Editing Budgie (band)

{{Short description|Welsh rock band}}
{{For|the Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer|Budgie (musician)}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Budgie
| image             = Budgie (band).jpg
| caption           = Budgie in 1974; left to right: Pete Boot, Tony Bourge, Burke Shelley.
| image_upright     = 1.2
| origin            = [[Cardiff]], Wales
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref name=Crocker/><ref name="AM"/>|[[hard rock]]<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/budgie-mn0000623985|title=Artist-Budgie|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref>}}
| years_active      = 1967–1988, 1995–1996, 1999–2010
| label             = {{hlist|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[RCA Records|RCA]]|NPL}}
| associated_acts   = [[Tredegar (band)|Tredegar]]
| website           = {{URL|budgie.uk.com}}
| past_members      = [[Burke Shelley]]<br/>Steve Williams<br/>[[Craig Goldy]]<br/>Tony Bourge<br/>[[Ray Phillips (musician)|Ray Phillips]]<br/>Pete Boot<br/>[[Rob Kendrick]]<br/>John "Big" Thomas<br/>[[Duncan Mackay (musician)|Duncan Mackay]]<br/>Jim Simpson<br/>Robert "Congo" Jones<br/>Andy Hart<br/>Simon Lees<br/>[[Huw Lloyd-Langton]]
}}

'''Budgie''' were a Welsh [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band from [[Cardiff]]. The band formed in 1967, and recorded a demo the following year. 

In 1971, their first album was blues-oriented [[hard rock]] and produced by [[Rodger Bain]], released by [[MCA Records|MCA]]. Later records found Budgie gradually moving into a harder and more aggressive sound. The band, usually a classic [[power trio]] with the occasional keyboard player, released ten albums, with MCA, [[A&M Records|A&M]], and [[RCA Records|RCA]], between 1971 and 1982, attracting a fair number of fans and achieving modest commercial success. 

Budgie were one of the earliest heavy metal bands, and according to Garry Sharpe-Young they were a seminal influence on many acts of that scene,<ref name="Sharpe-Young, Garry 2007, p. 30">Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007), p. 30</ref> particularly the [[new wave of British heavy metal]], and later acts such as [[Metallica]].<ref name="roadrunnerrecords.com">[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110106] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206055645/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110106|date=6 December 2008}}</ref> The band have been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day".<ref name=Crocker>[[#refCrocker1993|Crocker 1993]], p. 106 "Still recording into the eighties, Budgie was among the heaviest metal of its day."</ref>

==History==
Budgie formed in 1967 in [[Cardiff]], Wales, under the name Hills Contemporary Grass. The original line-up consisted of [[Burke Shelley]] on vocals and bass, Tony Bourge on guitar and vocals and [[Ray Phillips (musician)|Ray Phillips]] on drums.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myspace.com/budgieofficialmyspace |title=Budgie's MySpace page |publisher=Myspace.com |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> After performing several [[concert|gigs]] in 1968, the band changed their name to Budgie the following year and recorded their first demo.<ref name="Sharpe-Young, Garry 2007, p. 30"/> The band had initially considered going under the name "Six Ton Budgie", but decided the shorter single word variant was preferable.<ref name="musicmight.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+kingdom/south+glamorgan/cardiff/budgie |title=Artists :: BUDGIE |publisher=MusicMight |access-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823170929/http://musicmight.com/artist/united+kingdom/south+glamorgan/cardiff/budgie |archive-date=23 August 2011 }}</ref> Burke Shelley has said that the band's name came from the fact that he "loved the idea of playing noisy, [[heavy rock]], but calling ourselves after something diametrically opposed to that".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/the-top-14-birds-in-rock/ |title=Classic Rock " Blog Archive " The Top 14 Birds in Rock |publisher=Classicrockmagazine.com |date=24 February 2009 |access-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217050808/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/the-top-14-birds-in-rock/ |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref>

Their [[Budgie (album)|eponymous debut album]] of strong, blues-oriented [[hard rock]] was recorded at [[Rockfield Studios]] with [[Black Sabbath]] producer [[Rodger Bain]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Henderson |first=Alex |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r2898 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Budgie – Budgie |website=AllMusic |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> and released in 1971. It was followed by ''[[Squawk (album)|Squawk]]'' in 1972. The third album, ''[[Never Turn Your Back on a Friend]]'' (1973), contained  "[[Breadfan]]", which was covered by [[Metallica]] in 1987. Metallica had earlier covered another Budgie song, "Crash Course in Brain Surgery". Ray Phillips left the band before the fourth album ''[[In for the Kill!]]'' was recorded.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]] |date=1992 |edition=First |isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=361}}</ref> He was replaced by Pete Boot.<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|last=Prato |first=Greg |url={{AllMusic|class=artist |id=p12471 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Budgie |website=AllMusic |date=30 May 2002 |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref>

In late 1974, Boot left and was replaced by Steve Williams for the album ''[[Bandolier (album)|Bandolier]]''.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> For concerts promoting this album and the follow-up, ''[[If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules]]'', the band were augmented by second guitarist Myf Isaac. Music from the 1978 LP ''[[Impeckable]]'' featured in the 1979 film ''[[J-Men Forever]]'' (shown frequently on the USA Network's "Night Flight" T.V. in the 1980s), which is now considered a [[cult]] classic. Bourge and Isaac left in 1978 and were replaced by ex-[[Trapeze (band)|Trapeze]] guitarist Robert Kendrick and ex-[[Hawkwind]] guitarist [[Huw Lloyd-Langton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-a-to-k/artists-b/budgie-2/ |title=Budgie |publisher=Nostalgia Central|year=2017}}</ref> Langton's stint was short-lived as Kendrick convinced the band to dismiss him. In late 1978, having been dropped by A&M and with no recording contract, this line-up floundered, and after 12 months Kendrick was replaced by "Big" John Thomas (b. 21 February 1952) in late 1979. This line-up recorded two albums for Kingsley Ward's '[[Active Records|Active]]' label: ''[[Power Supply (album)|Power Supply]]'' (1980) and ''[[Nightflight (Budgie album)|Nightflight]]'' (1981). 1982 saw them signed to RCA for ''[[Deliver Us from Evil (Budgie album)|Deliver Us from Evil]]'', their final recording for a major label.

[[File:Burke Shelley of Budgie, 1981.jpg|thumb|left|Burke Shelley and Steve Williams performing in [[Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Mountain Ash]] in 1981]]
The band continued to have success during the [[new wave of British heavy metal]] period, playing the [[Reading Festival]] in 1980 and then headlining the festival in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fatreg.com/timeline.html |title=Reading Festival timeline |website=Fatreg.com |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> They built a particular following in [[Poland]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} where they played as the first [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band behind the [[Iron Curtain]], in 1982. Also notable was their tour in support of [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'s [[Blizzard of Ozz Tour]].<ref>[http://home.flash.net/~ulknatme/tourdate.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227065121/http://home.flash.net/~ulknatme/tourdate.htm|date=27 February 2011}}</ref>

The band stopped gigging in 1987.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Members went into studio production, occasionally guesting on other projects; Thomas most notably worked on the ''Phenomena'' CD with [[Glenn Hughes (musician)|Glenn Hughes]]<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r210987 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Phonomena – Phonomena |website=AllMusic |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Phillip Hackney |url=http://www.whitesnake.f9.co.uk/Galley.html |title=Whitesnake |publisher=Whitesnake.f9.co.uk |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> out of the Black Sabbath studios.

Although the group had little commercial success in America, they have enjoyed a strong cult following in Texas,<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato |first=Greg |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r643915 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Life in San Antonio – Budgie |website=AllMusic |date=2 August 2002 |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> and received radio airplay from Joe Anthony and Lou Roney on KMAC/[[KISS-FM|KISS]] radio in San Antonio in the 1970s,<ref>{{cite web|last=Mendiola |first=Jim |url=http://www.sacurrent.com/special/story.asp?id=64299 |title=San Antonio Current – SPECIAL ISSUES: Louder By Design |publisher=Sacurrent.com |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> as well as KSHE95 in St. Louis. The band reformed using various drummers for one-off gigs in 1995 and 1996 for outdoor festivals 'La Semana Alegre' in [[San Antonio]], Texas. In 1999, the band officially reformed in [[Letchworth]]. They toured in 2002–2006, mostly in the United Kingdom, the NYC/NJ area, Dallas, and with a few shows in Europe including the Sweden Rock Festival and a return to Poland. In 2006, Budgie undertook a 35-date UK tour and released the album ''[[You're All Living in Cuckooland]]'' on 7 November. In 2007 they played in Sweden and Poland.

On 4 July 2007, Lees announced his departure from the band to concentrate on teaching and a solo career. Following the departure of Lees, [[Dio (band)|Dio]] lead guitarist and songwriter [[Craig Goldy]] offered his services while [[Ronnie James Dio]] was completing commitments with [[Heaven & Hell (band)|Heaven & Hell]]. In February 2008, [[Craig Goldy]] accompanied Budgie on their first tour of Australia, and continued playing with the band as 'guest guitarist' for all their shows.

