Lee Gordon McKillop (born 4 August 1968) is an English stand-up comedian and actor, known by the stage name Lee Mack.^[1] He is well known in the United Kingdom for writing and starring in the sitcom Not Going Out, for being a team captain on Would I Lie to You? and for hosting Lee Mack's All Star Cast.

Personal life[link]

Mack was born on 4 August 1968 and lived in Southport, then in Lancashire and now in Merseyside, above a pub until he was 12 when his parents separated and he moved to Blackburn, Lancashire.^[1][2] He went to Birkdale County Junior School and Stanley High School.^[3] After leaving school he worked in a bingo hall and as a stableboy. After working at the stable for three days he asked if he could try and ride a horse; the trainer agreed and the first horse he ever rode was Red Rum.^[1][4] After that, Mack became a blue coat for Pontin's at Hemsby near Great Yarmouth.^[1] After appearing on stage drunk one night, and calling an audience member a "cunt", he was sacked from the Hemsby team, and did six months at Pontins in Morecambe.^[1] Mack admitted during an interview to having a massive fear of flying.

Mack went on to have various other jobs, and did his first open mike slot in 1994, while studying at Brunel University.^[1] Within 18 months he was a full time comedian.^[1]

Mack lives in Hammersmith, West London, with his wife, Tara and their children, Arlo (born 2004) and Louie (born 2006), and a baby daughter, Millie, born October 2011. He also has six nieces and nephews, who have all appeared in his shows at one point.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2009 Mack, with other British entertainers, signed an open letter to The Times on the Bahá'í leaders then on trial in Iran.^[5]

Lee Mack said in an interview with The Guardian^[6] that he first went into comedy by doing Bobby Ball impressions at his school when he was 15.

Lee is a supporter of Blackburn Rovers and often visits Ewood Park to watch games.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

Mack first came to prominence on winning So You Think You're Funny at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Since then Mack has played the part of Graham, the security guard in the original radio version of The Mighty Boosh, and also has his own radio show on BBC Radio 2 called The Lee Mack Show, which features a different celebrity co-hosting the show. He was a cast member for ITV's The Sketch Show.^[1] and featured in the American (USA) version of the same name

In 2005 Mack presented They Think It's All Over, a sports based comedy panel game, formerly presented by Nick Hancock.^[1] However, it proved to be the show's final series.^[1] In 2007 he appeared on TV Heaven, Telly Hell.

His first sitcom Not Going Out for BBC One with Tim Vine (in which he plays Lee, the central character) premièred on 6 October 2006. The show has since returned for a second series (September 2007), a third series (January 2009), a fourth series (February 2011) and a fifth series (April 2012). It will be returning for a sixth and seventh series, currently scheduled for 2013 and 2014. It has won a Rose d'Or and RTS Award. He is a team captain on the BBC One panel show Would I Lie to You?.^[1] He has also been guest host on Have I Got News for You 5 times: 23 May 2008, 12 June 2009, 1 April 2010, 2 December 2010 and 28 October 2011. He was guest host on Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 9 December 2010.

Mack has contributed to Comic Relief

Mack has also appeared on Jack Dee Live at the Apollo

Mack went on tour in 2006 and filmed his first live DVD at the Bloomsbury Theatre, which was released the following year.

In spring 2010 Mack embarked on his "Going Out" tour. Extra dates were added for autumn 2010 due to his spring tour being sold out well in advance. Going Out Live, his second live DVD, was filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo and was released in November. Other notable venues of the tour included the Gulbenkian Theatre, the Blackpool Tower, Brighton Dome, Alexandra Theatre and the Longacre Theatre in New York City.

In December 2010 he performed at the Royal Variety Performance.^[7]

In June 2011, he launched a new show entitled Lee Mack's All Star Cast for the BBC. It features members of the audience taking part in silly games to get a spot in a sketch at the end of the show.^[8]

Stand-up DVDs[link]

TV[link]

• Not Going Out Himself/Lee
• Would I Lie to You? Himself
• The Graham Norton Show Himself
• The Sketch Show Himself
• Lee Mack's All Star Cast Himself
• Alan Carr Chatty Man Himself
• QI Himself
• Have I Got News For You Himself

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Tour website
• Lee Mack at the Internet Movie Database

