Buzzcocks: Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003 [DVD] [2003]

The Buzzcocks were touring Great Britain behind their self-titled 2003 album when they rolled into the Empire Theater in Shepherds Bush for a show which confirms the veteran pop-punk act are still a force to be reckoned with on-stage. Buzzcocks: Live at Shepherds Bush Empire 2003 was shot using digital video equipment which gives the images an admirably rich sense of detail and bold colors; the final product has been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 in a mix that's loud and clear with plenty of presence. The songs are performed in English, with no subtitles or multiple language options. Along with a healthy 90-minute set from the band, this DVD includes a good share of bonus material, including an interview with group founders Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle (in which they discuss touring with Pearl Jam and showing Kurt Cobain how to destroy a television, among other things), footage of the band on the road (including a video shoot in Paris and rehearsals in Australia), a look at the sound check for the Shepherds Bush show (which demonstrates that sound checks are rarely fascinating events), a text biography, a collection of Buzzcocks gig flyers, and a montage of still photos. This is a potent release that should seriously please Buzzcocks fans and entertain more casual admirers.