A LOT of bands, whose heydays are behind them, can appear tired and past it, but that was definitely not the case for The Buzzcocks.

Despite singer Pete Shelley looking more folk than punk these days, such was the length of his beard, the band rocked Parr Hall to its foundations.

They were backed by an adoring audience who were all too keen to enjoy the opportunity to cast their minds back to the 1970s.

Or if they weren’t even born then, the occasion was such that you could almost feel time rewinding.

There were old punks in bondage pants, mohicans resplendent atop sweaty brows and the music was an almost perfect recreation of the late-70s scene the Buzzcocks helped bring up north all those years ago.

I remember hearing my brother playing their records to death and although they weren’t massive favourites of mine at the time, such was their ability to write a nice melody amidst the hard guitar, I remember plenty of their songs with great affection.

Alongside the old punks, and me, were plenty of younger fans who have taken the band to their hearts due to the influence they have had on current musicians.

The atmosphere was raucously fitting for what was one of the most important acts of a generation. Steve Diggle’s guitar work was worth the admission price alone. He played as if it was still 1977.

They played all the classics, finishing with their most famous song Ever Fallen in Love, before returning for an encore featuring one of their biggest selling and least family-friendly singles.

Smiles were the order of the day and, unlike the old days, there was no spitting to dampen the spirits of the throngs as they laughed and joked their way out of the great old venue. It was a great buzz, cock...

CHRISTINE BRADLEY