Katie Price
Price in 2004
Born	Katrina Amy Alexandria Alexis Infield (1978-05-22) 22 May 1978 (age 34) Brighton, England
Residence	West Sussex[1]
Nationality	British
Other names	Jordan (pseudonym) Katie Andre (married name) Katie Reid (married name)
Occupation	Businesswoman, media personality, glamour model, author, singer
Years active	1996–present
Net worth	£40 million (US$66.76 million) (est.)
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Spouse	Peter Andre (m. 2005–2009) «start: (2005-09-10)–end+1: (2009-09-09)»"Marriage: Peter Andre to Katie Price" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Katie_Price) (divorced) Alex Reid (m. 2010–2011) «start: (2010-02-02)–end+1: (2012)»"Marriage: Alex Reid to Katie Price" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Katie_Price) (separated)
Children	Harvey (born 2002) Junior (born 2005) Princess (born 2007)
Parents	Ray Infield (father) Amy Price (née Charlier) (mother)
Relatives	Daniel Price (brother) Sophie Price (half-sister)
Website
katieprice.co.uk

Katie Price (born 22 May 1978), previously known under the pseudonym Jordan, is an English media personality, author, former glamour model, occasional singer and businesswoman.

Her time at topless female glamour model pictorial Page Three in British tabloid newspaper The Sun instantly shot Price into the limelight. Her placement in the public's spotlight has allowed Price to expand into a variety of different industries including television, books, fashion and music.

Price has experienced many highly-publicised relationships in the eye of the British media and has been married twice, to singer Peter Andre in 2005 - the couple divorced in 2009 - and to professional fighter Alex Reid in 2010; the couple separated in 2011. Price's net worth was estimated at £45 million in April 2012.^[2]

Life and career[link]

1978–93: Early life[link]

Katie Price was born Katrina Amy Alexandria Alexis Infield in Brighton, East Sussex, England, to parents Amy (née Charlier) and Ray Infield.^[3] Her maternal grandmother was Jewish and her other grandparents on both sides were Anglican.^{[citation needed]} In 1982, at the age of four, her parents separated when her father left the family. In 1988, her mother married builder Paul Price, after which, Price obtained the surname.^[4] She has an older brother named Daniel and a younger maternal half-sister, Sophie.^[5]

Price attended Blatchington Mill School^{[citation needed]} and although not an academic student, she excelled at sport, swimming for Sussex in regional competitions.^[4] During her childhood she also developed a passion for horses and horse-riding.^[4] She was molested by a man in a park's bushes at the age of six.^[6] She began modelling as a child, and at the age of 13 modeled for a clothing line. However, unknown to Price, the project's photographer was a convicted paedophile and insisted on shooting her in her underwear.^[7]

1994–96: Career beginnings[link]

Price left school in 1994, at the age of 16,^[4] and after the suggestion of a friend to have some professional photographs taken she decided to pursue a modelling career.^[8] The pictures were sent to a modelling agency in London and in 1996 she was offered a job at Page Three, a topless female glamour model pictorial in British tabloid newspaper The Sun.^[9] She adopted the name Jordan in 1996, and made frequent appearances as a model on both Page Three and in men's lifestyle magazines.

1997–2003: Success as a model and branching into other areas[link]

In 1996, when she was eighteen, Price's fame grew when she had breast enhancement surgery; increasing her natural 32B/C to a 32D. Unhappy with her breasts from an early age and despite her family's objections, she went ahead with the procedure because she felt that as a glamour model, she did not look "as sexy or [as] womanly" as other models. She would later have many enhancements, as well as reductions, on her breasts. She told a reporter, "Some people may be famous for creating a pencil sharpener. I'm famous for my tits." However, The Sun later barred Price from Page Three after announcing that they would only hire "all natural" models. However, she would continue modelling and has featured on the covers of FHM, Maxim, Nuts, Loaded, Vogue, British Elle and the British edition of Playboy.

In an attempt to cross over from modelling to other areas, Price auditioned for a part on the UK television remake of the American-series Baywatch in 1998,^{[citation needed]} guest presented The Big Breakfast^{[citation needed]} and played herself in an episode of Dream Team.^{[citation needed]}

During the 2001 British General Election, Jordan ran as a candidate in Stretford and Urmston under her real name using the slogan: 'For a Bigger and Betta Future'. As part of her comical election campaign, she promised free breast implants, more nudist beaches, and a ban on parking tickets.^[10] In the end, Jordan won 713 votes,^[11] 1.8% of the votes cast.

In 2002, she appeared on the September cover of the American edition of Playboy magazine. ^[12] Price's reputation led to a trio of documentaries by film-maker Richard Macer: Jordan: The Truth About Me (2002); later followed by Jordan: The Model Mum and Jordan: You Don't Even Know Me (2004).

