10 Great Rock Music Acts Who Were Too Far Ahead Of Their Time
4. Budgie
Whether it be about politics in metal, the role of metal in the mainstream, or whether something counts as metal at all, metalheads find no shortage of things to argue about. Another argument that comes up far less frequently than it should though, is the debate on who the first real metal band were. Some say Black Sabbath, others point to the faces of the NWOBHM, but one largely overlooked Welsh band pre-dates them all.
Forming as far back as 1967, Budgie have a strong claim to be the first heavy metal band, and their influence over alternative music is astronomical. Despite their significance, Budgie were commercially outshined and ultimately outsold by the bands they inspired. Having been cited as a key influence for every band from Metallica to Melvins, Budgie enjoyed the benefits of the budding metal scene through the 1970s and early '80s. Arguably, the highlight of their career was headlining Reading Festival in 1982, but the momentum was short-lived and they stopped performing live in 1987 to focus on other projects. Budgie reformed twice but called it quits for good in 2010, over 50 years after their initial formation.
The spirit of the band lives on as the likes of Soundgarden, Megadeth, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, and more all released covers of Budgie songs in tribute to the trailblazing metal group. It seems that like many other innovators that came before and since, Budgie walked so the names they inspired could run.