3MS Music are delighted to announce the release of the eponymous debut album from The Buzniks on 16 November 2018 [Cat No 3MS015CD]. The Buzniks are a four-piece rock combo formed in 2017 by Squeeze bassist John Bentley. The album is a tight and entertaining collection of 11 songs( 10 on Vinyl), packed with melody and vocal harmony, expertly crafted and performed. The band also features Frankie Dann [Drums & Vocals], Alan Betts [Bass & Vocals], Brian Hartley [ Slide Guitar. Guitar & Vocals].
John is known, of course, for his work with Squeeze but has also worked with the likes of Elvis Costello, Paul Young, Sting, and Keith Emerson in a career that has seen him appear on The Old Grey Whistle Test, TOTP, and Saturday Night Live. He’s also performed everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to Radio City Music Hall to Madison Square Garden to Glastonbury and Coachella. Recently John recorded the theme tune to the BBC2 series ‘From The Cradle’ starring Peter Kay, and toured Japan with Squeeze. All of this experience has been poured back into his work with The Buzniks and the creation of this new album.
At the age of 16 John took over the HP payments on a Fender Strat belonging to Mick Ronson and used it in his first ever band Flesh – the group’s bassist Trevor Bolder went on to for Spiders From Mars. John went on to support the likes of Mott The Hoople and The Ramones before, on one crazy day in I979, auditioning for both Suzi Quatro and Squeeze. He got offered both jobs. The rest is history but, as he says, “I often wonder what might have happened if I’d driven off in a Quatro!”
The Buzniks is now John’s focus and this new collection shows off not just sheer proficiency but also a timeless kind of goodtime songwriting that comes from mixing it with the best over a whole career. It’s been a long time coming but The Buzniks are ready to write their own chapter in John’s remarkable story.