List of Budgie band members

Burke Shelley and Steve Williams performing with Budgie in 1981.

Budgie were a Welsh heavy metal band from Cardiff. Formed in late 1967, the group originally consisted of lead vocalist and bassist Burke Shelley, guitarists and backing vocalists Tony Bourge and Brian Goddard, and drummer Ray Phillips. The group broke up in 2010, when their lineup featured Shelley, drummer Steve Williams (originally a member from 1974 to 1986, and later since 1999), and guitarist Craig Goldy (who joined in 2008).

## History

[edit]

### 1967–1988

[edit]

Budgie were formed in late 1967.[1] The original lineup featured Burke Shelley, Brian Goddard, Tony Bourge and Ray Phillips.[2] By early 1970, Goddard had left the group because, according to Shelley, "he got a girl pregnant and suddenly had to get a job".[3] The remaining trio released Budgie in 1971, Squawk in 1972 and Never Turn Your Back on a Friend in 1973.[4] By the end of 1973, Phillips had left Budgie.[5] He was replaced by Pete Boot, who debuted on In for the Kill! released the following year.[6] After around a year with the band, Boot was replaced at the end of 1974 by Steve Williams.[7] Bandolier, If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules and Impeckable followed, before Bourge left in the summer of 1978. He later recalled that "I would've loved to have carried on, but after a while the lifestyle gets to you."[3]

Bourge was replaced by former Trapeze guitarist Rob Kendrick, while former Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton also joined briefly.[3] By the end of the summer, the latter had left and the group reverted to a trio.[8] After briefly relocating to Texas, the band fired Kendrick and replaced him with "Big" John Thomas at the end of 1979.[9] This lineup remained constant throughout the rest of the 1980s, releasing the EP If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting in 1980, followed by three studio albums: Power Supply (1980), Nightflight (1981) and Deliver Us from Evil (1982).[4] After a few more years touring, Budgie were dropped by RCA Records and Williams left in mid-1986, replaced by Jim Simpson of UFO.[2] Two more years of touring followed, before the group disbanded following a final show in May 1988.[2]

### 1995–2022

[edit]

In early 1995, Burke Shelley and John Thomas reformed Budgie with drummer Robert "Congo" Jones (formerly of Love Sculpture) for a select number of American shows.[10] The group reformed again in mid-1999, with Steve Williams returning on drums.[2] In February 2002, Thomas was forced to leave the band after suffering a stroke which rendered him unable to perform effectively.[9][11] He was replaced by Andy Hart, who debuted on Life in San Antonio recorded in the summer.[12] The following March, Hart was forced to leave for "personal reasons".[13] He was replaced by Simon Lees.[14]

Lees performed on 2006's You're All Living in Cuckooland, Budgie's first studio album since 1982.[15] He later left in July 2007, with Andy James taking his place in October.[16] By January 2008, James had been replaced by Dio guitarist Craig Goldy on a part-time "special guest" basis.[17] In November 2010, Budgie were forced to cancel a European tour after Shelley suffered an aortic aneurysm for which he underwent surgery.[18] The band have not performed since, with Shelley announcing in 2020 that his condition had worsened, and that he planned to release a final album of unreleased Budgie tracks.[19] Shelley died on January 10, 2022, aged 71, in his hometown of Cardiff.

## Members

[edit]

### Final

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Burke Shelley |

* 1967–1988
* 1995–1996
* 1999–2010 (died 2022)

* bass
* lead vocals
* keyboards

| all Budgie releases
| Steve Williams  |

* 1974–1986
* 1999–2010

* drums
* percussion
* backing vocals

| all Budgie releases from Bandolier (1975) onward

| Craig Goldy | 2008–2010  | guitar  | none

### Former

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Kevin Newton[20] | 1967–1968  |

* guitar

| none
| Brian Goddard  | 1967–1970  |

* guitar
* backing vocals

| Ray Phillips | 1967–1973  |

* drums
* percussion

* Budgie (1971)
* "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" (1971)
* Squawk (1972)
* Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1973)
* Heavier Than Air: Rarest Eggs (1998)
* The BBC Recordings (2004)

| Tony Bourge  | 1968[21]–1978  |

* guitar
* backing and occasional lead vocals

* all Budgie releases from Budgie (1971) to Impeckable (1977)
* Heavier Than Air: Rarest Eggs (1998)
* The BBC Recordings (2004)
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978 (2005)

| Pete Boot  | 1973–1974 (died 2018) | drums  |

* In for the Kill! (1974)
* Heavier Than Air: Rarest Eggs (1998)
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978 (2005)

| Rob Kendrick | 1978–1979  |

* guitar
* backing vocals

| The Last Stage (2004) – one track only
| Huw Lloyd-Langton | 1978 (died 2012) | none
| "Big" John Thomas  |

* 1979–1988
* 1995–1996
* 1999–2002 (died 2016)

* all Budgie releases from If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting (1980) to We Came, We Saw... (1998)
* The Last Stage (2004)
* The BBC Recordings (2004)

| Jim Simpson  | 1986–1988  | drums  | none
| Robert "Congo" Jones  | 1995–1996
| Andy Hart  | 2002–2003  |

* guitar
* backing vocals

| Life in San Antonio (2002)
| Simon Lees  | 2003–2007  | You're All Living in Cuckooland (2006)

| Andy James  | 2007–2008  | guitar  | none

### Backup

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Years active  | Instruments  | Release contributions

|
|
|
|

| Myfyr Isaac  | 1975–1978  |

* guitar
* backing vocals

* Heavier Than Air: Rarest Eggs (1998)
* The BBC Recordings (2004)
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978 (2005)

| Duncan Mackay | 1982 (session) | keyboards  | Deliver Us from Evil (1982)
| Lindsey Bridgewater  | 1982 (touring) |

* We Came, We Saw... (1998)
* The BBC Recordings (2004)

## Timeline

[edit]

## Lineups

[edit]

Period  | Members  | Releases

|
|

Late 1967 – early 1968  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Kevin Newton[20] – guitar
* Brian Goddard – guitar, backing vocals
* Ray Phillips – drums, percussion

| none
Early 1968 – early 1970  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Tony Bourge – guitar, backing vocals
* Brian Goddard – guitar, backing vocals
* Ray Phillips – drums, percussion

| none
Early 1970 – late 1973  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Tony Bourge – guitar, backing vocals
* Ray Phillips – drums, percussion

* Budgie (1971)
* "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" (1971)
* Squawk (1972)
* Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1973)
* Heavier Than Air (1998) – eight tracks
* The BBC Recordings (2004) – four tracks

Late 1973 – late 1974  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Tony Bourge – guitar, backing vocals
* Pete Boot – drums

* In for the Kill! (1974)
* Heavier Than Air (1998) – two tracks
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978 (2005) – six tracks

Late 1974 – summer 1978  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Tony Bourge – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

* Bandolier (1975)
* If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules (1976)
* Impeckable (1978)
* Heavier Than Air (1998) – 12 tracks
* The BBC Recordings (2004) – two tracks
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978 (2005) – ten tracks

Summer 1978  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Rob Kendrick – guitar, backing vocals
* Huw Lloyd-Langton – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

| none
Summer 1978 – late 1979  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Rob Kendrick – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

* The Last Stage (2004) – one track

Late 1979 – mid-1986  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* John Thomas – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

* If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting (1980)
* Power Supply (1980)
* Nightflight (1981)
* Deliver Us from Evil (1982)
* Heavier Than Air (1998) – three tracks
* We Came, We Saw... (1998)
* The Last Stage (2004) – 15 tracks
* The BBC Recordings (2004) – 17 tracks

Mid-1986 – May 1988  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* John Thomas – guitar, backing vocals
* Jim Simpson – drums

| none
Band inactive May 1988 – early 1995
Early 1995 – summer 1996  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* John Thomas – guitar, backing vocals
* Robert Jones – drums

| none
Band inactive summer 1996 – mid-1999
Mid-1999 – February 2002  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* John Thomas – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

| none
February 2002 – February 2003  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Andy Hart – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

* Life in San Antonio (2002)

February 2003 – July 2007  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Simon Lees – guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

* You're All Living in Cuckooland (2006)

October 2007 – January 2008  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Andy James – guitar
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

| none
January 2008 – November 2010  |

* Burke Shelley – lead vocals, bass
* Craig Goldy – guitar
* Steve Williams – drums, percussion

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Founding Budgie Member Ray Phillips Working On Solo Debut". Blabbermouth.net. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
2. ^ a b c d Heatley, Michael (20 May 2015). "Heavier than a Cast Iron". Record Collector. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
3. ^ a b c Heatley, Michael (10 April 2017). "Now yer squawkin': The story of Burke Shelley and Budgie". Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
4. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Budgie: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
5. ^ "Budgie Drummer Ray Phillips Releases Autobiography; First 150 Copies Include 12-Track CD Sampler (Video Trailers)". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
6. ^ Ling, Dave (9 December 2020). "Budgie: a guide to their best albums". Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
7. ^ "From The Music Capitals Of The World: London" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 87, no. 4\. New York City, New York: Billboard. 25 January 1975. p. 46. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
8. ^ "Tours: Budgie" (PDF). Record Mirror. 30 September 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
9. ^ a b "Budgie Issue Statement Regarding Death Of Former Guitarist John Thomas". Metal Forces. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
10. ^ "Budgie - The 1995 Reunion Concert in San Antonio". Budgie Fan Club. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
11. ^ "Former Budgie Guitarist John Thomas Dead at 63". Ultimate Guitar. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
12. ^ Prato, Greg. "Life in San Antonio - Budgie: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
13. ^ "Latest News". Budgie. Archived from the original on 4 April 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
14. ^ "Latest News". Budgie. Archived from the original on 21 June 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
15. ^ Prato, Greg. "You're All Living in Cuckooland - Budgie: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
16. ^ "Budgie Announces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
17. ^ "Dio's Craig Goldy To Tour With Budgie". Blabbermouth.net. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
18. ^ "Budgie's Burke Shelley Undergoes Emergency Surgery; European Tour Canceled". Blabbermouth.net. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
19. ^ "'One Last Hurrah': Burke Shelley To Release Final Budgie Album After Refusing Life Saving Operation". MetalTalk. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
20. ^ a b Monaco, Giorgio (August 2019). "Heavy: Dal blues del Mississippi al black metal norvegese" (in Italian). Arcana. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
21. ^ "THE TONY BOURGE PAGE". budgiefanclub.tripod. Retrieved 15 November 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Budgie official website

* v
* t
* e

Budgie

* Burke Shelley
* Steve Williams
* Craig Goldy

* Tony Bourge
* Ray Phillips
* Rob Kendrick
* Duncan Mackay
* Simon Lees

Studio albums|

* Budgie
* Squawk
* Never Turn Your Back on a Friend
* In for the Kill!
* Bandolier
* If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules
* Impeckable
* Power Supply
* Nightflight
* Deliver Us from Evil
* You're All Living in Cuckooland

Live albums|

* Heavier Than Air – Rarest Eggs
* We Came, We Saw...
* Life in San Antonio
* Radio Sessions 1974 & 1978
* The BBC Recordings

Compilations|

* Best of Budgie (1975)
* Best of Budgie (1981)
* An Ecstasy of Fumbling – The Definitive Anthology
* Best of Budgie (1997)
* The Last Stage

Miscellaneous|

* Band members
* "Breadfan"
* If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting

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