BUD  ROGERS

 Latest news !! On 4th February 2012 Bud was awarded

Twirl Radio Male Vocalist Of The Year 2011

for his "Whiteout" album

  Here's Bud's story in his own words ....

 In the beginning:

Born in Birmingham on the 14th of July

 Let there be light:

Started singing in the choir aged 7, started writing his own little tunes to amuse himself and his brother (normally quite rude ones that are best left to the mists of time).

 Let there be drums:

Moved to Bedfordshire aged 12 and attended Sharnbrook Upper School.

Took up drums aged 12 during music lessons basically because they made the most noise and drowned out all those horrible recorders! Continued an interest in music throughout school years but didn’t start playing properly till the age of 16 when he used to borrow a friends drum kit and practiced in a barn, as far away from houses as possible to avoid annoying neighbours.

 At around the age of 17 his friend wanted to play his drum kit so this forced Bud to take up another instrument as his parents flatly refused to let him have a drum kit at home… Hmm he thought… What else makes a loud noise? Having being heavily influenced by early glam rock bands like The Sweet, TRex and Slade in the 70s there was only one choice…

 Let there be guitar:

Together with his friend Mark Thorman and a cheap Hondo guitar he set about forming his first band "Sphynx". The name was chosen solely because all the other names put forward were rude. When they realised that they weren’t good enough to play the songs they were into at the time by bands such as Black Sabbath and AC/DC Bud took it on himself to write his own little rock masterpieces to enable the band to progress, these too are best left to the mists of time.

 In the early 80s Sphynx were joined by keyboard player Tim Ashford, this was to change the whole sound of the band as Tim was a very talented musician, all the guys in the band had to raise their game and thus the sound of the band changed, more influenced by current bands of the time like U2 and Talk Talk.

 After several line-up changes the band performed at a Live Aid spin off in 1986. At around this time Bud wrote his first serious song "Token Of Gold". Deeply saddened by the loss of his sister in a car crash the song almost wrote itself. This started another line-up change, a new sound and a new band name "Big Brother".

 The sound of the band was more based around the keyboard and the ever improving writing talents of Tim. The band moved to London and shared a flat together in Southgate. They gigged relentlessly for a year searching for record company support, but alas none came. While in the flat Bud came up with the descending chord structure that was to form the inspiration for the song American Dream. Tim really liked the chords and went away and came up with the melody and lyrics for the song, sadly it was the only song Bud and Tim ever really wrote together with the rest of the Big Brother repertoire being made up of Tim’s compositions. Due to the lack of success and one or two musical differences the band went their separate ways in 1988. After a few more unsuccessful attempts to put bands together Bud had a break from music for a couple of years.

 Let there be rock:

The normal life never felt quite right for Bud, he desperately needed to make a noise again… This time a loud noise! So along with the singer from Big Brother, Mark Whitlock, Bud decided it was time to rock out a bit again. Together they formed "The Cut". The band went from strength to strength and in 1993 recorded the album "Emotional Suicide". The opening track "Keep Your Demon Down" was played on Radio One’s Friday Rock Show during that year.

 After a few more difficult times Bud decided he needed to learn more about this thing called music and at the age of 34 went to Derby University to do a degree in Music.

 Feeling Numb:

During his time at Uni Bud continued playing in bands in Bedford, travelling back and forth for gigs etc. Having met and befriended singer Raoul Sedgwick while playing with The Cut they decided to form a new band along with Bassist from The Cut, Jason Manning and new young (at the time) drummer Pete Hancock called Numb.

 The open and honest style of lyric writing that Raoul brought to the band really appealed to Bud and the other guys from the band and very quickly they soon rattled off 2 albums "Sentient" and "Inter City Mars". They built quite a following during the 90s and large record company interest. They were joined in 1998 by keyboard player Adam Wakeman (now playing with Ozzy Osbourne and Will Young) and gigged all over the country. But alas, yet again that illusive record deal failed to materialise and the band, on very good terms, went their separate ways.

 A new century a new Bud:

Having completed his music degree (2-1 hon’s), scored two short films and composed a concerto for the guitar (Eclipse Guitar Concerto No.1) in the late 90s Bud tried his hand at teaching for a few years. He helped to set up a Rock School in Northamptonshire and taught many students his own way of playing an instrument. Although this went well, he decided teaching wasn’t his thing and went his own way yet again, back on the road with several function bands including "Blue Train" and "The Blue Renegades". The young bass player with Blue Train, Ben Swidenbank, introduced Bud along with long standing drummer Pete Hancock to his brother Joseph Swidenbank who had just completed his solo album "Roads". He needed a band to promote the album on a tour of the country. The band hit it off straight away and very quickly started writing the follow up album "Scattered" together. The band Joseph Swidenbank are still going strong and will be out promoting the new album Scattered in the near future

 Diving in:

Having being inspired by Joe’s ability to put together a great album on his own Bud decided it was time for him to step forward and sing his own songs. The idea for "Whiteout" the album was born. He wanted to not only record new material but also rediscover some of the old songs that had become like children to him.

