BUDGIE – Power Supply 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Active Records 1980 release featuring insert, electrified artwork by Adrian Chesterman, and Budgie’s NWOBHM rebirth

Album Front Cover Photo of BUDGIE – Power Supply Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

Released in 1980, “Power Supply” marked Budgie’s fiery comeback—raw, loud, and unapologetically British. The Welsh trio plugged straight into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, ditching polish for voltage-charged riffs and Burke Shelley’s soaring vocals. It’s the sound of a band reborn: steel strings, thunder drums, and Cardiff grit refusing to fade. Featuring a vivid red insert, lightning-charged artwork by Adrian Chesterman, and eight powerhouse tracks, this album remains a landmark in British heavy metal history.

Table of Contents

"Power Supply" Album Description:

In the world of heavy metal history, certain bands stand as titans of the genre, their music etching an indelible mark on the musical landscape. Among these giants, Welsh Heavy Metal outfit Budgie holds a place of distinction, and their 1980 studio album "Power Supply", released under Active Records, solidified their legacy as pioneers of the metal movement. With its electrifying sound, compelling album details insert, and iconic cover art by Adrian Chesterman, "Power Supply" remains a testament to Budgie's power and influence.

Forging a Metal Masterpiece

Recorded at The Old Mill Rockfield, "Power Supply" emerged from the fiery forge of creative passion. The album showcases Budgie's signature fusion of hard rock and heavy metal, a sound that both shaped and was shaped by the burgeoning metal scene. The album's tracks are a sonic journey through the intense energy and gritty determination that defined the band's musical vision.

Red-Hot Insert: The Heartbeat of the Album

One of the defining features of this release is the vivid RED insert, a burst of color that captures the intensity of the music within. This insert doesn't merely serve as an accessory; it's a portal into the album's universe. Embedded within its crimson expanse are the album details, a tantalizing glimpse into the tracks that await the listener. As the vinyl spins, the insert's presence ensures that the audience remains connected to the album's heart and soul.

A Snapshot of Metal Mastery

"Power Supply" unleashed its sonic onslaught in 1980, delivering a potent dose of metal magic to a hungry audience. The album captures the raw energy of the era while embracing the evolving sound of metal. Budgie's sonic exploration and instrumental prowess are evident in every track, from the thundering rhythms to the scorching guitar work. The album's production, helmed by both Dave Charles and the band themselves, adds a layer of depth to the already formidable music.

Artistry in Every Detail

The visual impact of an album often plays a crucial role in its allure. Adrian Chesterman's cover art for "Power Supply" is a testament to this fact. The cover encapsulates the album's essence, depicting a figure harnessing the power of lightning, mirroring the energy and intensity of the music itself. The synergy between the artwork and the album's sonic landscape creates a cohesive and captivating experience for listeners and collectors alike.

Unveiling the Maestros Behind the Music

"Power Supply" not only introduced listeners to Budgie's electrifying sound but also showcased the remarkable talents of the band's members:

- Burke Shelley: As the vocalist and bassist, Shelley's distinctive voice and powerful bass lines provide the anchor for the band's music.

- Big John Thomas: His guitar prowess ignites the tracks with searing solos and intricate melodies that define Budgie's sonic signature.

- Steve Williams: The rhythmic force behind the drums, Williams infuses the music with energy and precision, driving the album's thunderous beats.

This album includes the RED insert with album details. "Power Supply" was released in 1980

Album Key Details: Genre, Label, Format & Release Info

Music Genre:

British Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Budgie’s sound on “Power Supply” bridges classic hard rock with the emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), blending blues-based heaviness, rapid-fire riffs, and melodic grit.

