Budgie (drummer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Edward Clarke, better known as Budgie, is an English
drummer
. He was the drummer of the influential band Siouxsie and the Banshees (1979–1996) and its side-project The Creatures
(1981–2004).
In 2010, Budgie has created a new project called The Butterfly Effect: East-West Percussive Parade with percussionists Leonard Eto from Japan and Mabi from South Africa. In November, they performed their first shows in Hong Kong
as part of the New Vision Arts festival.
and Big in Japan before playing with The Slits
on the 1979's album Cut
.
In September 1979, he joined Siouxsie and the Banshees on their Join Hands
tour. Initially he was intended to be a temporary replacement for Kenny Morris
who had left the band two days into a tour, but he remained with the group. He first performed on the album Kaleidoscope
and became shortly after a permanent member of the band until they split up in 1996. He released nine studio albums with the Banshees.
In 1981, he also formed a second act with Siouxsie Sioux
named The Creatures
: their music was more based around drums, including percussion, marimba
and vibraphone
. Budgie married Siouxsie several years later in 1991.
In 2003, Budgie first collaborated with Japanese Taiko drummer Leonard Eto for the Creatures Hai! album.
After recording four studio albums as The Creatures, Budgie's last performance with Siouxsie featuring Eto and the Millenia Ensemble was filmed in 2004 at the Royal Festival Hall in London for the DVD Dreamshow
.
In 2007, Siouxsie and Budgie publicly announced their divorce.
Outside the Banshees and the Creatures, the drummer also made collaborations. In 1992, he worked with Indigo Girls
on Rites of Passage and briefly toured with them in the USA at the end of that year.
Budgie later played drums for former Velvet Underground member, John Cale
during his summer 1998' US tour : Budgie played each night two sets, one with Cale and one with The Creatures. It was a double-bill tour.
In 2009, Budgie toured in Europe with Juno Reactor
. Later that year, he also recorded drums for Jessie Evans
's Is It Fire ? album.
In 2010, Budgie teamed up with two other drummers Leonard Eto and Mabi, plus multi-instrumentalist Knox Chandler and guitarist Sugizo for a program called The Butterfly Effect: East-West Percussive Parade. It was pictured by "drumming extravaganza, featuring Western kit, Japanese taiko and African drums, that will launch the musicians into a new sonic galaxy!". In the programme are improvised solos and ensemble works as well as new pieces and arrangements specially created for the New Vision Arts Festival, inspired by the pace, rhythm and character of Hong Kong. The World première took place in Hong Kong in November as part of New Vision Festival.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. He was the drummer of the influential band Siouxsie and the Banshees (1979–1996) and its side-project The Creatures
The Creatures
The Creatures were a musical act formed in 1981 as a side-project for Siouxsie and the Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie. The Times described their music as "adventurous art rock built around Siouxsie's extraordinary voice and drummer Budgie's battery of percussion".With the dissolution of...
(1981–2004).
In 2010, Budgie has created a new project called The Butterfly Effect: East-West Percussive Parade with percussionists Leonard Eto from Japan and Mabi from South Africa. In November, they performed their first shows in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
as part of the New Vision Arts festival.
Early life
Budgie spent his childhood in Liverpool. He later became an art student but when a new scene emerged in 1976, he gave up school to become a musician.Career
He debuted as a drummer with the Spitfire BoysThe Spitfire Boys
The Spitfire Boys were the first Liverpool punk band to release a single . The Spitfire Boys were mainly notable for including in their line-up Peter Clarke, who went on to drum for The Slits and later Siouxsie and the Banshees as Budgie, and Paul Rutherford, later better known for being a member...
and Big in Japan before playing with The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
on the 1979's album Cut
Cut (The Slits album)
Cut is the debut album by The Slits. It was originally released in September 1979 on the Island Records label in the UK and on Antilles in the U.S...
.
In September 1979, he joined Siouxsie and the Banshees on their Join Hands
Join Hands
Join Hands is the second studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released by Polydor Records in the UK in September 1979. The final track is a studio recording of "The Lord's Prayer", the song that they are famous for playing in their debut live performance at the...
tour. Initially he was intended to be a temporary replacement for Kenny Morris
Kenny Morris (musician)
Kenny Morris was the first studio drummer of Siouxsie and the Banshees.He was a member of the band from January 1977 until September 1979. He played on the albums The Scream and Join Hands...
who had left the band two days into a tour, but he remained with the group. He first performed on the album Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (Siouxsie album)
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1980. Following the departure of two band members, the band regrouped and redirected their sound for their third record. Departing from their previous work, the Banshees incorporated synthesizers...
and became shortly after a permanent member of the band until they split up in 1996. He released nine studio albums with the Banshees.
In 1981, he also formed a second act with Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
named The Creatures
The Creatures
The Creatures were a musical act formed in 1981 as a side-project for Siouxsie and the Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie. The Times described their music as "adventurous art rock built around Siouxsie's extraordinary voice and drummer Budgie's battery of percussion".With the dissolution of...
: their music was more based around drums, including percussion, marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
and vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
. Budgie married Siouxsie several years later in 1991.
In 2003, Budgie first collaborated with Japanese Taiko drummer Leonard Eto for the Creatures Hai! album.
After recording four studio albums as The Creatures, Budgie's last performance with Siouxsie featuring Eto and the Millenia Ensemble was filmed in 2004 at the Royal Festival Hall in London for the DVD Dreamshow
Dreamshow
Dreamshow is a live DVD by Siouxsie, released in 2005. It was filmed at the Royal Festival Hall in London in October 2004. The songs are performed on stage with the Millennia Ensemble orchestra and incorporate music from her thirty year career with her bands The Banshees and The Creatures.- Track...
.
In 2007, Siouxsie and Budgie publicly announced their divorce.
Outside the Banshees and the Creatures, the drummer also made collaborations. In 1992, he worked with Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
on Rites of Passage and briefly toured with them in the USA at the end of that year.
Budgie later played drums for former Velvet Underground member, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
during his summer 1998' US tour : Budgie played each night two sets, one with Cale and one with The Creatures. It was a double-bill tour.
In 2009, Budgie toured in Europe with Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor is a musical and performing act known for the cinematic fusion of electronic, orchestral, and global music. Central to the project is Ben Watkins and his collaborations with a constantly changing ensemble of musicians from across the world, including percussionist Mabi Thobejane from...
. Later that year, he also recorded drums for Jessie Evans
Jessie Evans (singer)
Jessie Evans is an American born songwriter, singer, saxophonist and record producer currently residing in Berlin, Germany. On stage, she is often accompanied by Iggy Pop's drummer, Toby Dammit. Her first solo album Is it fire? was released on her label 'Fantomette Records' in November 2009...
's Is It Fire ? album.
In 2010, Budgie teamed up with two other drummers Leonard Eto and Mabi, plus multi-instrumentalist Knox Chandler and guitarist Sugizo for a program called The Butterfly Effect: East-West Percussive Parade. It was pictured by "drumming extravaganza, featuring Western kit, Japanese taiko and African drums, that will launch the musicians into a new sonic galaxy!". In the programme are improvised solos and ensemble works as well as new pieces and arrangements specially created for the New Vision Arts Festival, inspired by the pace, rhythm and character of Hong Kong. The World première took place in Hong Kong in November as part of New Vision Festival.