Howard Devoto

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Howard Devoto
synthpop, new wave, electronic
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, guitars
Years active1976–2012
LabelsNew Hormones, Virgin, I.R.S., EMI

Howard Devoto (born Howard Andrew Trafford, 15 March 1952)[1] is an English singer and songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for punk rock band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine, an early post-punk band. After Magazine, he went solo and later formed indie band Luxuria.

His singing has been characterized as a "speak-sing voice that veered between amused croon and panicked yelp".[2]

Biography

Born in

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.[8] He picked the stage name "Devoto" before meeting Shelley from the name of a friend of his landlord called "Andy Devoto".[9]

Buzzcocks

Inspired by the

Spiral Scratch EP)[4] and a small number of performances to form the band Magazine.[10]

Magazine

Devoto formed the post-punk band Magazine in 1977.[11] They released several critically acclaimed albums, which met with moderate commercial success, as well as minor hits such as "Shot by Both Sides" and "A Song from Under the Floorboards". Magazine reformed in February 2009, initially performing on a tour of five dates, and subsequently continued playing live and began to record new material. A studio album, No Thyself, was released in October 2011.

Solo years

Devoto performing circa 1983

After Magazine split in 1981 Devoto spent two years putting together a solo album with former Magazine keyboard player Dave Formula. Jerky Versions of the Dream reached No. 57 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1983,[12] and was reissued in 2007 by Virgin/EMI, featuring several tracks of bonus material.

Collaborations

A collaboration on three songs with

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 (Part One)".

Luxuria

One of his next projects was a 1988 collaboration with

Noko. 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.[13]

In 2001, he teamed up with Buzzcocks colleague Pete Shelley for the first time in twenty-five years, 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 caretaker 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, deadpan, "I definitely don't remember this happening".

Magazine reformed in February 2009, with former Luxuria partner Noko replacing the deceased John McGeoch on guitar.

On 9 July 2009, Devoto was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for his contribution to music.

Reunion with Buzzcocks

In November 2011, it was announced he would be returning to the stage with Buzzcocks for two special shows as part of the Buzzcocks "Back to Front" tour on 25 and 26 May 2012. These took place at the O2 Apollo in Manchester and the O2 Academy in Brixton [14]

Tributes, references and cover songs

A number of bands continue to be influenced by his work.

My Friend The Chocolate Cake, Morrissey and Strange Boutique
have covered Magazine's "A Song from Under the Floorboards".

Discography

For Magazine and Luxuria, see Discography of Magazine and Discography of Luxuria. This is from his solo career:

Solo discography

Albums

Singles

  • 1983: "Rainy Season" - No. 97 UK
  • 1983: "Cold Imagination"

Chronological discography

References

  1. ^ Rizzi, Cesare, Enciclopedia della musica rock. "HOWARD DEVOTO (HOWARD TRAFFORD) (15 marzo 1952): voce"
  2. ^ Simpson, Dave (20 October 2011). "Magazine: No Thyself – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Avanti fanzine - Issue no 1 from 1988, interview with Howard Devoto". Archived from the original on 23 July 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Event Review: An Evening with Buzzcocks, Urbis Manchester 12 Aug 2005". Aidan.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  5. ^ Johnston, Graham. "Clicks and Klangs". Beefheart.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  6. ^ Dave Simpson (12 December 2008). "Howard Devoto on why it's the right time for a Magazine reunion | Music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  7. ISBN 978-0-312-28822-8
    "I'd known Howard from Leeds Grammar School (...)", Richard Boon
  8. ^ Crampton, Luke; Rees, Dafydd (1996). The Q Book of Punk Legends. Enfield, UK: Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 17–25.
  9. ^ "Howard Devoto and Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks on Spiral Scratch – interview". Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Buzzcocks Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  11. ISBN 1-84195-335-0
    .
  12. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
    .
  13. ^ "PopMatters Music Interview | Howard Devoto: Interview with a Resurfacing Should-Have-Been Musical Legend". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.[dead link]
  14. ^ "Announcement of Back To Front tour". ents24.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

External links

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