The legend of Burke Shelley's "Budgie" ... your view .. please .?

Question

I have started listening and crossed a bridge between the land of Heavy Metal / Hard Rock to the land of Progressive yet complication free land . This crossing was accomplished through the great Welsh band (Budgie) or as said once (the sons of Black Sabbath) . So what is your view or experience regarding this band as a listener ??

Answer 1

I like them a lot. Reminiscent  of early Rush. Talented 3-piece that never really made it here in the US.

Answer 2

I'm a huge Fan of Budgie. If it wasn't for the pioneers of Metal such as Budgie, Sabbath, Sir Lord Baltimore, and Deep Purple there would be no Metal as we know it today. Budgie Rules.

Answer 3

I've been a fan for nearly 40 years...geez, has it really been that long?

I was living and working in broadcasting for Radio Netherlands Worldwide located in Hlilversum Netherlands during the later part of the 60's. During this time I went to a club one night, where the headliners were 'The Move', and the opening act was a band from Wales called 'Hills Contemporary Grass'. This was an early incarnation of Budgie minus Tony Bourge. I believe the guitarists name at that time was Brian Goddard. They were fantastic, and I remember them playing a couple Cream covers, and maybe some Stones. Burke sat at our table after their set, and we watched the entire 'Move' set together. I later did a short interview with him that was broadcast the following day.

Jump ahead nearly around 8 or 9 years, and I'm back in Canada (my home), where I worked as a tape operator for three well known Toronto based recording studios between 1975-82. Manta Sound, Sounds Interchange, and Springfield Sound. During those years I had the pleasure of meeting and working with many well known artists including Rush, Black Sabbath, Oscar Peterson, Moxy, Gordon Lightfoot, Thundermug, and Bruce Cockburn, to name a few.

In 1977, Budgie were in town to record their 'Impeckable' album which was released in '78. I had always been a fan of the band since the release of their first album in '71. Actually even before the release of that LP I caught them doing a show when they were known as 'Six Ton Budgie' in London on the same bill as Toe Fat and Ancient Grease (another great Welsh band).

Anyways, of course I knew who Burke was when the boys walked into the studio that day, but he didn't recognize me right away...he said that I looked vaguely familiar, and asked if we had met before Lol. He soon remembered who is was, and after our first session, we all went out for a drink and caught the band 'Rough Trade' featuring Carole Pope at a local club. We all got pleasantly pissed together. Burke, Tony and Steve all lived in Toronto for a few months that year, and we hung out quite a bit. I was basically their guide to Toronto!

So that is my experience with Budgie...and my view regarding the band has always been the same; A very hard working bunch of guys who persevered through the many curve balls and changes rock music offered during the 70's, 80's, while still clinging to their trademark sound...and not Budging an inch!

My favorite albums are the 1st self titled, Never Turn Your Back on a Friend, In For the Kill, Bandolier, If I Were Britannia I'd Waive the Rules, Impeccable, Power Supply, Nightflight, Deliver Us From Evil, We Came We Saw. I guess It would have been easier to say "all of the above" with the exception of 'Squak' (their 2nd LP), which only had a couple songs that I liked. Those being; Rocking Man, and Hot as a Docker's Armpit. I seem to recall the rest as being filler (sorry Burke). Maybe I should listen to it again!

Bye the way, the original UK vinyl pressings of these albums blow away any of the recent CD reissues, or even the US vinyl pressings for that matter. The sonics are amazing!

I picked up their 2006 album titled 'You're All Living in Cuckooland' about a year ago, and was really impressed. They sort of re-captured their early 80's sound, but a bit heavier. No Tony Bourge or John Thomas on this album, though Simon Lees is a very capable replacement in my opinion.

*Edit - Wow, thumbs down? Thanks a lot.

Answer 4

if your getting into budgie then also give atomic rooster a listen. iv been a fan of budgie since 1974 when they released in for the kill, got all their albums never turn your back on a Friend is my fave. in fact i had to re-buy on cd