| The Wurzels | |
| Image Upright: | 1.1 |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Nailsea, Somerset, England |
| Genre: | Scrumpy and Western |
| Years Active: | 1966–present |
| Website: | thewurzels.com |
| Current Members: | Tommy Banner Pete Budd Sedge Moore Louie Nicastro Joe Tong Dan Dribble Lee Delamere |
| Past Members: | Adge Cutler John Morgan Brian Walker Tony Baylis Ken Scott Pete Shuttler Reg Quantrill John Macey Henry Davies Melt Kingston Jai Howe Terry Pascoe Mike Gwilliam Reg Chant Dave Wintour |
The Wurzels are an English Scrumpy and Western band from Somerset, England, best known for their number one hit "The Combine Harvester" and number three hit "I Am a Cider Drinker" in 1976.[1]
The name of the band was dreamt up by founder Adge Cutler. It is short for mangelwurzel, a crop grown to feed livestock.[2]
The Wurzels' particular "genre" of music was named Scrumpy and Western after the group's first EP of the same name, issued early in 1967. Scrumpy is a name given to traditionally-made rough cider in southwest England.[3]
The Wurzels were formed in 1966[4] as a backing group for, and by, singer/songwriter Adge Cutler.[5] The first recordings were made live in the Royal Oak Inn, Nailsea, Somerset, in December 1966.[6] With a strong Somerset accent, Cutler played on his West Country roots, singing many folk songs with local themes such as cider-making (and -drinking), farming, dung-spreading, local villages and industrial work songs, often with a comic slant.
During the latter half of the 1960s, the band became popular regionally, and the release of the single "Drink Up Thy Zider" in 1966 led to national fame and it reaching number 45 in the UK Singles Chart.[7] The B-side, "Twice Daily" was banned by the BBC for being too raunchy.[8]
A number of live albums were recorded at local pubs and clubs, filled with Cutler-penned favourites such as "Easton in Gordano", "The Champion Dung Spreader", and "Thee's Got'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't?", together with songs written by others and some re-workings of popular folk songs of the time.[9]
Adge Cutler died after falling asleep at the wheel of his MGB sports car which then overturned on a roundabout approaching the Severn Bridge. He was returning alone from a Wurzels show in Hereford in May 1974. He was buried in Nailsea.[10]
Cutler's death marked a turning point in the history of the Wurzels. Deprived of the main song-writing talent, the remaining Wurzels recorded The Wurzels Are Scrumptious! in 1975, an album containing many favourites from the back catalogue, including a number of previously unrecorded Cutler-written songs. In order to continue the surviving band needed its own songs, and these mostly took the formula of re-written popular pop songs of the time with the lyrics changed to include the usual Wurzel themes (cider, farming, local villages, Cheddar cheese, etc.)
In 1976, the Wurzels released a cover version of "The Combine Harvester", a rework of the song "Brand New Key", by Melanie, which became a UK hit, topping the charts for 2 weeks.[1] The band quickly followed its success with the release of a number of similarly themed songs such as "I Am A Cider Drinker" (a rework of Paloma Blanca which was written by and had been a hit for the George Baker Selection and also covered by Jonathan King the year before) which got to number three in the UK chart,[11] and "Farmer Bill's Cowman" (a reworking of the Whistling Jack Smith instrumental "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman").
The Wurzels have never stopped performing, but record releases during the 1980s and 1990s were few — and included singles such as "I Hate JR" and "Sunny Weston-super-Mare". To help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Eddie Stobart Ltd in 1995, the group signed to Cumbria record label Loose Records & Music, and recorded four new songs including the single "I Wanna Be An Eddie Stobart Driver" (released as a limited edition lorry-shaped disc). The interest in this record sparked off renewed interest in The Wurzels.[12]
The late 1990s saw the continuing of this revival of the fortunes for the surviving Wurzels, gaining a cult status amongst students and a resurgence in their popularity in their native West Country. Under the new management of The Stranglers manager Sil Willcox a number of CD releases followed, largely featuring re-recordings of older works, but also Never Mind The Bullocks, Ere's The Wurzels containing cover versions of contemporary British rock songs.[13] This album was recorded and produced by Louie Nicastro and George Allen.[14] The album title and cover were a spoof of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols.
The Wurzels covered British Sea Power's "Remember Me", while British Sea Power covered The Wurzels' "I Am A Cider Drinker". The band also supported BSP at their gig at the London Forum in November. In 2004, The Wurzels appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks in that year's Christmas special, performing Christmas songs to Bill Bailey's team.[15] (Bailey is a Wurzels fan,[16] and stood and saluted upon hearing "Combine Harvester", later claiming that he had the tune on his doorbell at home). In 2005, the band released a limited edition split single with British Sea Power.[17]
In 2007, The Wurzels and Tony Blackburn re-released "I Am A Cider Drinker", with the royalties from the song going to the BUI Prostate Cancer Care Appeal in Bristol.[18]
The Wurzels continue to gig around the UK,[19] including playing at the Shalbourne Festival for nearly 11 years, although they pulled out of the 2007 Glastonbury Festival, having been scheduled to play the bandstand stage where they could not use their own sound engineers,[20] although they had played the same stage at the 2000 Glastonbury Festival. They were also one of the headliners at the 2007 Bristol Community Festival, and made a return to Glastonbury in 2008 (on a higher profile stage).
The Wurzels are also popular with supporters of Bristol City F.C. Their song "One for the Bristol City" is the official club anthem.[21] First released in 1976, a newly recorded version of this song reached number 66 in the UK chart in September 2007.[22] It was previously played at the final whistle at Ashton Gate if the home club won, and it is sung by fans along with other Wurzels songs "I Am A Cider Drinker" and “Drink Up Thy Zider”; the latter of which replaced “One For The Bristol City” as the song played following a win in 2010. The song has also been adopted by Bath City who, like Bristol City, played the track after home victories. The style of the band (Scrumpy and Western) also shared its name with Bristol City's previous mascot, Scrumpy the Robin, and the band regularly perform following final home games of the season.
In addition, the band have become popular among fans of Bristol Bears since their move to Ashton Gate - also regularly playing at the end of a season, and another of their tracks (“The Blackbird”) is sung in the dressing room following every game, should the Bears be victorious.
In December 2009, they released a new single, available by internet download only — a first for the band, entitled "Ode To Adge" - a tribute to the band's founder, Adge Cutler.
In June 2010, the Wurzels' released another single (a cover of the Kaiser Chiefs "Ruby") and as another first in the band's history, issued in preview form, together with a promotional film, on their YouTube channel. The original backing chorus refrain of aah aah aah was replaced by ooarr ooarr ooarr. The single was made available for general release only as an internet download (traditional hardcopies were made available as promo discs to radio stations). The same month the band released the album, A Load More Bullocks - timed to coincide with their appearance the previous Saturday at the Glastonbury Festival.[23] Their session took place on the Avalon stage.
In 2011, BBC Four started a series of repeats of the popular long-running programme Top of The Pops, starting with 1976 and a programme dedicated to that year. Two of the Wurzels, Budd and Banner were interviewed as part of that programme with their first performance on the programme (1976) being screened. In the same month, the BBC's The One Show included an item on the story of the "Combine Harvester" song, featuring further interviews with Budd and Banner and extracts from the 1976 promotional film.
In 2014, they released a new song "The Mendip Windfarm Song" inspired by a local protest about wind turbines being constructed near the Wurzel HQ in Laverton.[24]
In 2015, the Wurzels teamed up with the Farm Safety Foundation with a rewrite of "Combine Harvester", focussing on Farm Safety. The song was accompanied by a light-hearted video produced by students from Moreton Morrell College, drawing attention to the various dangers on the farm.[25] [26]
In February 2016, the band performed at Camden Market in London. The day after, the BBC released never before seen footage of the band from 1967, with Adge Cutler larking around in Bristol City Centre.[27]
Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the Wurzels had played shows two to three times a week for nearly 50 years.[28]
The band were the subject of a Burst Radio celebration, 'The Wurzels: From A to Z', in November 2021.[29]
Tommy Banner is the longest serving Wurzel, having joined the band in November 1967. He is usually seen playing accordion, but has also played piano in the Wurzels' past. Hailing from Penicuik, his Scottish accent remains.
Pete Budd is the familiar front-man of the post-Cutler band. Budd originally joined the Wurzels as a banjo player in 1972, and his distinctive West Country vocals made him an obvious replacement lead singer after Cutler's death. He continues to sing, and play banjo and guitar for the band, including in his repertoire a Mark Knopfler-esque guitar lead on their modern version of "I Wish I Was Back on the Farm", originally made famous by George Formby.
Sedge Moore (Russ Crook), born and bred in Somerset, is the bass player.
