Magazine (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 in Manchester, England |
| Founder | Howard Devoto, John McGeoch |
| Headquarters | Manchester , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Magazine was a British rock group established in 1977 in Manchester, England by vocalist Howard Devoto and guitarist John McGeoch. After departing from the punk band Buzzcocks, Devoto sought to form a band with a more experimental and less conventional rock approach. The initial members consisted of Devoto, McGeoch, Barry Adamson on bass, Bob Dickinson on keyboards, and Martin Jackson handling drums.
Their first album, Real Life (1978), garnered critical praise and is recognized as one of the pioneering British post-punk records. After releasing two additional albums, Secondhand Daylight and The Correct Use of Soap, McGeoch exited in 1980 to join Siouxsie and the Banshees. Magazine produced one last studio album before their split in 1981. All four albums secured positions within the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart.
In 2009, the band reunited for a UK tour featuring guitarist Noko, followed by the release of new material with the album No Thyself in October 2011 and a brief tour across the UK.
Magazine has left a lasting impact on acts such as Simple Minds, the Smiths, Radiohead, Pulp, and guitarist John Frusciante.
History
Following his departure from Buzzcocks in early 1977, Devoto founded Magazine in Manchester. He met guitarist McGeoch in April that year, and together they began composing songs that would appear on their debut album. The group signed with Virgin Records and made their live debut at Rafters in Manchester on 28 October 1977.
Bob Dickinson, who co-wrote "Motorcade" and brought a classical and avant-garde influence, left after several performances in late 1977. Early 1978 saw the release of their first single, "Shot by Both Sides", recorded as a four-piece featuring a guitar-bass-drums lineup with punk elements. Shortly thereafter, Dave Formula joined as keyboardist. Although the single narrowly missed entering the UK top 40, it secured them a prominent TV spot on Top of the Pops in February 1978. That same month, they recorded their initial BBC radio session for John Peel.
After touring to support Real Life, which reached the UK top 30, drummer Jackson departed in July. Paul Spencer briefly filled in for European concerts and TV performances including The Old Grey Whistle Test. Spencer left midway through the tour and was succeeded by John Doyle, who completed the promotional cycle.
Their sophomore album, Secondhand Daylight (1979), also charted within the UK top 40 and incorporated more synthesizer elements. During this period, McGeoch, Adamson, and Formula contributed to the electronic project Visage, releasing the single "Tar".
For their third album, Devoto opted for producer Martin Hannett. The Correct Use of Soap (1980) again reached the UK top 30; its single "Sweetheart Contract" achieved modest chart placement. Soon after, McGeoch left due to dissatisfaction with sales figures and stylistic changes, joining Siouxsie and the Banshees. He was replaced by former Ultravox and Neo guitarist Robin Simon. This lineup toured Europe and Australia and issued the live album Play. Simon co-wrote "So Lucky" but departed prior to their next studio effort to collaborate on John Foxx's solo work.
Devoto recruited college acquaintance Ben Mandelson to finalize recording of their fourth album, Magic, Murder and the Weather (1981). Devoto exited months before its release; remaining members disbanded soon after. A compilation titled After the Fact was released in 1982.
Following the breakup, Adamson continued with Visage and worked alongside Pete Shelley, The Birthday Party, and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Jackson played with The Chameleons, Swing Out Sister, and The Durutti Column. Formula remained part of Visage and joined Ludus; Mandelson became involved with The Mekons. Doyle teamed up with McGeoch in The Armoury Show; McGeoch later performed with Public Image Ltd until his death in 2004. Devoto briefly returned with Luxuria before stepping away from music until collaborating again with Shelley on Buzzkunst in 2002.
Reunion
In February 2009, Devoto and Magazine reunited for a series of five sold-out shows featuring Devoto, Formula, Adamson, and Doyle. Although Radiohead's guitarist Jonny Greenwood admired Magazine, he declined to substitute for McGeoch due to his reserved nature. Instead, Noko, who had collaborated with Devoto in Luxuria, took on guitar duties during the tour.
The concerts were met with widespread praise. Later that summer, the band performed at various UK and international festivals before staging "The Soap Show" in Manchester, Edinburgh, and London. This event included a complete performance of The Correct Use of Soap followed by selections from their broader catalogue.
By January 2010, Noko had become an official member of Magazine. The group began working on new compositions; however, Adamson departed in November 2010 to concentrate on film projects and solo work. Jon "Stan" White stepped in as bassist, making his live debut on 30 June 2011 at Wolverhampton Slade Rooms prior to their appearance at the Hop Farm Festival.
Magazine launched their studio album No Thyself globally through Wire Sound on 24 October 2011 and supported it with a UK tour in November. On 16 April 2016, coinciding with Record Store Day, they released Once at the Academy, a live 5-track 12" EP capturing performances from their 2009 reunion shows at Manchester Academy.
