Their style relied on a heavy riffing, basic heavy metal/rock guitar sound, which was premiered on their first single 'Crash Course In Brain Surgery'. The artistry featured on their album covers suffered a similar fate to that of many prog-rock groups, with ludicrous images variously depicting a Budgie dressed as a fighter pilot, a Nazi Gestapo officer, and a squadron of Budgies flying in formation.
Phillips quit in 1974 after their third album, and was eventually replaced by Steve Williams. The fourth album, 'In for the Kill' (1974) brought them a wider audience, especially in Europe.
By the time of their sixth album, 'If I Was Brittania I'd Waive the Rules', Bourge was disillusioned, left to form Tredegar, and was replaced by John Thomas. Subsequently they found a degree of success in the USA and spent two years on tour before returning to Britain.
A burgeoning new wave of heavy rock and metal was emerging in the UK by the 1980's following the punk explosion, and Budgie seemed to fit in with this, despite being veterans in comparison to other acts who found success at the time. Regardless of having no label on which to release material for much of the next decade, they earned a reputation for influencing many young musicians until their demise in 1987.
Amongst those heaping praise on the band were Metallica, who have been virtually unchallenged as the kings of heavy metal for the last decade. They have recorded cover versions of 'Crash Course in Brain Surgery' and 'Breadfan' proving that Budgie's riffing style was a very early precursor to the thrash metal scene that emerged from America in the late 80's.
A reformed version of Budgie has continued to tour the UK since 1999, and continues right up to the present day.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE BUDGIE: Metallica, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Iron Maiden, Queens of the Stone Age.