[edit] 2004–05: I'm a Celebrity, Peter Andre, Eurovision and further business ventures

Katie Price at a 2004 book signing event

Price's celebrity soon brought her to television; she was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! between the months of January and February in 2004, a reality television series where a group of celebrities live together in a jungle environment with few luxuries. It was there that she met Peter Andre whom she would eventually marry and later divorce.

She made a cameo appearance playing herself in an episode of the television drama series Footballers' Wives in March 2004 and also appeared in the programme Jordan Gets Even for Five.

Price appeared on Top Gear's "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" in May 2004. She completed the lap in one minute and fifty-two seconds.

Price released the first of four autobiographies Being Jordan in May 2004. Initially turned down by the mainstream publishing houses after demanding a £1 million advance, she was eventually signed up by small independent publisher John Blake, a former tabloid journalist, for £10,000 plus royalties. In a departure from industry norms, she conducted a 10-day book signing tour which provoked enough interest – contrary to expectations and almost exclusively female – to propel her to first position in the Nielsen BookScan hardback sales chart and to sell 97,090 copies in one year; and over 1,000,000 as of January 2007.^[13][14][15]

She appeared in the documentaries Jordan: Living With a Dream (Channel 4) and the series When Jordan Met Peter (ITV), Jordan & Peter: Laid Bare (ITV2) and Jordan & Peter: Marriage and Mayhem (ITV2).

Price was one of the contestants in the selection process of finding a representative for the United Kingdom at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. The selection process, named Making Your Mind Up, was broadcast live on television in March 2005. Price sang a song titled "Not Just Anybody" wearing a skin-tight pink catsuit. She came in second place^[16] behind winner Javine.

In the summer of summer 2005, Price was one of many guest hosts of the first series of The Friday Night Project. In December 2005, she released an exercise fitness DVD, The Jordan Workout, featuring "The Juice Master" Jason Vale.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 2006–07: Book releases, A Whole New World and Katie & Peter

Her second autobiography, A Whole New World, was published in January 2006. It reached number two in the hardback general category and sold 198,105 copies by 1 April 2006.^[17]

Her first ghost-written novel, Angel, about a young woman who becomes a model, was published in July 2006, and sold 300,000 copies in six weeks.^{[citation needed]}

Price, with Peter Andre, released A Whole New World, a duet album, in November 2006. All sales of the album went to their chosen charities affiliated with the many health conditions of her eldest son, Harvey.^{[citation needed]} The album debuted at number twenty on the UK Albums Chart and achieved platinum status.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006 Price signed a £300,000 advance with Random House for Katie Price's Perfect Ponies,^[18] a series of children's books, with the first 6 released in 2007. Three more books have been released throughout 2008.^{[14][dead link][19]} A title from that series, My Pony Care Book, was nominated for the WH Smith's Children's Book of the Year. In 2008, she released a new children's book series entitled Mermaids & Pirates, with six in the series. Four more are expected for release in April 2008.^[20]

Katie & Peter: Unleashed began in October 2007 on ITV2.^[21] A new series titled, Katie & Peter: The Next Chapter Down Under aired on ITV2 in March 2008 running for 13 weeks.^[22] Katie & Peter: Stateside began on Thursday 16 April 2009 on ITV2 and followed the family as they relocate to Malibu, California for three months, where Andre recorded his new album.

Her second ghost-written novel, Crystal, about a young woman's efforts to become a singer, sold 159,407 copies during the first three months after its release in June 2007.^[23] All four books were ghost-written by Rebecca Farnworth.^[24][25]

[edit] 2008–09: Business ventures, split from Peter Andre, What Katie Did Next and return to I'm a Celebrity

Price modelling a bikini in November 2009

In February 2008, Price's third autobiography, Pushed to the Limit, was released. In July 2008, Price released her third novel, Angel Uncovered. In July 2009, Price released a novel entitled Sapphire which was number 1 on the hardback fiction chart for four consecutive weeks and sold 42,215 copies in its first two weeks in the UK alone.^[26]

After three and a half years of marriage, Price and Andre separated in May 2009 after Andre's decision to leave her. They were officially divorced on 8 September 2009, two days before what would have been their fourth wedding anniversary.^[27]

A series aired in August/September 2009 called What Katie Did Next (now called Katie), which showed Price's life/career after her split and eventual divorce from Andre. Price released a fashion/how-to manual in October 2009 called Standing Out.

