Magazine (band)

Magazine (band)
Phil King · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Magazine
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Manchester
Genre	Post-punk, New Wave
Years active	1977–1981, 1982–1983, 2009–present
Label	Virgin Records, EMI, Rhino
Associated acts	Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Durutti Column, Public Image Ltd, John Lydon

Magazine (band) was an English post-punk band formed in Manchester in 1977 by guitarist Howard Devoto after his departure from Buzzcocks. The group combined literary songwriting, angular guitar work, and synthesizer textures to influence contemporaries and later acts across new wave, alternative rock, and indie rock. Magazine released several acclaimed albums during the late 1970s and early 1980s and reunited in the 21st century for tours and reissues.

History

Formed in 1977 in Manchester by Howard Devoto following his split from Buzzcocks, the original lineup drew on members with connections to The Drones and session musicians who had worked with John Cale and Brian Eno. Early singles and the debut album involved production ties with Martin Hannett and touring links to Public Image Ltd and PIL shows, leading to festival appearances at events alongside Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Magazine recorded critically lauded albums for Virgin Records and toured Europe with acts such as Wire and Talking Heads, before lineup changes and management disputes—connected to agencies like Rough Trade and promoters linked to Meltdown Festival—contributed to their 1981 split. The band briefly reformed in 1982–1983 for studio work associated with labels including EMI and later reunited in 2009 to perform at venues associated with South by Southwest and All Tomorrow's Parties, undertaking retrospective reissues coordinated with archivists from Rhino Entertainment and curators linked to Mojo (magazine).

Music and Style

Magazine's sound melded Howard Devoto's literate lyrics—echoing influences from T. S. Eliot, William S. Burroughs, and contemporaries like Lynne Ramsay's preferred soundtracks—with angular guitar from contributors who cited John McGeoch and Keith Levene as touchstones. The band's use of synthesizer and basslines drew from techniques pioneered by Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, and Giorgio Moroder, while rhythmic approaches shared affinities with Can and Neu!. Critics in publications such as NME, Melody Maker, and Rolling Stone compared Magazine's compositions to the post-punk innovations of Gang of Four, The Fall, and Magazine contemporaries—noting tight arrangements akin to studio work by Steve Lillywhite and John Leckie. Their songs incorporated structures similar to art-rock exemplars like Roxy Music and David Bowie, and their production aesthetics paralleled engineers who worked with Joy Division and New Order.

Band Members

Original and notable members included Howard Devoto (vocals) whose prior association with Buzzcocks shaped early publicity; John McGeoch (guitar) later linked to Siouxsie and the Banshees and Public Image Ltd; Barry Adamson (bass) who collaborated with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and composers for film score projects; and Martin Jackson (drums) who later played with Swing Out Sister. Other contributors and touring musicians had affiliations with The Durutti Column, Magazine alumni who engaged in production or session work with artists like Pete Shelley, Morrissey, Peter Hook, and Arcadia. Over time, lineups featured musicians who moved between acts such as associated acts and engaged in collaborations with producers and engineers tied to Abbey Road Studios and Trident Studios.

Discography

Studio albums included the debut recorded with production values reminiscent of Martin Hannett's work, followed by subsequent releases on Virgin Records and EMI that received coverage in NME, Pitchfork, and Uncut (magazine). Key singles and albums appeared on compilations assembled by Rhino Entertainment and were reissued alongside liner notes from journalists affiliated with Mojo (magazine and Q (magazine). The band's catalog has been anthologized in box sets curated by archivists connected to Factory Records contemporaries and includes live recordings from festivals like All Tomorrow's Parties and appearances at venues associated with South by Southwest.

Legacy and Influence

Magazine's influence is cited by a wide range of artists across genres, with bands such as Radiohead, Interpol, The National, Editors, Bloc Party, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs acknowledging post-punk predecessors. Their guitar and synth interplay informed musicians who worked with producers like Steve Albini, Tony Visconti, and Flood, and scholars in musicology departments at institutions like University of Manchester and Goldsmiths, University of London reference Magazine in studies alongside Joy Division and Wire. Retrospectives in BBC Radio 6 Music and features on Rolling Stone and The Guardian trace Magazine's role in bridging punk-era DIY culture associated with Rough Trade and later independent movements tied to labels such as 4AD and Mute Records.

Category:English post-punk groups