 Included on the album are songs Token Of Gold (Bud’s first serious song) and American Dream which he co-wrote With Tim Ashford (who sadly passed away a few years ago). Both of these songs had never been properly recorded so Bud thought it was only right that they, along with other never heard before songs, should live and breathe, A fitting tribute to all those who were a part of their creation.

 So, 18 soul searching months later here it is.

Amazon

UK:

     Sometimes you have to listen to an album  over and over, forcing yourself to get to the stage where you become familiar with the songs and only then will you start to 'get' what the arist is trying to portray. Bud Rogers-Whiteout has me confused, here we have a relatively unknown artist, he's played in many bands and still does, Whiteout being his first solo project. The word solo takes on a whole new meaning- EVERYTHING on this album is played, sang, produced and recorded by the artist himself (with the exception of 'American Dream' which was co-written with a friend who has since sadly passed away). Here's where the confusion comes into play. How can multi-million pound rockstars and bands produce  recordings  that makes you want to sit and listen and listen until those recordings find a little hole in your mind to reside, when Bud Rogers has managed to come up with an album that bares its soul as soon as you hit the play button? Im excited. I can't sit here and write that in ten years time Bud will be a platinum selling artist,this is just one mans opinion,but, I will say this, over the years Ive always had great pride in my ability to pick out people and bands in the music business who I believe will do well and, more often than not I've been right. I remember saying to my other half way back in the late eighties 'Listen to this, these are gonna be huge!'  The band was Guns N Roses, They were raw, messy and  anarchic. Whiteout holds the kingspot on the other end of the spectrum. That is what makes it a great album.Far from being a messy under-produced rushed affair, its a beautifully crafted piece of art digitised to a disc for all to enjoy and you have to thank Mr Rogers for that. You really get the sense theres a lot of life experience gone into the writing and the soundtrack itself is far better than anything Ive heard in quite some time.

     The album kicks of with the brilliant 'Caught in a Wheel' I, personally have had this song running round my head since I first heard it. A very catchy upbeat song with a very strong 'cougar mellencamp' feel. I can imagine this being a great stomping song in the live setting.

     Santa Monica Sunshine, a funk style rock song with chilled and drawling 'Chillipeppers/ Kravitz' style backing. Another favourite of mine.

     Let it burn. After an energetic start to the album 'Let it burn' gives you a chance to chill and catch your breath. This is one of the songs on the album I would say shows the artists true vocal talent.

     American Dream. The only record on the album that Bud had help with. The song was co-written with Tim Ashford who sadly, is no longer with us. Its a fitting tribute to Tim that he is credited on the album. A brilliant song with fantastic guitar breaks.

      You.  I myself love the diverse and this is the albums black sheep, haunting guitar and slow breathy lyrics make this a firm favourite. I would love to see this released independently of the album. 'You' reminds me a lot of Marillion during their 'Misplaced Childhood' era.

     Slave to Passion. I really think this could be the underdog of the album, coming from nowhere and taking the listener by the throat. The guitarwork on the song is outstanding!

     Innocent days. Every album has its anthem, this is definately the one for Whiteout.

     Token of Gold. Love this song for its simplicity, Lyrically brilliant. Reminds me a lot of very early Manic Street Preachers or maybe Snow Patrol.

      Whiteout. The title track for the album takes to the stage and doesn't disappoint. A 'doorseque' start to the song leads the listener into a slow chilled verse with amazing low range vocals complimented by constant guitar breaks and fill-ins - Love these type of songs Brilliant choice for the title track.

      Unfortunately we come to the final track, Lullaby. Bud brings the tempo down for the last time. The mood he sets for the final song is perfect. You can almost feel yourself coming down from the highs of the journey through 'whiteout' .

       So, I never expected this review to be so comprehensive, but to just give a few words here and there when I could slot it in wouldnt have given the artist the credit he deserves. To say this is Buds first album we have to wonder what his 5th would be like -I have no muscle in the music business, Im not a manager, a producer, a record exec -Im just Joe public, I like good music and I like to give people credit for their talents. I will be looking forward to the second album and many more to come. Id Like to wish Bud all the best for the future, to me it looks very bright.