decade later.
- The Beatles’ influence lived on in the band’s punk sound.