Flag of Convenience were a rock group formed in 1982 by former Buzzcocks members Steve Diggle and John Maher, along with bassist Dave Farrow and keyboard player Dave "D.P." Prescott.^[2] Through their first two line-ups they were managed by the writer and music critic Michael Gray, shortly after his personal management of Gerry Rafferty. Hence the band's first single was produced by Rafferty's co-producer Hugh Murphy. The band continued with changing line-ups until 1989, with later incarnations releasing records under the names F.O.C. and Buzzcocks F.O.C.^[2] The final incarnation of the band included former member of the Stone Roses Andy Couzens and former Inspiral Carpets drummer Chris Goodwin, who both went on to form the High.^[2] The band ended when Diggle joined Pete Shelley in a re-formed Buzzcocks, the reunion prompted by controversy over the use of "Buzzcocks" in the billing of Diggle's band.^[3][4]

In a review of the 'best of' compilation The Secret Public Years 1981-1989, AllMusic described the later F.O.C. work as proof that Diggle was "one of the most important and overlooked artists in all of Britain during the '80s".^[5]

• "Life on the Telephone" (1982) Sire
• "Change" (1984) Wierd Sisters
• "New House" (1986) M.C.M.
• "Last Train to Safety" EP (1987) M.C.M.
• "Should I Ever Go Deaf" EP (1987) M.C.M. (as F.O.C.)
• "Exiles" EP (1988) M.C.M. (as F.O.C.)
• "Tomorrow's Sunset" (1989) Thin Line (as Buzzcocks F.O.C.)

• The Big Secret (1984) Not on label (cassette only)
• Northwest Skyline (1987) M.C.M. (as F.O.C.)
• War on the Wireless Set (1988) MCM America (as F.O.C.) (compilation of outtakes from 1981 to 1986, plus the 1986 single "New House")

• The Best of Steve Diggle and Flag of Convenience - The Secret Public Years 1981-1989 (1994) Anagram (as Steve Diggle and the Flag of Convenience)
• Here's One I Made Earlier - Best of Steve Diggle, Flag of Convenience, F.O.C. and Buzzcocks F.O.C. (1995) Ax-s (as Steve Diggle)^[1][3][6]