In November 2009, Price made a return visit to I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Presenters Ant & Dec insinuated during the broadcast that the surprise of Price's return had been ruined by the media.^[28] Whilst in the jungle, the public repeatedly voted Price to undertake each and every "Bush Tucker Trial" challenge. After it had been announced that Price had been selected for her seventh consecutive trial, she decided to quit the show and left one week after her arrival.

[edit] 2010–present: Alex Reid, You Only Live Once and current business ventures

In July 2010, Price released "Free to Love Again", a non-album single. About the release, she explained: "I'm not a singer, this is just something that I'm doing for fun. It's not like I'm worried about getting a chart position or number one, this is purely for fun. Whether people like it or not, I'm doing it."^[29] The single had scarce promotion or radio play and was negatively received by contemporary critics.^{[citation needed]} It charted at number sixty on the UK Singles Chart^[30] and was only supported by performances on GMTV and at various London nightclubs. On all occasions, she admitted that she had been lip-synching.

Price released her fifth novel, Paradise, in July 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Giving a personal insight to her life between the start of 2008 and the summer of 2010, Price released her fourth autobiography titled You Only Live Once in October 2010. The book documents her split from Andre and leads up to her marriage to Alex Reid. Price dedicated the autobiography to Andre, amongst other family members and close friends, in the "hope [that he] find the happiness [he has] always been searching for". She also thanks him for taking her on a journey of self-discovery.^{[citation needed]}

Price continues to write a regular advice column in OK! magazine.^[22]

In January 2011, it was reported in the Daily Mirror that Price was separating from Reid.^[31]

Katie is confirmed to dance with her boyfriend Leandro Penna on the Argentine television programme Bailando por un Sueño 2012 of the channel El Trece.

Endorsements[link]

In October 2003, Price appeared in an advertising campaign for the supermarket chain Kwik Save. To publicise the chain's promotion to cut the prices of their leading lines in half, Price was sawn in half by magician Peter McCahon.^[32]

In November 2006, Price launched The Katie Price Lingerie Collection in conjunction with Panache, available exclusively at Asda stores, as well as a follow-up jewellery deal with Argos.

In 2007, Price was announced as the new face of Foxy Bingo and launched a hair care range at Superdrug. She also brought out her first perfume, 'Stunning', in August. Her second perfume, 'Besotted', was released in September 2008. November 2007 saw Price releasing her 'Jordan' hair care electrical range at Superdrug. There was a hairdryer, straighteners and curlers. She released a second, similar range in November 2008 under the name 'Katie Price', to somewhat differing design.

In 2008, Price signed a deal with Derby House to launch her equestrian range named 'KP Equestrian'.^[33] On 23 March 2008, Price launched her springwear of KP Equestrian as well as KP Pony, which is for children.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Price was refused admission to Guards Polo Club for the most prestigious day in the international Polo Season and a highlight of the British Social Season, the Hurlingham Polo Cartier International match for the Coronation Cup, presented by Prince Charles. She attempted to circumvent this by buying a table at the Chinawhite marquee for £6,000 through her agent, but this was refused as well. A statement said "Jordan has been told she is not welcome. Polo is very prestigious and there are certain names they want there and others they definitely don’t. Jordan is still too 'chavvy' as far as Cartier is concerned. Having Jordan there just wouldn’t be in keeping with Cartier’s image. If she turns up she will not be allowed access".^[34]

In 2009 Price was named as the Patron of a charity polo match that was played at an Estate, near Epping, Essex. She was photographed arriving by helicopter, wearing a mini-dress and stiletto heels. Ex-boyfriend Dane Bowers and Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed also attended.^[35]

Controversy[link]

Price and Andre were criticised for sexually explicit behaviour in their reality show. In taping the show the couple re-enacted sex scenes (while fully clothed) and had frank discussions about sex.^[36]

The couple were libelled by an ex-employee and later accepted damages from the News of the World newspaper after it published the accusations about their parental abilities.^[37]

In May 2009, three days after her announced separation from Andre, her management company of five years said that they would no longer represent her. They have chosen to represent Andre instead.^[38]

Personal life[link]

Relationships[link]

Peter Andre and Price during the 2009 London Marathon

Price embarked on several brief relationships with celebrities and sports stars including footballers Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke, singer Gareth Gates, and Warren Furman (Ace from the television series Gladiators).^[39] Jordan experienced a much-publicised relationship with Dane Bowers of the boy band Another Level and had an abortion after discovering he had cheated on her.^[39]

