The Buzzcocks

It's taken awhile, but the world has finally caught up with the Buzzcocks: a recent TV commercial for Toyota featured one of the band's classic B-sides, "Why Can't I Touch It" (a standout among standouts on the Buzzcocks' compilation Singles Going Steady). The current crop of punk bands, from Green Day to Blink 182 to Sum 41, are all deeply indebted to Shelley and Diggle's ability to combine lovestruck lyrics, heartbreak melodies and buzzing, aggressive guitar into a fantastically catchy whole. Come for the history, and stay for the great songs: the Buzzcocks are on their way.