Louie 'Gribble' Nicastro is also the producer of the band's recent releases and plays keyboards, or the 'Wurzelitzer' as the stage piano is more commonly known.
Dan 'Dribble' Lashbrook joined in July 2017. He is the band’s latest and youngest member and is the Wurzels' additional keyboard player. He lives in Somerset. Joe Tong who also lives in Somerset performs on keyboard at some of the band’s shows.
Wurzel history was made at Twickenham Stadium on 6 April 2019, when all six current band members appeared together for the first time and performed "I am a Cider Drinker" as part of The Clash rugby celebrations.[30]
Over the years many Wurzels have come and gone since Cutler first formed the group.
The original Wurzels line-up to accompany Cutler recorded their first album (Adge Cutler and the Wurzels) in 1966 and consisted of Brian Walker, Reg Quantrill (Born 26 June 1934 in Bristol - died 7 June 2012 in Bristol),[31] [32] John Macey and Reg Chant. Brian Walker left in 1967, soon after the band's first album was released. Their next offering Adge Cutler and the Wurzels' Family Album, was recorded with the remaining members – Reg Quantrill, John Macey and Reg Chant. 1967 saw a year of several changes – Reg Chant left the group, soon followed by John Macey. Their places were filled by Henry Davies and Tommy Banner. In this year the band also toured with accordionists Ken Scott and Pete Shuttler.[33]
The group's third album, Cutler of the West, was released in 1968 with a line-up featuring Cutler, Davies, Banner and Quantrill. Shortly afterwards they were joined by Melt Kingston for a short period, whilst Henry Davies went to work on other projects. Kingston left when Davies returned at the end of the year. Early in 1969, Davies left the group permanently and was replaced by Tony Baylis (Born 25 May 1935 in London - died 30 September 2020),[34] [35] in time for the band's fourth album release Carry On Cutler, the line-up now being Cutler, Banner, Baylis and Quantrill.
By 1974, Quantrill had been replaced by Pete Budd (born Peter Budd, 18 July 1940, Brislington, Bristol), but following the death of Cutler the Wurzels were left to continue on their own – the future chart topping trio consisting of Banner, Budd and Baylis. The Wurzels obtained their first permanent drummer, John Morgan (born 21 April 1941, Lydney, Forest of Dean – died 17 December 2021, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital), in 1981 and the line-up then remained unchanged until Baylis left in 1983, as he was emigrating to New Zealand to become a chiropodist. Just before he left, Jai Howe played with the group for a short period, with Terry Pascoe also augmenting the line-up.
Early in 1984, Howe and Pascoe left the band and were replaced by Mike Gwilliam. For the next nine years The Wurzels consisted of Budd, Banner, Morgan and Gwilliam. In 1995, Gwilliam left and was replaced by Dave Wintour. This remained the shape of the band until 2002, when Wintour was replaced by Howe (who had played with the band in the early 1980s).
A temporary change in line-up occurred in November 2005, when long-term Wurzel Tommy Banner had to step away from performing whilst undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. His place was taken on by the band's production and sound engineer, Louie Nicastro, until Banner's health was restored and he was able to return in 2006. The death of Howe in 2007 left the band one man down — this led to Sedge Moore being recruited to give the line-up of Budd, Banner, Morgan and Moore.