After spending time on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Price and Peter Andre got together. In September 2005, she married Andre, at Highclere Castle, Hampshire. However, in May 2009, they announced that they were separating after three and a half years of marriage.^[40][41] In a televised interview with Piers Morgan in July 2009, Price claimed that their break-up was partly due to Andre's jealousy of her relationship with dressage trainer Andrew Gould, which she claimed was entirely platonic. However, she described it finally came to an end when she was photographed in a Bristol nightclub after she and Andre had agreed that they would not go out without each other. She also revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage before the split.^[42]

In July 2009, Price began dating MMA fighter and former Hollyoaks actor Alex Reid.^[43] On 2 February 2010, Price married Alex Reid in a private ceremony in Las Vegas at the chapel in the Wynn Hotel,^[44][45] although some press reports claimed their wedding was not legal.^[46] They later formally married in a church in the UK which was filmed and shown on her TV series. They separated in January 2011.^[47] She then began dating Argentine model Leandro Penna after meeting him at the Oscars. In April 2011, while visiting his parents in Córdoba Province in Argentina, they had an auto accident when they ran into a pair of horses.^[48] They split in October 2011,^[49] but are still together in love, Finally, the former model said through her Twitter account to follow in love with Argentine model, achieving reconciliation between both.

Children[link]

In May 2002, she gave birth to her first son, Harvey, in Brighton. Harvey's father is former footballer Dwight Yorke. Jordan has said she had intended to have at least one birth shown live over the Internet, but she later decided to keep it private.^[50] He was found to be blind, having a condition known as septo-optic dysplasia, meaning that the development of his optic nerve was unpredictable. As he has matured, she has also discovered that he is on the autistic spectrum, gains weight easily, and finds walking difficult.^[39]

In June 2005, Price gave birth by Caesarean section to her second child, a boy named Junior Savva Andreas Andre, in Westminster, London.^[51] In June 2007, she gave birth to her third child: a daughter named Princess Tiaamii Crystal Esther Andre.^[52]

Surgery[link]

In 2002, Price was treated for cancer. She had a leiomyosarcoma on her finger and the tumour was removed at a Nuffield Hospital near her Brighton home.^[53]

In December 2007, Price underwent surgery in the United States to reduce the size of her breast implants and also had rhinoplasty. However, she was not happy with the results of her breast implants, so returned to Beverly Hills, California in July 2008 for corrective surgery. She returned to the United Kingdom with much smaller breasts: a size 32C.^[54]

Legal issues[link]

In September 2009, Price claimed that she had previously been raped by a "famous celebrity", but had not reported the incident. Price insisted that she would "absolutely never" reveal who the attacker was.^[55] Surrey Police stated that they had not contacted Price: "No allegation of rape has been made and Miss Price will not be making a statement to police".^[56]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

Bibliography[link]

Autobiographies[link]

• Being Jordan (2004)
• A Whole New World (2006)
• Pushed to the Limit (2008)
• You Only Live Once (2010)

Novels[link]

• Angel (2006)
• Crystal (2007)
• Angel Uncovered (2008)
• Sapphire (2009)
• Paradise (2010)
• The Comeback Girl (2011)
• Santa Baby (2011)
• In the Name of Love (2012)

Series[link]

• Perfect Ponies (2007–10)
  • Here Comes the Bride, Little Treasures, Fancy Dress Ponies, Pony Club Weekend, The New Best Friend, Ponies to the Rescue, My Pony Care Book, Star Ponies, Pony 'n' Pooch, Pony in Disguise, Stage Fright!, Secrets and Surprises, Wild West Weekend (in order of publication date)
• Mermaids & Pirates (2008–10)
  • Follow the Fish, I Spy, Let's Build a Sandcastle, A Sunny Day, Telescope Overboard, Time for a Picnic, All Around, Hide and Seek, Katie the Mermaid, Katie's Day, Peter's Friends, Pirate Olympics (in order of publication date)

Fashion[link]

• Standing Out (2009)

Awards and nominations[link]

See also[link]

• List of glamour models

Notes[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Katie Price

External links[link]

• Official website
• Katie Price at the Internet Movie Database

Buzzcocks
Background information
Origin	Bolton, England
Genres	Punk rock, pop punk,[1] New Wave[2][3][4]
Years active	1976–1981 1989–present
Labels	United Artists, I.R.S., Cooking Vinyl, ROIR, EMI
Associated acts	Flag of Convenience Magazine
Website	www.buzzcocks.com
Members
Pete Shelley Steve Diggle Chris Remmington Danny Farrant
Past members
Howard Devoto Garth Mick Singleton John Maher Barry Adamson Steve Garvey Mike Joyce Tony Barber Phil Barker

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter-guitarist Steve Diggle.^[5]

They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial success with singles that fused pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece".^[6] The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" remains one of their best-known songs, along with "Harmony in my Head".

