Press Release … issued 5th May 1999

Live and Unleashed in Letchworth 


Rock legends Budgie have chosen the world's first Garden City as the
venue for an exclusive one night stand on Friday 28th May at Plinston
Hall in the heart of the North Hertfordshire town.

The powerhouse trio, featuring the incomparable vocals of bassist and
founder Burke Shelley, will be flying into the Garden City to play a
selection of stage favourites from the band’s 10 studio albums 
spanning an illustrious 30 year history.

Tickets for the gig, the band’s first live outing in UK for over 10
years, are on sale now at the Plinston Hall box office priced £16
each. Telephone: 01462 480282. Ticket information is also available
by return on e-mailing budgie@letchworth.com.

The show is part of the band’s preparation for a major Swedish rock
festival in June, which also features acts such as Deep Purple, The
Scorpions and David Lee Roth.

Remembered by rock fans for their graphic song titles such as ‘In The
Grip Of The Tyre-Fitters Hands’ and ‘Hot As A Dockers Armpit’, Budgie
were a major influence on many of today’s top metal bands.
 
They are also part of a rich tradition of top flight rocking acts
from Wales, albeit somewhat ‘raunchier’ than their latter day
successors, the Manic Street Preachers and Catatonia.

For the Letchworth gig, Shelley will be joined by guitarist John
Thomas and reunited with drummer Steve Williams who played on
Budgie’s highly acclaimed 1975 release ‘Bandolier’.

That album, which included the hit single ‘I Ain’t No Mountain’
penned by former Amen Corner vocalist Andy Fairweather Low, and
earlier recordings such as ‘Never Turn Your Back On A Friend’ and
‘In for the Kill’ gave Budgie a cult following in the 1970s and 80s.
But in 1988 they played their last gig.

It was cover versions of Budgie numbers by latter day heroes
Metallica and Soundgarden, which helped to rekindle interest in the
band’s music in the 1990s.
 
In ’95, Shelley reformed Budgie to headline the San Antonio Music
Festival in front of 20,000 screaming Texan fans. The band returned
in 1996 for a one-off show to celebrate 25 years since their first
album.

‘Now they’re coming to play in Letchworth!’ proclaims Denis Hill,
Plinston Hall’s General Manager and the man responsible for enticing
Budgie out of their cage. 

‘Younger fans will know the song ‘Breadfan’ because it’s featured on
Metallica’s latest ‘Garage Inc’ CD. The Plinston gig provides a rare
opportunity to hear this classic track in its original raunchy
format!’

Its all happening just 35 miles north of London on 28th May for what
promises to be a very special night. [ends]

For further information:
Tickets		Plinston Hall	01462 480282 	
                                budgie@letchworth.com

Press		Alan Howard	01462 476000
                                alanhoward@letchworth.com (Daytime)
				
                                01462 731666	
                                alanlgc@aol.com (Evenings)