Crushed Butler
Encyclopedia
Crushed Butler were a British protopunk
/hard rock
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
and to pursue solo careers.
(drums). They initially played cover version
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material.
Crushed Butler were a British protopunk
/hard rock
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
and to pursue solo careers.
(drums).Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Crushed Butler Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 They initially played cover version
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material.
Crushed Butler were a British protopunk
/hard rock
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
and to pursue solo careers.
(drums).Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Crushed Butler Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 They initially played cover version
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material. There dressed with ripped slash neck T- Shirts, studded belts and straight legged Levis jeans, and their aggressive and energetic live performances, blew many a name top act of the stage, from the Lyceum to the Guilford Civic - they were futuristic and a group to be reckoned with. The band auditioned and recorded for several record label
s including EMI
and Decca
, but failed to secure a deal. For their 1970 session for EMI, they were only allowed to record their own "Factory Grime" after recording producer Roger Ferris' choice, "Love Is All Around Me", and the label's aversion to "Factory Grime" saw them lose interest in the band.Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Uncrushed Review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009Ankeny, Jason "[ Jesse Hector Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 In early 1971, the band changed their name to Tiger
, and the line-up had also changed to include Barry Mitchell, formerly a member of an early version of Queen
Then Neil Christian
of The Crusaders managed them for some time as Tiger, with Arthur Anderson playing bass guitar,Hodkinson, Mark (2004) Queen: The Early Years, Music Sales, ISBN 978-1844490127, p. 128 but without an improvement in their fortunes, and split up later that year when Read took up a job as a songwriter at Track Records.
Hector and Butler continued as Helter-Skelter and went on to form The Hammersmith Gorillas
(later shortened to The Gorillas), while Read pursued a solo career, as well as working as an actor. Read's works have included three albums (Beat Existentialist (1991) and Freshly Dug (1999) with Ray Manzarek
, Bleeding Paradise being the last to date in 2007.Moco, João (2009) "Jim Morrisson homenageado sexta-feira no MusicBox", Diario de Noticias
, 21 July 2009, retrieved 27 September 2009. In 2000 he starred alongside Jamie Foreman
and Zoot Money
in the feature film Remember a Day
playing the leading role of Roger Bannerman, a reclusive rock star. He currently performs rock concerts with his group Beat Existentialists in Europe and the USA. His later literary works works have included a biographical novel, Stardom Road, and SET, selected poetry works illustrated by George Underwood.
The Crushed Butler recordings were eventually released in 1998 by Dig The Fuzz Records on the Uncrushed album.
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
The Gorillas
The Gorillas were a rock group from Hammersmith, London, England formed in 1974, and fronted by Jesse Hector, who played high energy rock music.-History:...
and to pursue solo careers.
History
Crushed Butler formed in 1969 with a line-up of Jesse Hector (guitar, vocals), Alan Butler (bass guitar), and Darryl ReadDarryl Read
Darryl Read is a British poet, singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, and writer. Read is among the forerunners of punk rock...
(drums). They initially played cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material.
Crushed Butler were a British protopunk
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
The Gorillas
The Gorillas were a rock group from Hammersmith, London, England formed in 1974, and fronted by Jesse Hector, who played high energy rock music.-History:...
and to pursue solo careers.
History
Crushed Butler formed in 1969 with a line-up of Jesse Hector (guitar, vocals), Alan Butler (bass guitar), and Darryl ReadDarryl Read
Darryl Read is a British poet, singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, and writer. Read is among the forerunners of punk rock...
(drums).Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Crushed Butler Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 They initially played cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material.
Crushed Butler were a British protopunk
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band that existed between 1969 and 1971. According to 2008's Pretty Vacant: A History of UK Punk, the band "was, in many ways, Britain's first proto-punk band." Band members went on to form Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists The Gorillas
The Gorillas
The Gorillas were a rock group from Hammersmith, London, England formed in 1974, and fronted by Jesse Hector, who played high energy rock music.-History:...
and to pursue solo careers.
History
Crushed Butler formed in 1969 with a line-up of Jesse Hector (guitar, vocals), Alan Butler (bass guitar), and Darryl ReadDarryl Read
Darryl Read is a British poet, singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, and writer. Read is among the forerunners of punk rock...