The name "Buzzcocks" was chosen by Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley after reading the headline "it's the buzz, cocks!" in a review of the TV series Rock Follies in Time Out magazine. The "buzz" is the excitement of playing on stage; "cock" is Manchester slang meaning "mate" (as in friend/buddy). They thought it captured the excitement of the Sex Pistols and nascent punk scene.^[7]

Career[link]

Early years[link]

Howard Trafford, a student at Bolton Institute of Technology (now the University of Bolton), placed a notice in the college looking for musicians sharing a liking for The Velvet Underground's song "Sister Ray".^[8] Peter McNeish,^[9] a fellow student at the Institute, responded to the notice. Trafford played electronic music^[9] and McNeish had played rock.

McNeish assumed the stage name Pete Shelley, and Trafford named himself Howard Devoto, after a bus driver in Cambridge. In late 1975, Shelley and Devoto recruited a drummer and formed an embryonic version of Buzzcocks that did not perform in front of an audience and which dissolved after a number of rehearsals.^{[citation needed]} The band formed as Buzzcocks in February 1976 and performed live for the first time on 1 April 1976 at their college. Garth Davies played bass guitar and Mick Singleton played drums. Singleton also played in local band Black Cat Bone.^[10]

After reading an NME review of the Sex Pistols' first performance, Shelley and Devoto travelled to London together to see the Sex Pistols in February 1976. Shelley and Devoto were impressed by what they saw and arranged for the Sex Pistols to come and perform at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, in June 1976. Buzzcocks intended to play at this concert, but the other musicians dropped out, and Shelley and Devoto were unable to recruit other musicians in time for the gig. Once they had recruited bass guitarist Steve Diggle and drummer John Maher, they made their debut opening for the Sex Pistols' second Manchester concert in July 1976. A brief clip of Devoto-era Buzzcocks performing The Troggs' "I Can't Control Myself" appears in the Punk: Attitude documentary directed by Don Letts. In September 1976 the band travelled to London to perform at the two-day 100 Club Punk Festival, organised by Malcolm McLaren. Other performers included: the Sex Pistols, Subway Sect, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash, The Vibrators, The Damned and the French band Stinky Toys.

By the end of the year, Buzzcocks had recorded and released a four-track EP, Spiral Scratch, on their own New Hormones label, making them one of the first punk groups to establish an independent record label, trailing only The Saints' "(I'm) Stranded". Produced by Martin Hannett, the music was roughly recorded, insistently repetitive, and energetic. "Boredom" announced punk's rebellion against the status quo while templating a strident musical minimalism (the guitar solo consisting of two repeated notes). The demos recorded while Devoto was in the band were later issued officially as Time's Up. Long available as a bootleg, this album includes the alternative takes of all the tracks from the Spiral Scratch EP as well as early version of tracks that later appeared on the official debut Another Music in a Different Kitchen.

After a few months, Devoto left the group; he returned to college for a year, then formed Magazine. Pete Shelley continued as vocalist; his high-pitched, melodic singing stood in stark contrast to the gruff pub rock vocal stylings of many punk contemporaries. Diggle switched from bass to guitar, and Garth Davies rejoined on bass as Garth Smith or Garth. Garth appeared on the band’s first Radio 1 Peel Session, in September 1977, but due to his alcoholism he was quickly replaced with Steve Garvey, joining Dirty Looks in New York. This new line-up signed with United Artists Records.

Signing to United Artists[link]

Their first UA Buzzcocks single, "Orgasm Addict", was a playful examination of compulsive sexuality that was (and remains) uncommonly bold. The BBC refused to play the song, but the single sold well. Later, more ambiguous songs staked out a territory defined by Shelley's bisexuality and punk's aversion to serious examination of human sexuality. The next single, "What Do I Get?" reached the UK top 40 charts.^[11] "Lipstick", the B-side to "Promises," shared the same ascending progression of notes in its chorus as Magazine's first single, "Shot By Both Sides," also released in 1978.

