1948-
Tony Bourge
1948-
Tony Bourge
“If you can sing it, you can play it.” - Tony Bourge
Now 74, Tony Bourge still stands by that very sentiment. He started out as both a singer and harmonica player, then a guitarist. Bourge was born and raised in Cardiff, Wales on November 23, 1948. Though only learning guitar a year prior, he became the guitarist for the heavy metal rock band Budgie in 1967 at the age of nineteen. The band recorded a demo in 1968, then released their self-titled album in 1971, which was produced by Black Sabbath’s Rodger Bain. Bourge’s seven years with the band produced seven albums, including Budgie (1971), Squawk (1972), Never Turn Back on a Friend (1973), In For the Kill! (1974), Bandolier (1975), and If I Were Brittania I’d Waive the Rules (1976), the latter of which had tracks featured in the cult classic J-Men Forever.
Tony Bourge bw
Bands such as Iron Maiden, Megadeath, Metallica, and Van Halen covered various Budgie songs. Metallica particularly has its own renditions of “Breadfan” and “Crash Course in Brain Surgery.” What made Tony Bourge’s playing so special was that he applied the influence of classical music and blues, creating riffs and melodies that were unique. He briefly teamed up with former Budgie drummer Ray Phillips for Tredegar, and they released a self-titled album and The First Demo, Wales, 1982 (1991) before breaking up in 1992.
No longer part of a band, Bourge became a French polisher and made guitars. He remains partly unknown and has been inactive, so little is known about his early and personal life. Bourge reappeared in 2013, releasing two digital albums Crank It Up and Chilling Out, notable for their wide range of styles. In 2020 he released an album and biography with the same title Rocking Man: With An Axe To Grind. He talks a bit about the title track from the record: “I have taken a little step back into my early love of heavy rock. ‘The Preacher’ is about the wonders of life and the five elements.”
Despite not being a well-known figure in heavy metal, Bourge’s influence on the genre and his contributions to Budgie’s biggest hits have been incredibly influential to the bands that followed. His choice for a private life shows his humility for his accomplished career.