Label & Catalognr:

Active Records – Cat#: ACT LP 1

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl LP (Stereo)
Total Weight: 200 g

Year & Country:

1980 – Made in England

Production & Recording Information:

Producers:
  • Dave Charles – Producer
    Dave Charles was a longtime engineer and producer at Rockfield Studios, known for his work with Hawkwind, Man, and other Welsh rock acts. His engineering shaped the powerful analog sound of many early 1980s heavy rock recordings.
  • Budgie – Co-Producer
    By 1980, Budgie had already established themselves as one of Britain’s most influential heavy rock trios, blending progressive ideas with the raw energy that inspired later generations of metal bands.
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Dave Charles – Engineer
    His technical precision and signature warmth gave “Power Supply” the clarity and punch that helped the band modernize their sound for the NWOBHM era.
Recording Location:

The Old Mill, Rockfield – recorded with the China Shop Mobile

Rockfield Studios in Wales was one of the world’s first residential studios, hosting artists such as Queen, Motörhead, and Rush. Budgie’s use of the China Shop Mobile reflects their hands-on recording approach.
Mixing Studio & Location:

Rockfield Studios – Monmouth, Wales

Mixing at Rockfield ensured continuity with the recording environment, preserving the tight, live sound that defines “Power Supply.”
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Adrian Chesterman – Illustration and Cover Artwork
    Chesterman was a prolific fantasy and sci-fi illustrator whose dynamic style graced numerous rock album covers. His depiction of electrified energy on “Power Supply” became one of Budgie’s most recognizable visuals.
Photography:
  • Phil Numann
    Numann frequently collaborated with UK rock acts during the 1970s and 1980s, capturing authentic studio and live imagery for album packaging.
  • Neil Jones
    Jones contributed promotional and sleeve photography that emphasized Budgie’s raw, down-to-earth stage persona.
Management:

Adrian Hopkins – Manager
Mick Owen – Tour Manager

Hopkins guided Budgie through their late-1970s label changes and touring resurgence, while Owen coordinated their extensive 1980 European live schedule in support of “Power Supply.”
Special Thanks:

Budgie would like to thank Phil Numann, Kingsley Ward, Bob and Alan of Texserv P.A. Hire, Light and Sound Design, Neil Jones, Tommy John, Eric Olthwaite, Phil Blizzard and all friends near and far, old and new.

A special thank-you from Budgie to Pete Long and Mick Owen.

Steve Williams would like to say a personal thank-you to Aberystwyth’s answer to Tolkien, Dick Jones.

Additional Notes:

This release includes a vivid red custom inner sleeve featuring album credits, recording information, acknowledgements, and artwork photography credits. The sleeve design complements the album’s high-energy theme and serves as an iconic collector detail for original pressings.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up (Part One):
  • Burke Shelley – Vocals & Bass
    Founder and creative leader of Budgie, Shelley’s distinctive high-pitched vocals and melodic bass playing became the group’s defining trademarks. Often compared to Geddy Lee of Rush, he was a pivotal figure in early heavy metal and influenced numerous later metal and grunge acts.
  • John Thomas – Guitar & Slide
    Joining Budgie in 1979 after stints with George Hatcher Band and Shakin’ Stevens, Thomas brought a sharper, more metallic edge to the band’s sound. His fluid solos and aggressive tone helped modernize Budgie for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal generation.
Band Line-up (Part Two):
  • Steve Williams – Drums
    Williams joined Budgie in the mid-1970s, providing a tight, hard-hitting rhythmic foundation across several key albums. His powerful yet controlled drumming style added a modern precision that anchored the band’s heavier direction during the 1980s.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Forearm Smash (5:40)
  2. Hellbender (3:25)
  3. Heavy Revolution (4:28)
  4. Gunslinger (5:03)
Video: Budgie - Forearm Smash
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Power Supply (3:41)
  2. Secrets in My Head (3:58)
  3. Time to Remember (5:27)
  4. Crime Against the World (5:36)
Video: Budgie - Power Supply (1980)

Disclaimer: Track durations shown are approximate and may vary slightly between country editions or reissues due to mastering or pressing variations.

