Pete came to my attention as a solo artist when I was in high school and MTV primarily showed music videos. Everyone at school was mocking his single “Homo Sapien,” because his voice lent itself to the insults hormone-filled boys like to make. It went on to be a pretty good song people play and cover.
College is where I discovered his previous career as the lead singer for the Buzzcocks. Like many UK acts in the late Seventies under the Punk umbrella, they made songs which offended people, namely “Orgasm Addict” but another hit they wrote “Ever Fallen in Love” was re-used by Fine Young Cannibals, demonstrating there was an undercurrent of talent involved.
Pete may not have been a huge player alongside the Sex Pistols, the Damned and Joy Division yet he did make a contribution in toppling Arena Rock or it’s other name I give it, Cock Rock.