From the self-inflicted pain of yesterday’s Just by Radiohead, we move to a narcissism of a more confident nature, pouring out of the mouth of Howard Devoto, and coming from the thrumming bass of Barry Adamson and the sustained guitar power of John McGeoch. The innovative post-punk Manchester band, perhaps best known for their hit Shot On Both Sides, were active from 1977-1981, and had a two-year revival from 2009-2011. They were originally formed after Devoto left the Buzzcocks in 1977, and he penned this particular song for Magazine’s debut album Real Life with his old Buzzcocks colleague Pete Shelley.
Brimming with confidence, Devoto was always a considerable and often intimidating frontman, and this song exudes self-love to such extremes as to be satirical. He later went solo and formed the band Luxuria, alongside various reunions with old friends over the years. Scotland’s McGeogh, using a variety of post-punk styles including harmonics and flanger, is regarded by many, including Johnny Marr of the Smiths, as one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. He went on to work with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage, Public Image Ltd and the Sugarcubes. He sadly died in 2004. Adamson, perhaps the most successful of all, flourished after finding his smooth singing voice, and after writing his Moss Side Story album of 1989, a series of solo albums and various film music followed. They all found confidence to be themselves, pouring musical light in all directions.
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