Crushed Butler are another of those bands shamefully ignored by the record companies back around the end of the ’60s / beginning of the ’70s.

Formed around the summer of 1969, this three-piece unit have been described as one of UK’s earliest ‘proto-punk’ bands. In part that may be down to their ‘jeans and T-shirt’ image coupled with a more simplistic, not over-flowery-sounding, straight up, out and out heavy rock. They were considered good enough to be given support slots with some big-hitters of the day, such as Atomic Rooster, Slade and Mott The Hoople, so they were definitely doing something the labels didn’t quite appreciate.

They did secure a few auditions with record companies and it was with EMI in 1970 that thet laid down their first acetates. However, the band preferred ‘Factory Grime’ as the main track, whereas the label producer insisted on ‘Love Is All Around Me.‘

The label were neither convinced nor impressed with the band’s preference, and not taking to the band’s choice quickly decided against releasing them.

Decca studios would later record another couple of acetates that included the Sabbath-esque ‘My Son’s Alive‘ but still nothing came of it.

During this period, original bass player Alan Butler left the band, with firstly Stan Aldous taking his place, and latterly, Barry Mitchell. However, Butler returned in 1971 and the band changed their name to Tiger.

Guitarist Jesse Hector and Butler would go on to play together as Helter Skelter, and later form the Hammersmith Gorillas.

But that was it, as far as Crushed Butler were concerned … they lasted two years (1969 – 1971) shared stages with some top level bands, were retrospectively credited with being fore-runners of the UK punk sounds to come some years later and yet were still overlooked by ‘the industry.’

That is until 1998 when the acetates were released to Dig The Fuzz Records, who subsequently released a limited run (500) of the six tracks laid down all those years previous.

And a good job, too. 🙂

CRUSHED BUTLER.

Alan Butler – Bass
Jesse Hector – Guitar / Vocals
Darryl Read – Drums
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Stan Aldous – Bass
Barry Mitchell – Bass

TITLE	FORMAT	YEAR	LABEL	NOTES
Uncrushed: Previously Unreleased British Punk From The Underground 1968 – 1971	10″ EP	1998	Dig The Fuzz Records	Recordings taken from the original acetates @ 1970 – 1971