	"Fast Cars" noicon Sample of "Fast Cars" by Buzzcocks, from Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1978)
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Their original career produced three LPs: Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension, each supported by extensive touring in Europe and the U.S. Their trademark sound was a marriage of catchy pop melodies with punk guitar energy, backed by an unusually tight and skilled rhythm section. They advanced drastically in musical and lyrical sophistication: by the end they were quoting American writer William S. Burroughs ("A Different Kind of Tension"), declaiming their catechism in the anthem "I Believe", and tuning in to a fantasy radio station on which their songs could be heard ("Radio Nine"). In 1980, Liberty Records signed the band, and three singles were released. However, only one of these, the double 'A' side "Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore/Are Everything" made the Top 75.

In parallel with Buzzcocks, Pete Shelley formed a more experimental and post-punk band, The Tiller Boys, along with Eric Random and Francis Cookson, while Steve Garvey joined The Teardrops in 1978, along with The Fall's Tony Friel and Karl Burns; both bands were releasing material in late 1970s and broke up at the same time as Buzzcocks.

Break-up and reunions[link]

After recording demos for a fourth album the group disbanded in 1981, when Shelley took up a solo career. Diggle and Maher formed Flag of Convenience, who released several singles between 1982 and 1989. Garvey formed Motivation and joined Blue Orchids, moving to New York, shortly afterwards, to continue with the first band. Maher had joined Wah! by the time Buzzcocks broke up. Shelley and Devoto teamed up in 2002 for the first time since 1976, producing the album Buzzkunst, 'Kunst' being the German word for 'Art'. The album was a mix of electronic music and punk.

John Maher now owns and runs John Maher Racing, a vintage Volkswagen performance tuning workshop located on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.^[12] He has built and raced several Volkswagen Beetles. In 2005, Shelley re-recorded "Ever Fallen In Love" with an all-star group, including Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant and several contemporary bands, as a tribute to John Peel. Proceeds went to Amnesty International. Shelley also performed the song live, with Plant, Daltrey, Gilmour, Hook and Jeff Beck at the 2005 UK Music Hall of Fame.^[13]

Buzzcocks have reformed several times since 1989, featuring Shelley and Diggle with other musicians; initially with Maher and Garvey for a world tour, then briefly replacing Maher with Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. In 1992, Tony Barber joined on bass and Phil Barker on drums. This line-up toured on one of Nirvana's last-ever tours in 1994. Buzzcocks toured as the opener for Pearl Jam in 2003. In April 2006, Barker left and was replaced by Danny Farrant. In March 2006, the band released their eighth studio album, Flat-Pack Philosophy, on Cooking Vinyl Records, the supporting tour found them playing on a leg of the mid-2006 Vans Warped Tour.

They made an appearance for Maxïmo Park's homecoming gig in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 December 2007.

In April 2008, Barber left and was replaced by Chris Remmington.

In January 2009 the band embarked on a UK and European tour, the "Another Bites Tour", in which they played their first two albums in full, as well as an encore of their other hits.^[14]

In July 2009, Buzzcocks played in Serbia for the second time, at the EXIT festival in Novi Sad. Their song, "Why Can't I Touch It" was played in the second episode of the sixth season of TV series Entourage.

On 9 November 2009, Buzzcocks gave a very rare performance on a small balcony overlooking Dame Street in Dublin, for the music viral show BalconyTV.^[15]

In December 2009 they played as the main support act for The Courteeners.^[16]

In August 2011 they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.

In November 2011 it was announced they would be playing two shows in 2012 that will feature the original line-up as well as the classic line-up of the band reunited for the first time in many years; these shows will take place on 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy. It was announced on the 26th of May 2012 that they'll will for the first time ever headline Thursday night in the Empress Ballroom at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool sharing the stage with the likes of Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.^[17]

TV show title[link]

Buzzcocks' name was combined with the title of the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks to create the title of the long-running UK comedy panel game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Diggle claimed in his autobiography that he and Shelley had only granted the BBC use of their name under the impression that it would be a one-off, probably unsuccessful pilot, and that they are now mildly disgruntled that the name is more readily associated in Britain with the TV series than with their band.^[18] Shelley himself appeared on the programme in 2000, where host Mark Lamarr introduced Shelley by saying that without Buzzcocks "there'd be no Smiths or Radiohead, and this show would be called Never Mind Joan Armatrading!"

