Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict

This band is a blast to listen to. They have the punk edge but with power pop choruses. Along with bands, like The Jam, Small Faces, Slade, and a host of others…America just didn’t hear unless you were in the know.  These guys blended punk and pop about as well as anyone. I had a friend with their import records in the eighties. That was the only way I could hear them. Orgasm Addict was a hell of a debut single for the band. It was banned by the BBC soon after the release. Yet another song about teenage masturbation. 

The song was written by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto during Devoto’s time with the band, though he left before it was recorded. Known for its risqué and lyrics, the track asked for controversy and limited radio play at the time of release but has since become a punk rock staple. This song was released in 1977 and was not an album track. It peaked at #56 on the UK Charts. 

They chose the name Buzzcocks after reading the headline, “It’s the Buzz, Cock!”, in a review of the TV series Rock Follies in Time Out magazine. The “buzz” is the excitement of playing on stage; “cock” is northern English slang meaning friend. They were formed in 1976 by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto after seeing the Sex Pistols. They were able to blend punk’s spirit and sound with pop.

Nirvana invited them to open select dates on the grunge outfit’s last European tour, in early 1994. Steve Diggle told about a memory he has of Kurt Cobain: “Doing two grams of coke is one of my famous stories with him.” They also opened up for Pearl Jam in 2003.

They released 3 albums and broke up in 1981 after a dispute with their record company. They reunited in 1989 and released 6 more albums. Pete Shelley continued to play with the band until his death from a heart attack in 2018. The band still continues to tour.

Orgasm Addict

Well, you tried it just for onceFound it all right for kicksBut now you found outThat it’s a habit that sticks

And you’re an orgasm addictYou’re an orgasm addict

Sneaking in the back doorWith dirty magazinesNow your mother wants to knowWhat all those stains on your jeans

And you’re an orgasm addictYou’re an orgasm addict

Ah-huh, ah-huh, ahAh-huh, ah-huh, ah

You get in a heatYou get in a sulkBut you still keep a beatingYour meat to pulp

‘Cause you’re an orgasm addictYou’re an orgasm addict

You’re a kid CasanovaYou’re a no JosephIt’s a labour of loveFuckin’ yourself to death

Orgasm addictYou’re an orgasm addict

Ah-huh, ah-huh, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahAh-ah-ahh!

You’re makin’ out with school kidsWinos and heads of stateYou even made it with the ladyWho puts the little plastic bobins on the Christmas cakesButcher’s assistants and bellhopsyou’ve had them all here and thereChildren of God and their joy-stringsInternational women with no body hair

Ooh, so where they’re askin’ in an alleyAnd your voice ain’t steadyIf sex mechanic’s rough, you’re more than ready

You’re an orgasm addictYou’re an orgasm addict

Johnny want fuckie always and all waysHe’s got the energy, he will amaze

He’s an orgasm addictHe’s an orgasm addict

He’s always at itYou’re always at it‘Cause you’re an orgasm addictWe’re all orgasm addicts

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

36 thoughts on “Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict”

      2. We had Port O’ Call…and Cats Records at the time…later on in the mid to late 80s we finally got a Tower Records.

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  5. I remember hearing this a lot in the ’90s on retro 80s type shows but never fully listened to the lyrics. I think they were John Peel’s favorite band. Hey Randy, how many covers of this one? Did Anne Murray do one, LOL?

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    1. Since Randy has already been here…I had to look this one up!
      Anne…Anne….where is she? Dang it…no Anne
      It’s been covered 14 times! The last one was last year!

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      1. Old joke; Stern father to pimply red-faced son. ‘Oh, son, son, if you think impure thoughts, take a moment, stop and think, get a hold of yourself- um, no what I mean is DON’T get…’

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  9. Pingback: Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict – MobsterTiger

  13. Their debut single in the UK was a 4-track E.P. called ‘Spiral Scratch’. Howard Devoto was the lead singer! He left and went on to form another great band; ‘Magazine’. The original E.P. didn’t have his name on the sleeve (rare) but later copies (not so rare) did.

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    1. Wow…I didn’t know that Devoto was the lead singer. Someone else mentioned Magazine today…I am checking them out. Thank you Glyn…when I made this post I wanted to hear your comment.

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    1. I knew this song but forgot about it. I was looking up some old posts I did on them to flesh out the history and I saw that you mentioned this one in a comment so that is why I did it.

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