Collector’s Note: Status Quo and AC/DC echoes on Budgie’s "Power Supply" (1980)

Back when I bought Power Supply by Budgie, I remember thinking how much of its DNA hummed with the same steady voltage as Status Quo and AC/DC. That muscular, four-to-the-floor rhythm—no nonsense, no art-school polishing—just guitars locked in a groove that could move scaffolding. Budgie weren’t copying; they were sparring partners in the same sweaty gym of British rock.

You can hear it straight away in Forearm Smash and Heavy Revolution: riffs that strut like Quo in denim jackets, but with a harder, metallic shine that Angus Young would probably approve of. There’s that unpretentious drive, the sense that electricity and sweat are the real producers here. It’s pub-rock evolved into steelwork.

When I first spun it, my cassette deck nearly melted from the repetition—so I wisely stuck to vinyl. No cloud storage in 1980, just the eternal choice: keep the album or tape over it with something equally loud. I kept it, of course. Budgie’s Power Supply might hum with the echoes of Status Quo’s boogie and AC/DC’s crunch, but it’s still very much Budgie—tight, ferocious, and unapologetically analog.

Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover artwork of Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply released on Active Records. The illustration by Adrian Chesterman shows a metallic humanoid figure, half robot and half rock hero, standing triumphantly on a concert stage under blinding spotlights. It raises a guitar-shaped weapon and a torn metallic banner while a crowd of fans with raised arms cheers below. The band’s red logo arches boldly above the figure, glowing against a dark, stormy blue background, radiating a sense of high-voltage power, steel energy, and the raw electricity of heavy metal’s early 1980s resurgence.

The front cover of Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply is an explosion of metallic fantasy and stage drama, painted by British artist Adrian Chesterman. A gleaming humanoid figure—half cyborg, half performer—stands in a triumphant pose at the edge of a concert stage, one mechanical arm raised high holding a guitar-like weapon as if summoning electricity from the heavens. Its chrome body reflects blue and white light beams that slice across the smoky background like lasers piercing a thunderstorm.

Below, silhouetted fans reach upward with raised fists and open palms, their excitement forming a sea of movement at the figure’s feet. The word Budgie bursts across the top in oversized, fiery red letters, its exaggerated curves echoing both fluid motion and the molten heat of amplifiers at full volume. Above it, the album title Power Supply appears in gold gothic lettering, completing the illusion of a heavy-metal deity channeling voltage and music in equal measure.

The composition perfectly embodies the band’s return to form within the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era—blending theatrical power with industrial imagery. Chesterman’s artwork transforms sound into sight: electricity made flesh, light turned into rhythm, and human defiance forged in steel. The image captures both the spirit of 1980’s British metal and Budgie’s rebirth as a band running purely on adrenaline and voltage.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply released on Active Records. The photograph shows the band performing on stage under vivid multicolored spotlights, with drummer Steve Williams centered behind a massive drum kit and guitarist John Thomas and bassist-vocalist Burke Shelley rocking before a roaring crowd. The lower half of the image is filled with raised hands and silhouettes of fans bathed in smoke and stage light. Three black-and-white portrait insets of the band members appear at the top, next to the track listing in white text. Amplifier stacks and the Active Records logo anchor the composition, evoking the raw atmosphere of early-1980s British heavy metal.

The back cover of Budgie’s Power Supply (Active Records, 1980) captures the unfiltered electricity of a live performance. Under a storm of colored spotlights—red, blue, and violet beams slicing through smoke—the band stands mid-performance, surrounded by towering Marshall amplifiers and a sea of cheering fans whose hands reach upward in ecstatic motion. The energy is almost tangible, a frozen moment of pure stage heat and volume.