John Morgan, also known as 'Amos', was the oldest drummer in the land according to fellow band members, hailing from the Forest of Dean — preferring hot cocoa to cider and during 'live' gigs a claim was made that he was 85 years old: This is a long standing joke made during gigs. John was actually born in 1941 in Lydney, Glos. He died on 17 December 2021 in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital of COVID-19, aged 80, leaving only Budd, Banner and Moore as the surviving members. In tribute, Banner said: "We can't believe we shan't ever see you behind those drums again."[36]
| Title[37] | Year | Label | Reference number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Drink Up Thy Zider" / "Twice Daily" *(45) | 1966 | Columbia | DB8081 | |
| Scrumpy & Western EP | 1967 | Columbia | SEG8525 | |
| "Champion Dung Spreader" / "When The Common Market Comes To Stanton Drew" | 1967 | Columbia | DB8145 | |
| "I Wish I Was Back on the Farm" / "Easton-In-Gordano" | 1967 | Columbia | DB8222 | |
| "All Over Mendip" / "My Threshing Machine" | 1967 | Columbia | DB8277 | |
| "Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee" / "Faggots Is The Stuff" | 1968 | Columbia | DB8399 | |
| "Up The Clump" / "Aloha Severn Beach" | 1968 | Columbia | DB8462 | |
| "Ferry To Glastonbury" / "Saturday Night at the Crown" | 1969 | Columbia | DB8614 | |
| "Poor, Poor Farmer" / "Chitterling" | 1971 | Columbia | DB8793 | |
| "Little Darlin'" / "Mother Nature Calling" | 1972 | CBS | CBS8067 | |
| "Drink Up Thy Zider" / "Twice Daily" (reissue) | 1974 | Columbia | DB9031 | |
| "Little Darlin'" / "Mother Nature Calling" (reissue) | 1974 | Santa Ponsa | PNS20 |
All released on 7" vinyl unless otherwise stated
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number/format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Captain of the Dredger" (Acetate — only one copy known to exist) | 1975 | EMI | 7" acetate (Remains officially unreleased) | |
| "The Combine Harvester" / "The Blackbird" (1)* | 1976 | EMI | EMI2450 | |
| "I Am A Cider Drinker" / "Back of My Old Car" (3)* | 1976 | EMI | EMI2520 | |
| "Morning Glory" / "Rock Around The A38" | 1976 | EMI | EMI2568 | |
| "Farmer Bill's Cowman" / "Springtime" (32)* | 1977 | EMI | EMI2637 | |
| "Give Me England" / "Speedy Gonzales" | 1977 | EMI | EMI2677 | |
| "One For The Bristol City" / "Cheddar Cheese" | 1977 | EMI | EMI2686 | |
| "The Tractor Song" / "Funky Farmyard" | 1978 | EMI | EMI2792 | |
| "I'll Never Get A Scrumpy Here" / "I Got My Beady Little Eye on Thee (Demo Only)" | 1978 | Columbia | DB9051 7" vinyl — remains officially unreleased | |
| "You Don't Get Drunk on Saturday" / "Don Juan of the West(Demo Only)" | 1980 | Columbia | DB9076 7" vinyl — remains officially unreleased | |
| "Combine Harvester" / "I Am A Cider Drinker" | 1980 | HMV | POP2017 | |
| "I Hate JR" / "I Love JR" | 1980 | John Miles | JM1001 | |
| "I Shot JR" / "Albert's Funny Farm" | 1980 | John Miles | JM1003 | |
| "If You Got Nothin' On Tonight" / "Little Drop of Home Made Wine" | 1980 | John Miles | JM1004 | |
| "Coughin' Song" / "Shovel It Here" | 1982 | John Miles | JM1009 | |
| "Wurzel Rap" / "Wurzels in Stereo" | 1983 | Goldliner | RAP1 | |
| "All Fall Down" / "My Somerset Crumpet Horn" | 1986 | Dingles | SID238 | |
| "Sunny Weston-super-Mare" / "Sunny Weston-Super-Mare (Instrumental)" | 1988 | Far End | FNS2 | |
| "Sunny Weston-super-Mare" / "All Fall Down" | 1988 | ? | Cassette (private release) | |
| I Want To Be An Eddie Stobart Driver (EP) | 1995 | LOOSE Records | ? | |
| The Combine Harvester 2001 Remix (EP) (39)* | 2001 | EMI Gold | 243 8 79448 2 4CD | |
| Come on Santa! (EP) | 2001 | Recognition/Universal | CDREC22 CD | |
| Don't Look Back in Anger (EP) (59)* | 2002 | EMI Gold | 7243 5 51508 2 0 CD | |
| "Make Hay Not War (Demo only)" | 2003 | CD | remains officially unreleased | |
