Campaign launched in support of tribute statue to Buzzcocks frontman Pete Shelley

Shelley's family are backing the bid

A campaign has been launched in a bid to raise funds for a tribute statue to Buzzcocks frontman Pete Shelley.

The lead singer of legendary Bolton punk rock band Buzzcocks died last month (November 6) in Estonia where he was living. He was 63.

Now a campaign to build a memorial statue of the singer in his hometown of Leigh has been launched by Council worker Paul Maiden.

Maiden, who also works as a music promoter, has gathered hundreds of signatures in support of the venture. The Hindley Green independent also announced a fund-raising event to raise money for the statue.

“We really don’t seem to recognise anyone who does anything of note in the borough,” Maiden told Wigan Today. “Shelley completed innovated punk music. He added melodies into it, he made the whole genre more melodic.

“Buzzcocks even shifted more albums than the Sex Pistols. I think it’s time that we thought about celebrating someone who has done something incredible in Leigh.”

Shelley’s family are reportedly in full support of the idea. Maiden’s fund-raiser will take place at The Boulevard in Wigan on January 19th.

Meanwhile, Buzzcocks have backed a campaign to get their seminal hit ‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ to Number One after the death of their frontman Pete Shelley. The online campaign has been backed by more than 2000 people.

“40 years on from the incredible track being released, the band deserves its first number one, plus it would be a brilliant tribute to Pete Shelley. The charts run from Friday to Friday, so get downloading the iconic song below and help us salute Pete!” the Change.org petition stated.