At the top of the composition, three monochrome portrait photographs introduce the musicians: guitarist John Thomas, vocalist-bassist Burke Shelley, and drummer Steve Williams. Their serious expressions contrast with the chaos below, symbolizing both craftsmanship and intensity. To their right, the full track listing appears in bold white type: “Forearm Smash,” “Hellbender,” “Heavy Revolution,” “Gunslinger,” “Power Supply,” “Secrets in My Head,” “Time to Remember,” and “Crime Against the World.”

The Active Records logo and manufacturing credits rest unobtrusively at the bottom edge, while the visual focus remains on the interplay between stage power and audience fervor. The image radiates authenticity—no glamour, just raw heavy metal in its natural habitat: the live concert. It’s a perfect visual echo of Budgie’s sound on this album—heavy, precise, and charged with the energy of rebirth.

First Photo of Insert
Custom red inner sleeve of Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply released on Active Records. The insert features the Budgie logo and title in large white stylized letters against a bright crimson background. Below, the text lists full production credits: engineer and producer Dave Charles, co-producers Budgie, manager Adrian Hopkins, and tour manager Mick Owen. Recording took place at The Old Mill, Rockfield, using the China Shop Mobile and mixed at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth. The three musicians—John Thomas on guitar and slide, Burke Shelley on bass and vocals, and Steve Williams on drums—are credited, alongside acknowledgements to Phil Numann, Kingsley Ward, Neil Jones, and others. The design is clean, bold, and strikingly minimalist, emphasizing the power and precision of Budgie’s heavy-metal identity.

This vivid red custom insert from Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply radiates both simplicity and strength. Dominated by a crimson backdrop, it displays the band’s iconic white logo and album title in bold Gothic lettering across the top. Beneath the striking typography, neatly organized text details the album’s technical and creative team.

The credits reveal the precision behind the production: Dave Charles as engineer and co-producer alongside the band, Adrian Hopkins as manager, and Mick Owen as tour manager. Recording took place at The Old Mill, Rockfield, with the China Shop Mobile unit, and mixing completed at Rockfield Studios, Monmouth. The musicians listed—John Thomas (guitar & slide), Burke Shelley (bass & vocals), and Steve Williams (drums)—form the core of Budgie’s early-1980s rebirth.

Below the main credits, an extended thank-you section recognizes the technicians and friends who supported the recording: Phil Numann, Kingsley Ward, Neil Jones, and others. There’s even a playful nod to “Aberystwyth’s answer to Tolkien, Dick Jones.” The insert closes with a note of gratitude to artist Adrian Chesterman for the album illustration and photographers Phil Numann and Neil Jones. The minimalist layout—white on red—reflects Budgie’s no-nonsense aesthetic: direct, bold, and electrifyingly confident.

Close-up of Side One Record Label
Close-up of Side One label from Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply, issued on Active Records. The bright yellow label features the bold black Active logo in a geometric triangular design at the top. Below, the tracklist for Side One is printed in clear black text, listing ‘Forearm Smash,’ ‘Hellbender,’ ‘Heavy Revolution,’ and ‘Gunslinger,’ along with songwriter credits (Shelley, Thomas, Williams). The catalog number ACT LP 1 and matrix ACT LP 1 A appear on the right, while the text ‘Made in England’ and copyright notices form a circular rim print. The overall look reflects a classic early-1980s UK pressing with crisp typography and minimalistic industrial design.

This close-up photograph presents the Side One record label of Budgie’s 1980 album Power Supply, released on Active Records. The label’s background is a vibrant yellow, contrasted by sharp black print and the distinctive Active logo—a bold triangular shape intersected by stylized lettering—positioned prominently at the top.

The layout is clean and utilitarian, reflecting late-1970s to early-1980s UK vinyl design trends. Track titles are neatly listed below the album name: “Forearm Smash,” “Hellbender,” “Heavy Revolution,” and “Gunslinger,” all credited to songwriters Shelley, Thomas, and Williams. The right-hand side lists Side 1, Stereo, and catalog number ACT LP 1, reinforcing its identity as a first pressing.

