The Manchester 1976 Show: How the Sex Pistols Ignited the Buzzcocks and the Future of Punk

This episode dives into the two 1976 gigs that turned a cramped Manchester club into the birthplace of an entire punk wave. It traces how the Sex Pistols’ raw, confrontational performances at the Lesser Free Trade Hall inspired local lads Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley to launch the Buzzcocks, how demo tapes circulated among early fans such as Mark E Smith and Morrissey, and how those nights seeded Manchester’s DIY scene, fanzine culture, and a ripple that reached beyond Britain into the nascent punk scenes worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices