Budgie (band)
| Budgie | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock |
| Years active | 1967–1988, 1995–1996, 1999–2010 (on hiatus) |
| Labels | MCA, RCA, NPL |
| Associated acts | Tredegar |
| Website | www |
| Members |
Burke Shelley Steve Williams Craig Goldy |
| Past members |
Tony Bourge Ray Phillips Pete Boot Rob Kendrick John "Big" Thomas Duncan Mackay Jim Simpson Robert "Congo" Jones Andy Hart Simon Lees |
Budgie are a Welsh hard rock band from Cardiff. They are described by author Garry Sharpe-Young as one of the earliest heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts of that scene, with fast, heavy rock (an influence on the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) and acts such as Metallica) being played as early as 1971. The band has been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day".
Budgie formed in 1967 in Cardiff, Wales under the name Hills Contemporary Grass. Their original line-up consisted of Burke Shelley on vocals and bass, Tony Bourge on guitar and vocals, and Ray Phillips on drums. After performing several gigs in 1968, the band changed their name to Budgie the following year and recorded their first demo. The band originally formed under such names as Hills Contemporary Grass and Six Ton Budgie. 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".
Their debut album in strong blues-oriented hard rock lines was recorded at Rockfield Studios with Black Sabbath producer Rodger Bain and released in 1971, followed by Squawk in 1972. The third album, Never Turn Your Back On a Friend (1973), contained "Breadfan", which was covered by Metallica in 1988, the band having covered another Budgie song, "Crash Course In Brain Surgery" earlier in their career. Ray Philips left the band before the fourth album In for the Kill! was recorded and was replaced by Pete Boot (b. Peter Charles Boot, 30 September 1950, West Bromwich, Staffordshire).
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