At the bottom edge, text credits Dave Charles & Budgie as producers and notes music publishing under Rondor Music (Ldn) Ltd. and Active Music. Surrounding the label’s perimeter runs the fine print of copyright and manufacturing details: “Made in England – All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved.” The entire composition radiates a sense of professional clarity—precise, balanced, and unmistakably analog.

BUDGIE (Band) Selected Vinyl Albums & Album Cover Gallery

Budgie band's history:

Formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1967, Budgie is a rock band that left an indelible mark on the music landscape with their innovative sound and dynamic performances. Comprising Burke Shelley (vocals/bass), Tony Bourge (guitar), and Ray Phillips (drums), the original lineup emerged as one of the pioneers of the hard rock and heavy metal genres.

Budgie's self-titled debut album, released in 1971, introduced their distinctive style, characterized by intricate guitar work, powerful basslines, and Shelley's unique vocal delivery. Their second album, "Squawk," further solidified their reputation for combining hard rock with progressive elements, earning them a dedicated fanbase.

In 1973—following the release of "Never Turn Your Back on a Friend" with Ray Phillips on drums—Phillips departed and was replaced by Pete Boot, marking a pivotal moment in Budgie's evolution. "Never Turn Your Back on a Friend" (1973) garnered critical acclaim and fan momentum, featuring the enduring track "Breadfan." The album's combination of heavy riffs and Shelley's emotive vocals established Budgie as a force to be reckoned with in the emerging heavy metal scene.

"Budgie" (1971) and "In for the Kill!" (1974) continued to showcase their sonic prowess, while "Bandolier" (1975) and "If I Were Britannia I'd Waive the Rules" (1976) ventured into more progressive territories, emphasizing their musical versatility.

Budgie's lineup underwent changes over the years, with Steve Williams replacing Pete Boot on drums in late 1974 and Myf Isaac joining as a second guitarist for select live dates (not keyboards). Keyboards in the early 1980s were handled by additional players, including Duncan Mackay (session) and Lindsey Bridgewater (touring). The late 1970s saw the release of "Impeckable" (1978) and "Power Supply" (1980), the latter showcasing their signature blend of hard rock and progressive influences.

The 1980s marked a shift as Budgie pursued new musical directions. While their popularity slightly waned, their legacy remained influential. The band eventually disbanded in 1988, but their impact endured. Many bands, including Metallica and Soundgarden, cited Budgie as an inspiration.

In 1995, Burke Shelley reformed Budgie with new members. The band continued to perform live and released new material, showcasing their enduring relevance. Despite lineup changes, Shelley remained the sole constant member.

Budgie's legacy continues to resonate. Their ability to blend hard rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal set them apart, influencing generations of musicians. Their intricate compositions, powerful performances, and pioneering spirit have secured their place in rock history, cementing Budgie's status as true rock innovators.

Thumbnail of BUDGIE - If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules album front cover
BUDGIE - If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules

Budgie's 12" vinyl LP "If I Were Britannia I'd Waive the Rules" is a daring sonic journey. The album, produced by the band and sound engineer Pat Moran, blends progressive and hard rock seamlessly. Led by Burke Shelley's vocals and bass, Tony Bourge's intricate guitar work, Steve Williams' rhythmic drums, and Richard Dunn's atmospheric keyboards, the album defies norms. A showcase of Budgie's fearless innovation, it's a masterpiece that challenges musical conventions.

Thumbnail of BUDGIE - Power Supply album front cover
BUDGIE - Power Supply

“Power Supply” is Budgie roaring back to life in 1980, electrified by the spirit of the NWOBHM era. The Welsh trio kicks out a leaner, harder sound—riff-driven, fast, and unashamedly heavy. Burke Shelley’s banshee wail meets John Thomas’s laser-sharp guitar, forging an album that hums with voltage and purpose. It’s Budgie rediscovering their bite, and it still crackles through the speakers like new wiring in an old amp.