Budgie's November 2010 tour of Central Europe had to be cancelled as Shelley was hospitalised on 9 November in [[Wejherowo]], Poland, with a 6&nbsp;cm aortic aneurysm. After surgery, he returned to Britain for recovery.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shelley |first=Burke |title=Latest update 20 November |url=http://www.budgie.uk.com/news.html |publisher=Budgie.uk |access-date=11 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215144009/http://www.budgie.uk.com/news.html |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> This was effectively the end of the band.

On 3 March 2016, former guitarist John Thomas died at the age of 63 after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia. The news of his death was confirmed by drummer Steve Williams on Facebook: "My friend and fellow BUDGIE band member John Thomas sadly passed away last night. My thoughts are with the loved ones he left behind."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-budgie-guitarist-john-thomas-dies/ |title=Former Budgie Guitarist John Thomas Dies |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>

In February 2018, former drummer Pete Boot died at the age of 67. For many years he had been coping with [[Parkinson's disease]].

In April 2018, founder member and original drummer [[Ray Phillips (musician)|Ray Phillips]] released his autobiography.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://budgieinpeckingorder.weebly.com/ray-phillips-book.html|title=Budgie books|website=Budgie books|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03}}</ref>

After more than a decade of health issues, including an [[aortic aneurysm]] and [[Stickler syndrome]], Shelley died on 10 January 2022, at the age of 71.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/budgies-burke-shelley-dies-at-71/|title=BUDGIE's BURKE SHELLEY Dies At 71|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=10 January 2022 |access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>

==Musical style and legacy==
Budgie are best known as a [[hard rock]]<ref name=AM /> and [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name=Crocker/><ref name=AM /><ref name=Rivadavia>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r2900|label="Budgie: ''Bandolier''" |first=Eduardo |last=Rivadavia |access-date=27 November 2011}}</ref> band who incorporated elements of [[progressive rock]]<ref name=Rivadavia/> and humour into their musical style.<ref name=Rivadavia/> With 1975's ''[[Bandolier (album)|Bandolier]]'', they began to also incorporate [[funk]].<ref name=Rivadavia/>

Budgie's music was described in the All-Music Guide as a cross between [[Rush (band)|Rush]] and [[Black Sabbath]].<ref name=AM /> [[Burke Shelley]]'s vocals have been compared to [[Geddy Lee]] due to his similar approach of high-pitched banshee wails (coincidentally, Shelley and Lee are also the bass players in their respective power-trio bands).<ref name=AM /> Although Budgie remained quite obscure during their early career, many future stars of hard rock/metal have cited them as an important influence and covered their songs, including [[Iron Maiden]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden-mn0000098465/related |title=Iron Maiden – Similar Artists, Megadeth,Influenced By, Followers |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> [[Metallica]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/metallica-mn0000446509/related |title=Metallica – Similar Artists, Influenced By, Followers |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> [[Megadeth]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Kory Grow |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/uncategorized/exclusive-excerpt-from-dave-mustaines-autobiography-meeting-lars-ulric.html |title=Exclusive Excerpt From Dave Mustaine's Autobiography: Meeting Lars Ulrich – Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News &#124;Golden Gods Awards |website=Revolvermag.com |date=3 August 2010 |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> [[Van Halen]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato |first=Greg |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-for-the-kill%21-mw0000202013 |title=In for the Kill! – Budgie : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> [[Melvins]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvins-mn0000349157/related |title=Melvins – Similar Artists, Influenced By, Followers |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> [[Queens of the Stone Age]], [[Alice in Chains]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/alice-in-chains-mn0000007920/related |title=Alice in Chains – Similar Artists, Influenced By, Followers |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> and [[Soundgarden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/soundgarden-mn0000001098/related |title=Soundgarden – Similar Artists, Influenced By, Followers |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref>

Metallica released a cover of "Breadfan" in September 1988 as a B-side to their "[[Harvester of Sorrow]]" single. It was later included on their 1998 album ''[[Garage Inc.]]'', and was also used as an encore during their 1988–1989 tour supporting their [[...And Justice for All (album)|''...And Justice for All'']] album. A live video version is present on the ''[[Live Shit: Binge & Purge]]'' boxed set, taken from their Seattle concerts on 29 and 30 August 1989 where it was performed in the second encore. It was also played with frequency during the [[Madly in Anger with the World Tour]] and [[World Magnetic Tour]]. A short clip of "Breadfan" is played at the beginning of the "[[Whiskey in the Jar]]" music video. They also covered "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" on the ''[[Garage Days Re-Revisited]]'' EP, which later appeared on the aforementioned '' Garage, Inc.'' album.

