Pete Shelley, the singer, and co-founder of cult British punk-rock band Buzzcocks, died on Thursday at the age of 63. According to BBC, who was among the first to report the news, the cause of Shelley’s death is a suspected heart attack.
“It’s with great sadness that we confirm the death of Pete Shelley, one of the UK’s most influential and prolific songwriters and co-founder of the seminal original punk band Buzzcocks,” said the Buzzcocks’ spokesperson in a statement. “Pete’s music has inspired generations of musicians over a career that spanned five decades and with his band and as a solo artist, he was held in the highest regard by the music industry and by his fans around the world.”
Pete Shelley formed the Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto in 1976, but Devoto ended up leaving before the band released their first studio album. Originally just a guitarist, Shelley took on the role of a vocalist as well while emerging as the band’s main creative force.
Buzzcocks released nine albums with Pete Shelley and went on to be regarded as one of the most influential bands in British music despite their lack of commercial success. They also developed devoted fanbases and a cult following in the U.K. and the United States.
Besides his work with Buzzcocks, Shelley was also productive as a solo artist, releasing a total of six studio albums.
