Tribute to Adge 40 Years on.
Professor Wurzel contemplates, reminisces and
commemorates the 40th anniversary of the death
of Adge Cutler and the founding of the ‘farmyard
four’ – The Wurzels.
On
May 5th it will be 40 years since Adge Cutler
– founder of ‘The Wurzels’ -
was tragically killed whilst driving back home
following a gig at the Crystal Rooms in Hereford.
Adge was a man of many talents - poet, story teller,
playwright and, most prominently, singer and song
writer. He had founded The Wurzels some eight
years before his death to accompany him on the
gigs he was already performing all over the country.
Very soon Adge and his Wurzels were to be seen
and heard on numerous TV and radio shows - even
entering the pop charts. Adge’s passing
occurred as the fame of “Adge Cutler &
The Wurzels” was spreading far and wide
and tours abroad were being scheduled.
A
true west-country family man to the core Adge
was, and indeed still is, sorely missed by his
family, fellow band-mates and many thousands of
fans across the country.
Ironically
it was after Adge's death that The Wurzels achieved
the most success with No1 singles and numerous
chart hits throughout the 70's and 80's - and
now 40 years on Pete and Tommy, Morgy and Sedge
are still belting out his songs to sellout gigs
all across the country – what more can be
said other than ‘Cheers Adge, thanks for
everything’ and long may ‘The Wurzels’
continue to keep Adge’s memory alive and
kicking!
(The
Wurzels are playing at an old haunt of Adge’s
– “The Fleece & Firkin”
in Bristol on May 5th – a gig not to be
missed!)
But such a tribute would not be complete if we
didn’t hear from Tommy and Pete, Adge’s
two surviving original Wurzels...
"Little
did I think on 5th November 1967 on my very first
gig as a Wurzel, then on the morning of 5th May
1974 when our then manager, John Miles phoned
me with the dreadful news of Adge's fatal car
accident, that here in May 2014 I would still
be a Wurzel. I often thank Adge for giving me
the chance to come to Somerset to live and work,
and only wish he had been alive to see how popular
his songs and ours still are to this day.
I don't think he would still have been performing,
because I doubt if he could have kept up with
the pace of today's shows, but I'm sure he would
still have been writing humorous, inventive songs
for us, in his own inimitable style.
You can imagine Archangel Adge singing his songs
to those on high, with backing vocals
by Shag Connors and Fred Wedlock. I have great
memories of my many enjoyable hours spent in your
company Adge.
Rest in peace, boy.
From the only ‘Scottish Wurzel in Captivity’."
-Tommy Banner
"I
first met Adge when I was with my band The Rebels.
He was very excited and told me that he was going
on the road with his own outfit and singing songs
that he had already written.
Who'da thought that several years after that,
I would become one of his blokes!
Adge will always be with us - good 'n mate."
-Pete Budd
So
to all you Wurzel fans out there, please raise
a glass of zider to the memory of Adge Cutler!
-Professor Wurzel.
"The theme was ‘South West Inspired’ and I thought what encompasses the essence of the South West and The West Country more than The Wurzels?”
