Buzzcocks co-founder Pete Shelley dies at 63

LONDON — Pete Shelley, songwriter and co-founder of the Buzzcocks, has died at age 63.

On Thursday, the band confirmed “with great sadness” his death and called him “one of the U.K.’s most influential and prolific songwriters.”

The Buzzcocks were part of the mid-70s punk revolution alongside the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Like their contemporaries, the Buzzcocks scorned what they considered the pretensions and bloated style of mainstream groups.

The band’s energy and intensity were worthy of punk, but they had a strong melodic streak. Their singles included “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve),” “Orgasm Addict” and “What Do I Get?”

Shelley, whose real name was Peter Campbell McNeish, was born in the English town of Leigh in 1955. He founded Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto after they met at university. The band debuted in 1976 in Manchester, opening for the Sex Pistols. Devoto left in 1977 and Shelley took over as lead singer.

The Buzzcocks broke up in 1981, but reunited in 1989 and continued to perform and record over the past three decades.