This hard rock band was formed in Cardiff, Wales, by John Burke Shelley (b. 10 April 1947, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales; bass, acoustic guitar, lead vocals) and Ray Phillips (b. 1 March 1949; drums) in 1968. Joined by Tony Bourge (b. 23 November 1948, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales; lead guitar, vocals), the trio established a substantial following on the south Wales college and club circuit and were subsequently signed to MCA Records. Plying their trade in a basic, heavy riffing style, the standard was set with the first single, charmingly entitled "Crash Course To Brain Surgery'. The vagaries of early 70s British album artwork were typified by the treatment given to Budgie's releases - promotional material depicted ludicrous images of budgerigars variously posed, dressed as a fighter pilot (staring nobly out into the far horizon), a Nazi Gestapo officer, or as a squadron of fighter budgies flying in formation, tearing into combat. Founder-member Phillips quit in 1974 before the recording of their fourth album and was replaced by Pete Boot (b. 30 September 1950, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England), who in turn departed that year before Steve Williams took over. The exiled drummer formed Ray Phillips" Woman back in Wales, then Tredegar in 1982. With the success of In For The Kill, Budgie won over a wider audience, although they remained more popular in mainland Europe during this period.

Their sixth album, If I Was Brittania I'd Waive The Rules, was their first on A&M Records. Impeckable was the last to feature Bourge, who left in 1978, joining Phillips in Tredegar. He was replaced by former George Hatcher Band guitarist John Thomas. The group's popularity grew in the USA, resulting in Budgie touring there for two years, with Rob Kendrick (ex-Trapeze) standing in for Thomas. Returning to Britain, and now signed to RCA Records, Budgie fitted in well with the new heavy rock scene, and despite being without a label for much of the mid-80s, their reputation and influence on a younger generation of musicians brought them consistent work until Shelley dissolved the band in 1988. He subsequently worked with a new trio, Superclarkes. Phillips used the name Six Ton Budgie (inspired by a journalist's comment about the original band) for a new line-up featuring his son, Jason, on guitar. The unit re-formed for a tour in 1996 with Congo Jones on drums.