The Exploited and Buzzcocks

The Exploited, formed in 1978 in Edinburgh, Scotland, rose to fame in the second wave of UK punk with hits like "Punks Not Dead." Known for their raw sound blending punk and thrash metal, they were led by Wattie Buchan. Their debut album hit No. 20 on UK charts. Despite lineup changes, the band toured extensively and released influential live albums.

Buzzcocks, formed in Manchester by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, helped shape British punk with energetic pop-punk tunes. Known for songs like "Orgasm Addict" and "What Do I Get?", they released influential albums such as Another Music in a Different Kitchen and Love Bites. Disbanded in 1981, they re-formed in 1989, continuing to tour and release music, including 1993's Trade Test Transmissions. Their punk-pop sound inspired bands like Nirvana. After Shelley's 2018 death, Steve Diggle led the band, releasing Sonics in the Soul in 2022.