Autonomy: Portrait of a Buzzcock

By Steve Diggle

From bass player to lead guitarist, member, Steve Diggle has been the driving force keeping Buzzcocks alive since he first met Pete Shelley in 1976. Together they would ignite the Manchester music scene, kickstart indie and become one of the best loved and most influential punk groups of all time.

Following Shelley’s untimely death in 2018, Autonomy is Diggle’s definitive inside account of their shared musical legacy and complex friendship through the band’s rise, fall, and rise again – from their punk origins supporting Sex Pistols with original singer Howard Devoto to Top of the Pops, the excess of success, break-up, reformation and life beyond bereavement.

Funny, honest and touchingly philosophical, it is also Diggle’s very personal story of working class escape, dreams, redemption and loss – an ultimately heroic survivor’s tale from an irrepressible rock’n’roll spirit.

'Steve Diggle's approach to bass, and later his switch to guitar, was crucial in the shaping of the sound of the entire punk movement. Autonomy captures the excitement I felt in 1977 first hearing Buzzcocks' visceral punch' Will Sergeant, Echo & the Bunnymen

'Love the Buzzcocks, 2nd greatest band to come out of Manchester!' Liam Gallagher

'Buzzcocks booked the Sex Pistols’ first show in Manchester telling us we would be hearing about their band very soon, and it wasn’t long before the world was bombarded with hit after hit of their unique pure punk power pop energy. Steve and the band put smiles on our faces.' Paul Cook, Sex Pistols

‘A fascinating read, not least because Steve’s is the quintessential punk rock story' Paul Hanley, The Fall

'Training a lens of rare acuity on interpersonal dealings, misbehaviours, songwriting and lyrical fuel' MOJO 4****

'An endearing blend of down-to-earth Northern grit and daydreaming whimsy' Record Collector

'A compelling account by one of the architects of Punk and an essential read for anyone who has ever fallen in love or who has felt disinclined to conform. It’s definitely a thing that’s worth having.' Louder Than War

'Moving, erudite memoir' Classic Rock, 8/10

"Insightful and self aware, full of wry observation" Outside Left

Publication Date: 22.08.24
ISBN: 9781915841087
Extent: 240 pages
Format: Hardback

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