Q&A: Punk Legacy Lives On: Buzzcocks Bridge Generations at Riot Fest
AT ITS CORE, PUNK IS TIMELESS — When the Buzzcocks took the stage at Riot Fest on Saturday, September 21, it was a revival of raw, unfiltered punk energy that transported the crowd back to the 1970s, embodying the DIY spirit that gave birth to the British punk scene. For many in the audience, this wasn’t just a performance; it was an opportunity to experience firsthand the timeless and boundary-pushing sounds that helped shape punk’s foundation.
Riot Fest, known for its love of the genre's past and present, offered a perfect backdrop for the Buzzcocks to reintroduce their brand of rebellious noise to a new generation of listeners.
With Steve Diggle still at the helm, the Buzzcocks’ performance at Riot Fest was a testament to the band's lasting impact. Buzzcocks’ contributions helped shape the unmistakable sound of the punk era — aggressive, boundary-pushing and socially charged. Diggle plays with the same grit, passion, and unrelenting energy that defined the Buzzcocks decades ago.
Their set was raw and electric, igniting high energy in fans and sing-alongs to classics like “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)” and “What Do I Get?” The lyrics, though written over 40 years ago, still resonate with the same defiance and vulnerability.
For young Riot Fest attendees, this was more than just a history lesson – it was an opportunity to witness punk’s origins firsthand, to feel the energy of one of its pioneers, and to understand that true punk attitude doesn’t fade with time. Whether you're hearing their songs for the first time or have had them on repeat for decades, the Buzzcocks remind us that punk is more than just music – it’s a spirit, a relentless refusal to conform, and a celebration of individuality that never goes out of style.
Luna had the chance to take an exclusive deep dive with Diggle to explore the enduring legacy of 70s punk and the timeless allure of the Buzzcocks. Diggle reflected on the band's pivotal role in shaping punk’s raw, rebellious energy and discussed the importance of passing down that spirit to the next generation. He also gave insight into how modern punk has evolved, emphasizing the importance of keeping its core values alive while embracing new voices and perspectives.
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. Your music has inspired countless artists across multiple generations. What do you think has allowed your sound to remain so timeless and relevant for five decades?
STEVE: We sing about the human condition. We sing about things people can relate to and we’ve also had some great tunes, which is great to remember. That human condition and those experiences are important to highlight because they’re personal to us and makes room for relatability for the people listening. People know about those experiences that we talk about and they’re very important to us. We were never trying to make a great song or a hit, the reason is because the material is very raw and real. Some people don’t understand that. It can be delicate and sensitive and also brutal at the same time, just like language, you know? I think people can relate to us on that. It's very interesting, many people when they come to the show, sometimes you talk to people, there's an exchange about their lives and your life, and the songs. For some rock n’ roll bands, it's just not there. It's just like rock worship. There's that realism here, and also philosophical, artistic and influences and bands that we grew up with and we brought into the songs and likes of that portrayal.
LUNA: Buzzcocks are considered pioneers of punk – how do you think the genre has evolved since the late 70s, and what’s your take on the current punk scene?
STEVE: I don't think there's enough art, thought and philosophy in a lot of the latest music releases and artists that are charting. There's some great brands that make a statement and create excitement and shout. I think it was finding that in sense of sensibility, about what it is, who we are, and what we're doing, and who can relate it, and also feeling alive, you know, and also keeping it simple was really the root of the genre evolving and the entire punk movement of the 70s evolving. It was beyond just the attitude. Chekhov said ‘simplicity is everything,’ of course, many complicated complications. But also, I think it was so thought provoking. When I was growing up, you wanted to be cool in a kind of way. Well, every time I bought a single, I bought a book. You wanted to know about the world through art and books and rock n’roll, and I think that's very important to pass that on. Also, many of the lyrics and great art that came out of that time period were not gendered, and it always carried a sensitivity to women especially. People came to realize there was a needed sensitivity in rock n’ roll. So part of the package, what we're growing up and experiencing right here, right now, it's always important. That's the thing with punk. There should have been no rules or boundaries. I think we brought that human side out in rock n’ roll.
