Beyond the bands and artists we recognize as famous in the world of classic rock, there are many performers who were influential in the rock world but who existed in relative obscurity, never quite turning the corner to mass appeal superstardom. 1970s and 80s-era Welsh power trio Budgie was one such band. Sadly, one of that group’s founding members, lead singer and bassist John Burke Shelley, passed away on January 10 at age 71.
First formed in 1967, Budgie emerged from Wales during the 1970s period with an early heavy rock/metal style, mixed with acoustic and progressive elements. A number of their songs would take unexpected side journeys, twists and turns. Although they tended to be more obscure, Budgie influenced bands that came after them, including Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden and other groups from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) in the early 1980s. Budgie even enjoyed some resurgence in popularity during the NWOBHM, releasing two very good albums with 1980’s “Power Supply” and 1981’s “Nightflight.” (Both can be streamed on YouTube.)
I first discovered Budgie while browsing in the import album bin of the former Music Hut record store in Altoona sometime in the late 1970s. I spotted an interesting-looking album called “Never Turn Your Back on a Friend,” Budgie’s 1973 album. I bought it, took it home and listened to it, and was immediately hooked by the album’s hard-driving opening track, “Breadfan.” A few years later, I would learn that I wasn’t the only person that liked that song, as Metallica was performing “Breadfan” at their live shows, and would eventually include their version of “Breadfan” on their “Garage, Inc.” album and other sets.
Soon after discovering Budgie, I started to purchase a few of the group’s other albums from used record bins. I found myself intrigued by Budgie’s album cover artwork, usually showing a warrior budgie (parakeet) in a fantasy/sci-fi setting. Budgie’s album titles were interesting, as well as their knack for unusual, often lengthy, song titles – such as “You’re the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk,” “In the Grip of a Tyrefitter’s Hand,” “Breaking All the House Rules and Learning All the House Rules” and more.
I always wanted to see Budgie perform live. Budgie had planned a North American tour for Spring 2010, and one of the tour dates was at the Sterling Hotel in Allentown. I had planned on purchasing a ticket and attending, but a volcano eruption in Iceland during April disrupted air travel in and from Europe for several months afterward, and Budgie had to cancel that tour. So I never had the chance to see them perform.
In remembering John Burke Shelley and Budgie, below is a link to a video from 1973 showing the group as they performed “Breadfan.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg
