We Came, We Saw: A Biography of Budgie Part 2
1978, the year that saw the release of Impeckable, was a difficult one for Budgie. Myf Isaac joined them as a second guitarist for live work, but by the middle of that year both he and Tony Bourge had left the group to be replaced by Rob Kendrick from Trapeze. Later in the year, Budgie were dropped by A&M and Kendrick was replaced by 'Big' John Thomas, a fine player from the George Hatcher Band. The line-up of Shelley, Thomas and Williams recorded two albums for Kingsley Ward's Active Records, a sublabel of RCA: Power Supply (1980) and Nightflight (1981). A 12" EP, If Swallowed Do Not Induce Vomiting was also released on Active Records in 1980. All tracks on the EP are reasonable, but lack the originality of the early Bourge-era Budgie. The 1993 CD reissue of Power Supply featured the If Swallowed Do Not Induce Vomiting E.P. as bonus tracks. 1982 saw Budgie return to RCA for Deliver us From Evil (1982), their final recording for a major label.
In 1982, Tony Bourge rejoined original Budgie drummer Ray Phillips and bassist Alan Fish to form Tredegar with future members of Cloven Hoof, singer Russ North and guitarist Andy Wood. The band recorded a self-titled album in 1986 with Carl Sentance from Persian Risk on guest vocals. According to an article in Classic Rock maazine, Tony Bourge left Tredegar to become a French polisher, while Phillips continued the band as singer until the early nineties, when he resurrected Six-Ton Budgie.
Budgie, meanwhile, continued to have some success during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, playing the Reading Festival in 1980 and headlining in 1982. Also in 1982, they played in Poland, where they had built a following, and became the first heavy rock band to perform behind the Iron Curtain. They toured in support of Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz, but stopped gigging in 1988. John Thomas went on to play with Tom Galley's Phenomena project in 1985.
Strangely, although Budgie had very little commercial success in America, they enjoyed a strong cult following in Texas, due to Joe Anthony and Lou Roney playing a Budgie track every day on KMAC/KISS radio in San Antonio in the 1970s. The band reformed using various drummers for one-off gigs in 1995 and for outdoor festivals 'La Semana Alegre' in 1996, both in San Antonio, Texas. In 1999, Budgie was officially reformed. Life in San Antonio, a live album, was recorded and released in 2002, with a lineup of Burke Shelley, Steve Williams and Andy Hart on guitar. Budgie toured the United Kingdom in 2002-6, as well as the New York City/ New Jersey area, Dallas and a few shows in Europe, including the Sweden Rock Festival and a return to post-Communist Poland.
In February 2003, Simon Lees was asked to join Shelley and Williams in Budgie. In September of that year, Lees recorded seven songs with the band which would later appear as bonus tracks on four of Budgie’s remastered albums: Budgie, Sqwawk, Never Turn Your Back on a Friend and In For the Kill released on the Noteworthy Productions label. During 2005 and 2006, Lees co-wrote and recorded an album of new material You're All Living in Cuckooland with Burke Shelley at the latter's studio in Cardiff. The album was produced by Burke Shelley and released in the UK on 7th November 2006 on Noteworthy Productions, accompanied with a thirty five date tour of the United Kingdom. Also in 2006, Lees played classical guitar on Black Velvet Stallion (2006 Version) for the remastered If I Were Britannia, I'd Break the Rules for Noteworthy Productions. Lees was not credited on the album. The following year Budgie played dates in Sweden and Poland. Having played 115 gigs consisting of four UK tours and nineteen shows spread across five countries outside the UK, Simon Lees left Budgie on 4th July 2007, three months before the band were due to play a three date tour of Australia. Following the departure of Simon Lees, Dio lead guitarist and songwriter, Craig Goldy, offered his services while Ronnie James was completing commitments with Heaven & Hell on their World Tour. In February 2008, Goldy accompanied Budgie on their first (five date) tour of Australia and has continued playing with Budgie as 'guest guitarist' for all of their shows.
Budgie's November 2010 tour of Eastern Europe had to be cancelled as Burke Shelley was hospitalised on Tuesday 9th November in Wejherowo, Poland, complaining of pains in his abdomen. A team of surgeons was quickly assembled and a 6cm aortic aneurism was diagnosed. Tests revealed that Shelley's aorta was leaking blood into the outer wall of the aneurism which could have burst at any time. He underwent a two-hour, 40-minute operation in the evening and was kept in the intensive care ward. After surgery, he returned to Britain for recovery, but no decision has been made on the future of Budgie.
Burke Shelley posted the following under Latest News from The Budgie Camp on the band's official website: "I'd like to say sorry to all the Polish and Czech fans for the recent cancellation of the tour dates. This is because I became ill just before the tour began and had to have emergency surgery in Poland. I'm now recovering at home and I don't yet know what the future holds. Thanks to all those who supported me particulary the Polish surgeons. Thanks also to all those who sent messgaes and thanks to God the Father and Jesus Christ my saviour and the Holy Spirit." - Burke
Written in November 2011, updated 2012
With thanks to The Budgie Official Website, Wikipedia, Classic Rock Magazine and The New Musical Express Book of Rock 1 (1975) and 2 (1977) published by Star Books