MAGAZINE (BAND)

'Magazine' was an English Post-punk group active between 1977 and 1981. The band was formed by Howard Devoto after he left Buzzcocks in 1976. In April 1977 he met guitarist John McGeoch and they began writing songs which would become the first Magazine material. They recruited Barry Adamson, Bob Dickinson and Martin Jackson to form the first line-up of the band, which signed to Virgin Records. Bob Dickinson left shortly after the release of the band's first single "Shot by Both Sides" and was replaced by Dave Formula. "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.
Following a tour to promote the first album ''Real Life'', Jackson left and was replaced briefly by Paul Spencer and then John Doyle. In 1979 the second album, ''Secondhand Daylight'' followed. Devoto left the band in 1981, and after a brief solo outing and two albums with Luxuria he quit music to become a photo archivist.

Contents

Legacy

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

Compilations

External links

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 covered "A Song From Under The Floorboards" as a B-side to his 2006 single "The Youngest Was the Most Loved". "Floorboards" was also covered by My Friend The Chocolate Cake on their 1994 album Brood. Another song called "The Light Pours out of Me" has been covered by both Peter Murphy and Ministry.

Discography

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

Albums

★ ''Real Life'' (1978)

★ ''Secondhand Daylight'' (V2121, 1979)

★ ''The Correct Use of Soap'' (V2156, 1980)

★ ''Play'' (V2184, 1980) - live album

★ ''Magic, Murder and the Weather'' (V2200, 1981)

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) - IRS Records

★ ''Scree'' (1991) - rarities 1978-1981

★ ''Rays & Hail 1978-1981'' (1993) - single disc retrospective

★ ''Maybe It's Right to Be Nervous Now'' (2000) - three disc box set

★ ''Where the Power Is'' (2000) - single disc retrospective

External links

★ Shot by Both Sides

★ PunkNet '77 entry for Magazine

★ AllMusic entry for Magazine

★ TrouserPress entry for Magazine

★ band information