LUNA: Who are some of the newer artists or bands that you’ve been listening to? Have any of them surprised you with how they’re interpreting punk or alternative music today?
STEVE: I kind of think it sounds terrible, but some of the pioneering punk bands from the 70s like The Sex Pistols and The Damned, including us, we wrote the script. They just found it. So many bands aren’t bringing anything new, but I wish they would. I'm hoping that there were some new, younger bands that put all the ingredients together and blow our minds. I'm sure it will happen at some point. But there were a lot of people just aching for what we did, but if it doesn't go anywhere from that, then it's not going anywhere. It's just like a bland, watered down version of what the scene of the 60s and 70s once was. It's great that we've inspired a lot of these bands, but it needs a bit of uniqueness. I think bands still need to find their identity. We found our identity and it’s been solid and strong for decades and I think that’s important. We’re bringing a human element that's very important. No matter the artist or what genre or medium, it’s important to recognize the content you’re passing down to the next generation. I think we're losing a bit of the art content and the intellectual bit. There used to be more consciousness and intention in the work that was getting released. You had to stop and think, ‘How am I thinking about music? How am I thinking about who I am in a better self realization?’ And that's very important. It's a great adventure. We got into the art world of things, and it makes for a better person, because we've got books, we've got art and we've got music, and that's where it's really at. There’s a song we released called “Autonomy” and I sing that song most nights. I've got this book out on it. Autonomy means self rule so we can all be the president of our own body. If you're president of your own body, you can deal with how you are, then that's all good, isn't it? And from that, we reflect really so we are.
LUNA: Can you describe the energy and atmosphere at Riot Fest? How does it compare to other festivals or shows you’ve played?
STEVE: We did Riot Fest about eight years ago, or something, and that was great and it's still a great fight today. It's a massive thing. It's known around the world. These are moments in people's lives. Tomorrow you’re going to be paying your bills. I just think in the holy church of rock n’ roll, you get to see god, the devil, see whatever you want, and really experience it all in those moments. Experiencing live music is so energizing. I want people to walk away from the gates with inspiration for what we're doing and what they’re doing, because that's the electricity. Having people walk away feeling inspired just means we’ve done our job. We’re just trying to pass on our experiences. Sometimes all you have to do is go back to the moment and mindfulness, being in that moment. I was in a car accident at 17, and my mate was 21 and there was a bunch of us in his tiny car, and he died. But from that moment, I thought, I knew the meaning of death. Now I know the meaning of life. That was so important to me. If you know you're going to die, then you've got to live and experience the things now. Life’s precious. Music is precious. Having community is precious. These are the moments we can come together and celebrate in those together.
LUNA: Do you have any specific pre-show or post-show rituals or routines that help you prepare for a big performance like Riot Fest?
STEVE: Not really, but we walk around the room, maybe a little joke in there with the spirits. We all say to each other, ‘we can do this,’ so if anybody's a little bit down, we say ‘we can do this,’ and it makes it laugh.
LUNA: As veterans of the punk scene, what advice would you give to young bands trying to navigate the music industry today, particularly in the punk and DIY scenes, who look up to the legacy you’ve built?
STEVE: We made our first record for 500 pounds and it was self-produced. We made the record on the streets and people loved it and we got good reviews. We had six record companies give us offers and have open checkbooks, but we went to the one that gave us artistic control. The first single on the major labels “Orgasm Addict” went out. We got this poetry, and it kind of comes from William Boris, really, in a way, that kind of mentality. Record companies didn’t know what was happening on the street, whether it was coming from us or from other bands that made their own records. Young bands who make their own records, it’s difficult to get a break half the time. You need to have better record company muscles. Younger bands can’t be afraid to release on their own and embrace DIY and the power of self-producing.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would love to share with Luna?
STEVE: I wrote a new album in January, but I'm not trying to record it. I have been working on new material. We get to have a little break after touring. We’ve been touring for six years and we’ve had amazing audiences in the states, very supportive. People love the new record Sonics In The Soul and it was a journey putting it together and structuring the songs the way we did. It was intentional and very important to me. You won’t understand it until you listen through its entirety.
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