Howard Devoto

British Post-Punk Pioneer

Howard Devoto is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the frontman of the influential post-punk band Magazine. He initially rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of the punk band Buzzcocks, which he co-founded with Pete Shelley. After recording the Spiral Scratch EP with Buzzcocks, Devoto left the group in 1977 to form Magazine. With Magazine, Devoto's work became more experimental and complex, moving away from the straightforward punk rock of Buzzcocks to a more avant-garde and post-punk sound. Magazine released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Real Life" (1978) and "Secondhand Daylight" (1979). After Magazine initially disbanded in 1981, Devoto pursued a solo career and also collaborated with other artists. He briefly reunited with Buzzcocks for live performances in the late 1980s and later reformed Magazine in 2009 until their second disbandment in 2011. Devoto's influence on the post-punk genre has been widely recognized, and his work continues to be celebrated for its innovation and impact on subsequent generations of musicians.