==Members==
{{main|List of Budgie band members}}
'''Final lineup'''
*[[Burke Shelley]] – lead vocals, bass {{small|(1967–1988, 1995–1996, 1999–2010; died 2022)}}
*Steve Williams – drums, percussion, backing vocals {{small|(1974–1986, 1999–2010)}}
*[[Craig Goldy]] – guitar {{small|(2008–2010)}}

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Album
![[UK Album Chart|UK]]
![[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=49}}</ref>
|-
|1971
|''[[Budgie (album)|Budgie]]''
| –
| 36
|-
|1972
|''[[Squawk (album)|Squawk]]''
| –
| –
|-
|1973
|''[[Never Turn Your Back on a Friend]]''
| –
| –
|-
|1974
|''[[In for the Kill!]]''
|29
| –
|-
|1975
|''[[Bandolier (album)|Bandolier]]''
|36
| 75
|-
|1976
|''[[If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules]]''
| –
| 98
|-
|1978
|''[[Impeckable]]''
| –
| –
|-
|1980
|''[[Power Supply (album)|Power Supply]]''
| –
| –
|-
|1981
|''[[Nightflight (Budgie album)|Nightflight]]''
|68
| –
|-
|1982
|''[[Deliver Us from Evil (Budgie album)|Deliver Us from Evil]]''
|62
| –
|-
|2006
|''[[You're All Living in Cuckooland]]''
| –
| –
|}

===Live albums===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Album
|-
|1997
|''[[We Came, We Saw...]]'' <br/><small>(live compilation of 1980–1982 material)</small>
|-
|1998
|''[[Heavier Than Air – Rarest Eggs]]'' <br/><small>(live compilation of 1972–1981 material)</small>
|-
|2002
|''[[Life in San Antonio]]''
|-
|2004
|''[[The BBC Recordings (Budgie album)|The BBC Recordings]]'' <br/><small>(live compilation of 1972–1982 material)</small>
|-
|2005
|''[[Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978]]'' <br/><small>(double album)</small>
|-
|2022
|''[[Live Flight]]'' <br/><small>(includes live recordings from a tour in 2009)</small>
|}

===Compilation albums===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Album
|-
|1975
|''[[Best of Budgie (1975 album)|Best of Budgie]]''
|-
|1981
|''[[Best of Budgie (1981 album)|Best of Budgie]]''
|-
|1996
|''[[An Ecstasy of Fumbling – The Definitive Anthology]]''
|-
|1997
|''[[Best of Budgie (1997 album)|Best of Budgie]]''
|-
|2004
|''[[The Last Stage (album)|The Last Stage]]''
|}

===EPs===
*''[[If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting]]'' (1980, [[Active Records|Active]] BUDGE 1)

===Singles (UK-exclusive unless stated otherwise)===
*"Crash Course in Brain Surgery" / "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" (1971, [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] MK 5072)
*"Whiskey River" / "Guts" (1972, MCA MK 5085)
*"Whiskey River" / "Stranded" (1972, MCA 2185) – US-exclusive release
*"Zoom Club (Edit)" / "Wondering What Everyone Knows" (1974, MCA 133)
*"I Ain't No Mountain" / "Honey" (1975, MCA 175)
*"Smile Boy Smile" / "All at Sea" (1978, [[A&M Records|A&M]] AMS 7342)
*"Crime Against the World" / "Hellbender" (1980, Active BUDGE 2)
*"Keeping a Rendezvous" / "Apparatus" (1981, [[RCA]] BUDGE 3) – UK No. 71
*"I Turned to Stone (Part 1)" / "I Turned to Stone (Part 2)" (1981, RCA BUDGE 4)
*"I Turned to Stone" / "She Used Me Up" (1981, [[Tonpress]] S-445) – Polish release
*"Bored with Russia" / "Don't Cry" (1982, RCA 271)

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*''The New Musical Express Book of Rock'', 1975, Star Books, {{ISBN|0-352-30074-4}}
*{{Cite book |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |title=Metal: The Definitive Guide | publisher=Jawbone Press| year=2007| location=London| isbn=978-1-906002-01-5 }}
* <cite id=refCrocker1993>{{Cite book |last=Crocker |first=Chris |title=Metallica: The Frayed Ends of Metal |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=1993 |location=New York |isbn=0-312-08635-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/metallicafrayede00croc }}</cite>

==External links==
* [http://www.budgie.uk.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/budgie/ Budgie biography from BBC Wales]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p12471}}
* {{Discogs artist|Budgie}}

{{Budgie (band)}}
{{Culture in Cardiff}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Budgie}}
[[Category:1967 establishments in Wales]]
[[Category:2010 disestablishments in Wales]]
[[Category:Welsh heavy metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Welsh hard rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1988]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1995]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1996]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1999]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Welsh musical trios]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Cardiff]]
[[Category:Kapp Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Welsh musical groups by genre|Rock]]