Members[link]

Current band photo, at the Cropredy Festival, 13 August 2009 Photo: Brian Marks

Discography[link]

• Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1978)
• Love Bites (1978)
• A Different Kind of Tension (1979)
• Trade Test Transmissions (1993)
• All Set (1996)
• Modern (1999)
• Buzzcocks (2003)
• Flat-Pack Philosophy (2006)

Notes[link]

External links[link]

	Book: Buzzcocks
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• Official website
• Buzzcocks at Allmusic

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Buzzcocks

Tim Vine
Tim Vine onstage at the 100 Club
Born	(1967-03-04) 4 March 1967 (age 45) Cheam, London
Medium	Stand up, Television
Nationality	British
Website	www.timvine.com

Timothy "Tim" Mark Vine (born 4 March 1967 in Cheam, London)^{[citation needed]} is an English actor, writer and comedian.

He has released a number of DVDs of his stand-up comedy, as well as starring in the series Not Going Out with Lee Mack on the BBC. He won the award for best joke at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2010, and for the second best in August 2011.

Education[link]

He attended the public school Epsom College with his brother Jeremy Vine.

Career[link]

Stand up[link]

His stand-up act consists primarily of a series of quick-fire one-liners and puns. Vine has appeared regularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with shows such as The Tim Vine Shambles and The Tim Vine Fiasco which won him the Perrier newcomer award in 1995. In 2006, he had a large advertising hoarding erected featuring his name and image, with a small sub-heading "...is not appearing at this year's Edinburgh Festival"^[1] Vine appeared at the Pleasance Courtyard for the first two weeks of the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe performing a show entitled Punslinger.

He appeared at the Spring Harvest festival in 2007 and 2008 alongside John Archer at Skegness and Minehead, and at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in May 2007 for a show entitled Tim Vine, Live in Concrete.

He has taken his comedy act on a tour of the United Kingdom, in tours such as Current Puns in 2006 and Punslinger in 2008. In July 2008, he recorded a performance at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, which was released as a new DVD entitled So I Said To This Bloke... on 27 October 2008. His third tour, The Joke-amotive, took place during February and March 2010, with a DVD of the show released in November 2011.

Many of his jokes have been falsely attributed to Tommy Cooper;^[2] the West End show about Tommy Cooper actually features some of Vine's jokes.

World record[link]

On 7 October 2004, he broke the Guinness World Record for the most jokes told in an hour with 499, beating the previous record of 362. Each joke told had to get a laugh from the paying audience to count towards the record. He held the record until May 2005, when Australian comedian, Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann told 549 jokes.^[3]

Television[link]

Vine was co-presenter for the launch of Channel 5 on 30 March 1997, with Julia Bradbury, and presented the game show Whittle on the channel. He has also presented the game show Fluke on Channel 4 and Housemates on BBC One. He also appeared on a celebrity edition of Fort Boyard as a contestant on Challenge in 2003. In 2004, he also presented Fort Boyard Takes on the World for Challenge.

He was one of the regular team of comedians to write for and appear in the ITV comedy series The Sketch Show, which went on to win a BAFTA.^{[4][citation needed]}

In 2005, Vine appeared alongside other celebrities in Spelling Bee on ITV1. He appeared as a contestant on Comic Relief Does Fame Academy in 2007, but was voted out on 9 March.^[5] In September 2007, he appeared with his brother Jeremy on the celebrity version of ITV1's Who Wants to be a Millionaire where they raised £1000 for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund. On 1 January 2009, he appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, choosing Elvis Presley as his specialist subject. He went on to secure first place with a score of 28 points, donating his prize money to the Cure Parkinson's Trust. He has appeared several times in Dictionary Corner on Countdown, and made an appearance on the Australian soap Neighbours broadcast in Australia in July 2009.^[6] He appeared as a guest comedian on Live at the Apollo in December 2009 on BBC One. He appeared on a celebrity edition of Total Wipeout which aired on 26 December 2009.

Since 2006, Vine has starred alongside Lee Mack as one of the main characters in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out. After staring in five series of the show, it was announced on 18 May 2012 that he will not be returning in the already confirmed series Six and Seven, due to other interests and job prospects.

Music[link]

His musical talent, aside from the comedy songs in his act, includes playing the guitar, piano and drums. He has released an album of non-comedy songs, which he sells at pretendpopstar.co.uk.

He is a Christian and occasionally plays the drums at his church. He was in several bands, including The Flared Generation with brother Jeremy Vine.

Podcast[link]