Orgasm Addict
title: "Orgasm Addict" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1977-singles", "buzzcocks-songs", "songs-written-by-pete-shelley", "song-recordings-produced-by-martin-rushent", "songs-written-by-howard-devoto", "obscenity-controversies-in-music", "1977-songs", "united-artists-records-singles"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgasm_Addict" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Orgasm Addict |
| cover | Buzzcocksorgasmaddictedit.jpg |
| type | single |
| artist | Buzzcocks |
| B-side | Whatever Happened To...? |
| released | |
| recorded | September 1977 at T.W. Studios, Manchester, England |
| genre | Punk rock |
| length | 2:02 |
| label | New Hormones |
| writer | Pete Shelley, Howard Devoto |
| producer | Martin Hannett |
| next_title | What Do I Get? |
| next_year | 1978 |
| :: |
| name = Orgasm Addict | cover = Buzzcocksorgasmaddictedit.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Buzzcocks | album = | B-side = Whatever Happened To...? | released = | format = | recorded = September 1977 at T.W. Studios, Manchester, England | studio = | venue = | genre = Punk rock | length = 2:02 | label = New Hormones
| writer = Pete Shelley, Howard Devoto | producer = Martin Hannett | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = What Do I Get? | next_year = 1978
"Orgasm Addict" is a song by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was the A-side of the Buzzcocks' first single, with "What Ever Happened To?" as the B-side, which was released on 4 November 1977 by record label New Hormones .
Cover image
The sleeve was devised by graphic designer Malcolm Garrett and showed a collage, created by Linder Sterling (known as "Linder"), depicting a nude woman with smiling mouths instead of nipples, and whose head is a clothes iron.
Release
"Orgasm Addict" was released as the Buzzcocks' debut single on 4 November 1977.
The 7" French vinyl release contains different takes of the same two tracks.
This was the only Buzzcocks single featuring bassist Garth Smith, who joined in early 1977 to replace Steve Diggle, who switched to guitar. Shortly after its release, he was expelled from the band.
The song later appeared on the album Singles Going Steady and also on CD reissues of Another Music in a Different Kitchen.
Reception
The song was controversial due to its sexual content and was banned by the BBC.
Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley later said that the song "is embarrassing. It's the only one I listen to and... shudder".
Track listing
- "Orgasm Addict" (Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley) (1:58)
- "Whatever Happened To?" (Pete Shelley, Dial – alias of ex-manager Richard Boon) (2:07)
References
References
- Travers, Paul. (21 November 2019). "12 rock and metal songs that feature people having sex".
- (2014). "The Graphic Art of the Underground: A Countercultural History". Bloomsbury.
- Needham, Alex. (10 February 2025). "'I was always obsessed with death': how Linder turned pornography and trauma into art". The Guardian.
- "45cat – Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict / Whatever Happened To? – United Artists – UK – UP 36316".
- "Buzzcocks Discography".
- Swenson, Kyle. (7 December 2018). "When punk rock raged, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks stuck with love songs and changed music history". The Washington Post.
- Dimery, Robert. (2010). "1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die". Cassell Illustrated.
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