| Ferry To Glastonbury (EP)(Promo only) | 2004 | Cruisin Records CD | remains officially unreleased | |
| "Feed The Wurzels: Bristolian Band Aid" The Wurzels with Bush & Troy | 2004 | Bristol GWR FM | CD | |
| "Peter Crouch in Lederhosen"/Bush & Troy vs The Wurzels | 2006 | Bristol GWR FM | CD | |
| "Remember Me" / "I Am A Cider Drinker" (British Sea Power) | 2006 | Rough Trade | RTRADS302 7" vinyl (limited to 1966 copies) | |
| "Remember Me" / "I Am A Cider Drinker" (British Sea Power) | 2006 | Rough Trade Records | CD (Promo copy only) | |
| "I Am A Cider Drinker" (with Tony Blackburn) / "Ferry To Glastonbury" | 2007 | EMI Gold | 0946 3 92653 2 9 7" vinyl (yellow) | |
| "I Am A Cider Drinker" (with Tony Blackburn) / "Combine Harvester" | 2007 | EMI Gold | 0946 3 92653 2 9 CD | |
| "One for the Bristol City" / "Drink Up Thy Zider (live)" | 2007 | Absolute | CIA004CD | |
| "Ode To Adge Cutler" | 2009 | Internet | Download only | |
| "Ruby" | 2010 | Internet | Download only | |
| "Sleigh Ride" | 2011 | Internet | Download only | |
| "The Mendip Windfarm Song" | 2014 | CIA | Download only | |
| "Old Rosie" | 2017 | CIA | Download only |
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adge Cutler & The Wurzels - Recorded Live at the Royal Oak, Nailsea, Zummerzet * | 1967 1976 | Columbia (Blue/Black label) Columbia (Silver/Black label) | SX6126 (mono) / SCX6126 (stereo) 12" Vinyl SCX6126 (stereo only) 12" Vinyl | |
| Adge Cutler & The Wurzels - Family Album * | 1967 1976 | Columbia (Blue/Black label) Columbia (Silver/Black label) | SX6165 (mono) / SCX6165 (stereo) 12" Vinyl SCX6165 (stereo only) 12" Vinyl | |
| Cutler of the West * | 1968 1976 2003 | Columbia (Blue/Black label) Columbia (Silver/Black label) EMI Gold | SX6263 (mono) / SCX6263 (stereo) 12" Vinyl SCX6263 (stereo only) 12" Vinyl 584 8072 CD | |
| Carry On Cutler * | 1969 1976 | Columbia (One EMI Box) Columbia (Two EMI Boxes) | SX6367 (mono) / SCX6367 (stereo) 12" Vinyl SCX6367 (stereo only) 12" Vinyl | |
| Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee | 1972 | EMI Starline | SRS5119 12" Vinyl | |
| The Very Best of Adge Cutler | 1974 | EMI | EMC3191 12" Vinyl | |
| Dont Tell I, Tell 'Ee | 1978 | Encore | ONCR502 12" Vinyl | |
| Adge Cutler's Cider Drinking Favourites | 1980 | EMI | Notes NTS199 12" Vinyl | |
| Vintage Cider | 1980 | EMI | MFP50476 12" Vinyl |
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number and format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wurzels Are Scrumptious | 1975 | EMI One Up | OU2087 12" Vinyl | |
| The Combine Harvester | 1976 | EMI One Up | OU2138 12" Vinyl | |
| Golden Delicious | 1977 | EMI Notes | NTS122 12" Vinyl | |
| Give Me England | 1977 | EMI Notes | NTS138 12" Vinyl | |
| I'll Never Get A Scrumpy Here | 1978 | EMI Notes | NTS160 12" Vinyl | |
| The Wurzels Greatest Hits | 1979 | EMI Notes | NTS190 12" Vinyl | |
| I Am A Cider Drinker | 1979 | EMI Encore | ONCR523 12" Vinyl | |
| The Wurzels Freshly Cut | 1983 | Wurzel Records | WR854675 12" Vinyl | |
| The Wurzels | 1988 | EMI IDEAL | IDL22 CD | |
| The Wurzels AND Adge Cutler & The Wurzels | 1991 | EMI IDEAL | IDL114 CD | |
| Mendip Magic 'Live | 1995 | AFS Television Cassette Tape | ||
| The Finest 'Arvest of the Wurzels | 2000 | EMI Gold | 5 27046 2 CD | |
| The Wurzels Collection | 2001 | HMV Easy | 5 32071 2 CD | |
| The Finest 'Arvest of the Wurzels | 2001 | EMI Gold | 5 34401 2 CD | |
| The Wurzels Live | 2002 | APR Media Centre | 0700010230 CD | |
| Never Mind The Bullocks, Ere's The Wurzels | 2002 | Cruisin' | ZEN 00262 CD | |
| A Taste of the West | 2004 | CIA | 001 CD | |
| Top of the Crops | 2006 | CIA | 002 CD | |
| The Wurzels Greatest Hits | 2007 | EMI Gold | 3 93902 2 CD | |
| A Load More Bullocks | 2010 | CIA | CD and Internet Download | |
| The Wurzels Christmas Album | 2011 | CIA | CD and Internet Download |