Legacy
Magazine left a significant mark on emerging artists such as Simple Minds, who toured as their support in 1979 and later recorded a version of "A Song from Under the Floorboards". Guitarist Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead identified McGeoch as his foremost guitar inspiration and acknowledged Magazine's songwriting as influential to much of Radiohead's output. In 2000, Radiohead covered "Shot By Both Sides".
Johnny Marr from the Smiths highlighted Magazine—particularly McGeoch's guitar style—as a major influence. The Smiths' frontman Morrissey included a rendition of "A Song from Under the Floorboards" as a B-side to his 2006 single "The Youngest Was the Most Loved". Additionally, My Friend the Chocolate Cake covered "Floorboards" on their 1994 album Brood. In 2011, MGMT incorporated "Burst" into their tour setlist.
Jarvis Cocker of Pulp commended Real Life for its blend of intensity and intellect without pretentiousness. Both Magazine and Howard Devoto inspired numerous 1980s groups including China Crisis and Fiction Factory.
The song "A Song from under the Floorboards" was also interpreted by Lolita Pop on their 1989 album Love Poison. Live covers of several Magazine tracks have been performed by Half Man Half Biscuit. "The Light Pours Out of Me" has been reinterpreted by artists such as Peter Murphy, Ministry, and the Mission. The band No Fun at All recorded "Shot by Both Sides" for their album And Now for Something Completely Different, while Mansun performed it during sessions for John Peel. Bassist Duff McKagan cited Real Life as an influence, especially regarding songs that utilize chorus effects.
Members
Classic line-up
- Howard Devoto – lead vocals (1977–1981, 2009–2011)
- John McGeoch – guitar, saxophone, backing vocals, keyboards (1977–1980; died 2004)
- Barry Adamson – bass guitar, backing vocals (1977–1981, 2009–2010)
- Dave Formula – keyboards (1977–1981, 2009–2011)
- John Doyle – drums (1978–1981, 2009–2011)
Other members
- Martin Jackson – drums (1977–1978)
- Bob Dickinson – keyboards (1977)
- John Scott – guitar (1977)
- Paul Spencer – drums (1978)
- Robin Simon – guitar (1980)
- Ben Mandelson – guitar, violin (1981)
- Noko – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2011)
- Jonathan "Stan" White – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–2011)
Discography
Magazine's discography features five studio albums, four live recordings, seven compilation albums, two video releases, one extended play (EP), and ten singles.
Unless specified otherwise, all records were issued through Virgin Records.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | UK | AUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Real Life | 29 | ― |
| 1979 | Secondhand Daylight | 38 | ― |
| 1980 | The Correct Use of Soap | 28 | 98 |
| 1981 | Magic, Murder and the Weather | 39 | 95 |
| 2011 | No Thyself
|
167 | — |
Live albums
| Year | Title | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Play | 69 |
| 1993 | BBC Radio 1 in Concert
|
— |
| 2009 | Real Life & Thereafter | — |
Live And Intermittent (Restored And Remastered) (08.79 + 09.79 + 09.80)
|
— | |
| 2016 | Once at the Academy (EP)
|
— |
Singles
| Year | Title | UK | US Dance | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Shot by Both Sides" | 41 | — | '’Real Life’’ |
| "The Light Pours Out Of Me" | — | — | '’Real Life’’ | |
| "Touch and Go" | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Give Me Everything" | — | — | Non-album single | |
| 1979 | "Rhythm of Cruelty" | "—" | "—" | '’Secondhand Daylight’’ |
| "Believe That I Understand" | "—" | "—" | '’Secondhand Daylight’’ | |
| "A Song from Under the Floorboards" | "—" | "—" | '’The Correct Use of Soap’’ | |
| "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" | "—" | "42" | '’The Correct Use of Soap’’ | |
| "Upside Down" | "—" | "—" | 'Non-album single' | |
| "Sweetheart Contract" (EP) | "54" | "—" | '’The Correct Use of Soap’’ | |
| "About the Weather" | "—" | "—" | '’Magic, Murder and the Weather’’ | |
"Hello Mr Curtis"
|
"—" | "—" | '’No Thyself’’ |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1982 | After the Fact |
| 1987 | Rays and Hail 1978–1981: The Best of Magazine |
| 1990 | Scree – Rarities 1978–1981 |
| 2000 | Where the Power Is |
| Maybe It's Right to Be Nervous Now | |
| 2008 | The Complete John Peel Sessions |
| 2009 | Touch & Go: Anthology 02. 78–06. 81 |
Video albums
1989 Magazine (VHS) 2009 Real Life & Thereafter DVD/CD- Label: Wire-Sound
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