(drums).Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Crushed Butler Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 They initially played cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of other bands' songs, before writing original material. There dressed with ripped slash neck T- Shirts, studded belts and straight legged Levis jeans, and their aggressive and energetic live performances, blew many a name top act of the stage, from the Lyceum to the Guilford Civic - they were futuristic and a group to be reckoned with. The band auditioned and recorded for several record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s including EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, but failed to secure a deal. For their 1970 session for EMI, they were only allowed to record their own "Factory Grime" after recording producer Roger Ferris' choice, "Love Is All Around Me", and the label's aversion to "Factory Grime" saw them lose interest in the band.Heibutzki, Ralph "[ Uncrushed Review]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009Ankeny, Jason "[ Jesse Hector Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 27 September 2009 In early 1971, the band changed their name to Tiger
Tiger (the group)
Tiger was a protopunkgroup formed in 1971 by Jesse Hector , Alan Butler and Darryl Read . Initially called Crushed Butler the band reformed as Tiger in an attempt to get a recording deal as Crushed Butler were turned down by every record company in London, mainly because of their aggressive...
, and the line-up had also changed to include Barry Mitchell, formerly a member of an early version of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
Then Neil Christian
Neil Christian
Neil Christian, born Christopher Tidmarsh had a solo hit single in 1966, when "That's Nice" , reached Number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. He remains, however, a one-hit wonder. Follow-up singles "Oops" and "Two at a Time" never reached the charts...
of The Crusaders managed them for some time as Tiger, with Arthur Anderson playing bass guitar,Hodkinson, Mark (2004) Queen: The Early Years, Music Sales, ISBN 978-1844490127, p. 128 but without an improvement in their fortunes, and split up later that year when Read took up a job as a songwriter at Track Records.
Hector and Butler continued as Helter-Skelter and went on to form The Hammersmith Gorillas
The Gorillas
The Gorillas were a rock group from Hammersmith, London, England formed in 1974, and fronted by Jesse Hector, who played high energy rock music.-History:...
(later shortened to The Gorillas), while Read pursued a solo career, as well as working as an actor. Read's works have included three albums (Beat Existentialist (1991) and Freshly Dug (1999) with Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
, Bleeding Paradise being the last to date in 2007.Moco, João (2009) "Jim Morrisson homenageado sexta-feira no MusicBox", Diario de Noticias
Diário de Notícias
Diário de Notícias is a Portuguese daily newspaper, founded in Lisbon, on December 29, 1864 by Tomás Quintino Antunes and Eduardo Coelho. It gradually became one of the best known Portuguese newspapers...
, 21 July 2009, retrieved 27 September 2009. In 2000 he starred alongside Jamie Foreman
Jamie Foreman
Jamie Foreman is an English actor best known for his roles as Duke in Layer Cake and Bill Sikes in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist . He played opposite Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke in Gary Oldman's Nil by Mouth and also featured in Elizabeth , Gangster No. 1 and Sleepy Hollow...
and Zoot Money
Zoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
in the feature film Remember a Day
Remember a Day (2000 film)
Remember a Day is a low-budget film made in 2000 and inspired by an original story by Bernard White . The film depicts Roger Bannerman, a former rock star, now fading into obscurity and becoming a recluse...
playing the leading role of Roger Bannerman, a reclusive rock star. He currently performs rock concerts with his group Beat Existentialists in Europe and the USA. His later literary works works have included a biographical novel, Stardom Road, and SET, selected poetry works illustrated by George Underwood.
The Crushed Butler recordings were eventually released in 1998 by Dig The Fuzz Records on the Uncrushed album.
Discography
- Crushed Butler Uncrushed 'First Punks from the British Underground 1969-1971' (1998), Dig the Fuzz records - (first release on 10 inch Vinyl)
- Crushed Butler Uncrushed (2005), RPM records - reissued as Uncrushed: First Punks from the British Underground 1969-1971' CD album (bonus track)
- Crushed Butler Uncrushed (2005), Madstar Records Germany - reissue CDBABY digital distribution
- Crushed Butler Uncrushed (2009) Radio Heart Beat Records (with new bonus track on 12" Vinyl)
- Crushed Butler Its My Life /My Sons Alive vinyl single (2010) Windian Records USA