The group Budgie originated from Cardiff, Wales. Budgies became famous and as one of the primitive heavy metal group and are considered one of the influence to various acts on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and acts. The band existed during the early of 1971, following other influential bands like the Judas Priest. Budgie likewise became well known because of their hit songs that include Crash Course In Brain Surgery, Breadfan, I Turned To Stone, Parents and many more besides.
In was in 1967 when the band was formed under the name Hills Contemporary Grass. The band’s original members involved Burke Shelley the vocalist and bassist, Tony Bourge their vocals and guitarist, and Ray Phillips the band’s drummer. The name of the band, which is Budgie originated following their various performances in 1968 and started to record their first song with the new name. Budgie actually originated from two different names, Hills Contemporary Grass as well as Six Ton Budgie. According to Shelly, the name was formed because he admire playing loud music, heavy rock songs, yet recognizing themselves something that is opposite from that matter.
Budgie’s debut album in a stronger blue adjusted hard rock line was produced by Rodger Bain, Black Sabbath producer, was recorded at the Rockfield Studios, and was released in 1971, before the release of Squawk the following year. In 1973, their third album entitled Never Turn Your Back On a Friend was released that include Breadfan that covered Metallica in 1988 and the band used another Budgie song for their cover, which is Crash Course In Brain Surgery during their early career.
Before the end of 1974, Budgie welcomed Steve Williams as their new drummer for their album Bandolier. The band to gain success during the time of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and in 1980, they played in the Reading Festival and turned out to become the headline of the festival two year after. In 1982, they started to gain recognition in Poland, where Budgie played as the first heavy metal band following the Iron Curtain. Another unforgettable appearance was their show up support of Blizzard of Ozz Tour by Ozzy Osbourne.
After the Deliver Us From Evil album in the early 1980s Budgie pretty much disappeared though never went totally away still surfacing here and there. A few years ago they popped up with their first new recording since Deliver us From Evil which was entitled You’re All Living In Cuckooland and continued the Budgie trademark of bizarre song titles. Who else but Burke Shelley could write a song called I’m Depressing The Comb On A Cockerel’s Head…….
No mistake – Budgie are an extremely influential band and more than one NWOBHM (and wider) groups owe the Welsh rockers a thing or two. Arguably at their commercial peak before the NWOBHM glory years with albums such as Bandolier, Never Turn Your Back On A Friend, Squawk blazing the trail they did put out Power Supply which held its own with anything else of its time.
The earlier stuff with Tony Bourge on guitar is Budgie’s classic period for sure – huge crunching (and VERY loud) riffing and Bourge can cut a great solo. A very under-rated player. Shelly shreeks along like a Welsh Geddy Lee though also shows a fine mellow side on the slower stuff. If they’d have been from Birmingham perhaps they’d have been right up there with Sabbath and Priest.
Here’s a video of the band cranking out Breadfan in the studio. See and hear just how great they were:
When Bourge left to be replaced by John Thomas it did mark a change in style to a more straight ahead rocking approach though what the keyboards were all about on Deliver Us From Evil, who knows. Bored With Russia gets that album off to a fine start though for me it’s a bit up and down after that.
Still, it’s hard to go wrong with a Budgie album and every heavy rock fan’s collection should have a few in there. My suggestions for “essential” Budgie would be In For The Kill, Bandolier, If I Were Britannia I’d Waive The Rules, Never Turn Your Back On A Friend and Night Flight.
You won’t hear much heavier. And with deceptive depth too. It’s not just crank it up to eleven and in yer face. The songs are well crafted with thoughtful solos. Consistently excellent stuff from a band which should really have been bigger.