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Burston was born in [[Cheltenham]], England. Before joining Motörhead in 1984, Burston had been a [[corporal]] in the [[British Army|Army]], serving in Germany with the 1st Battalion of the [[Gloucestershire Regiment]], and had played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]], they played together at a Motörhead audition, and both were taken on. The new, four-piece line-up made its debut recording a backing track for [[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]] on 14 February, 1984. Burston acquired the nickname Wurzel whilst in the Army, being compared to the character [[Worzel Gummidge]] due his [[scarecrow]]-style hair and [[bumpkin]]-like manner. Motörhead singer [[Lemmy]] demanded that Würzel add an [[umlaut]] to the 'U' in his name, for [[Heavy metal umlaut|Heavy Metal]] effect. {{Fact|date=October 2008}}
Burston was born in [[Cheltenham]], England. Before joining Motörhead in 1984, Burston had been a [[corporal]] in the [[British Army|Army]], serving in Germany with the 1st Battalion of the [[Gloucestershire Regiment]], and had played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]], they played together at a Motörhead audition, and both were taken on. The new, four-piece line-up made its debut recording a backing track for [[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]] on 14 February, 1984. Burston acquired the nickname Wurzel whilst in the Army, being compared to the character [[Worzel Gummidge]] due his [[scarecrow]]-style hair and [[bumpkin]]-like manner. Motörhead singer [[Lemmy]] demanded that Würzel add an [[umlaut]] to the 'U' in his name, for [[Heavy metal umlaut|Heavy Metal]] effect. {{Fact|date=October 2008}}


Burston saw a number of interesting changes to the line-up in the band, each involving the drummer, until he left in 1995. Although he played on ''[[Sacrifice (Motörhead album)|Sacrifice]]'', he left the band before the tour. He was not replaced and Motörhead remains a three-piece.
Burston saw a number of interesting changes to the line-up in the band, each involving the drummer, until he left in 1995. Although he played on ''[[Sacrifice (Motörhead album)|Sacrifice]]'', he left the band before the tour. He was not replaced and Motörhead remains a three-piece. Recently, he has made a few guest appearances with the band: at the 2008 [[Download Festival]] and at the 2009 [[Guilfest]], as well as a few other appearances on the band's 2008 UK tour.


In 1998, quasi-inspired by psychedelically-informed experiences in Ghent, Belgium,{{Fact|date=October 2008}} Würzel recorded and released an ambient, improvised avant-garde album entitled ''Chill Out Or Die''. He followed this up with a piece called ''Trippin' Me Nuts Off - Live and Wankered in Leuven''.
In 1998, quasi-inspired by psychedelically-informed experiences in Ghent, Belgium,{{Fact|date=October 2008}} Würzel recorded and released an ambient, improvised avant-garde album entitled ''Chill Out Or Die''. He followed this up with a piece called ''Trippin' Me Nuts Off - Live and Wankered in Leuven''.

Revision as of 21:46, 15 July 2009

For other uses, see Wurzel (disambiguation).
Würzel

Michael Burston (born 23 October 1949), commonly known by the stage name Würzel, is an English musician. Formerly a guitarist in the heavy metal band Motörhead, Würzel is currently a figure in British ambient music.

Burston was born in Cheltenham, England. Before joining Motörhead in 1984, Burston had been a corporal in the Army, serving in Germany with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, and had played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, Phil Campbell, they played together at a Motörhead audition, and both were taken on. The new, four-piece line-up made its debut recording a backing track for The Young Ones on 14 February, 1984. Burston acquired the nickname Wurzel whilst in the Army, being compared to the character Worzel Gummidge due his scarecrow-style hair and bumpkin-like manner. Motörhead singer Lemmy demanded that Würzel add an umlaut to the 'U' in his name, for Heavy Metal effect. [citation needed]

Burston saw a number of interesting changes to the line-up in the band, each involving the drummer, until he left in 1995. Although he played on Sacrifice, he left the band before the tour. He was not replaced and Motörhead remains a three-piece. Recently, he has made a few guest appearances with the band: at the 2008 Download Festival and at the 2009 Guilfest, as well as a few other appearances on the band's 2008 UK tour.

In 1998, quasi-inspired by psychedelically-informed experiences in Ghent, Belgium,[citation needed] Würzel recorded and released an ambient, improvised avant-garde album entitled Chill Out Or Die. He followed this up with a piece called Trippin' Me Nuts Off - Live and Wankered in Leuven.

Discography

  • Motorhead "Killed By Death" (7" & 12" EP)(1984)
  • Motorhead "No Remorse" (Album)(1984)(Songs : Killed By Death/Snaggletooth/Locomotive/Steal Your Face)
  • Warfare - Metal Anarchy - 1985
  • Fairport Convention - "Quazi-Be-Goode / Where Would You Rather Be Tonight?" 7" single - August 1986[citation needed]
  • Motörhead - Orgasmatron - 9 August 1986
  • V.A. - "Where Would You Rather Be Tonight?" - October 1986 (All proceeds from this album went to Broadreach House, a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alcoholics)
  • Würzel - Bess - 1987
  • Motörhead - Rock 'n' Roll - 5 September 1987
  • Atomgods - WOW! - 1988
  • Motörhead - No Sleep at All - 15 October 1988
  • Würzel - The Very Best of Würzel - 1990
  • Motorhead The Birthday Party 1990.
  • Motorhead The One To Sing The Blues" (1990) (7" & 12" Ep)
  • Motörhead - 1916 - 21 February 1991
  • Motörhead - March ör Die - 14 August 1992
  • Motörhead - Bastards - 23 November 1993
  • Warhead - Warhead - 1995
  • Motörhead - Sacrifice - 1995
  • Disgust - A World Of No Beauty - 1996
  • WVKEAF - "Jump/Maximism" - 30 September , 1997
  • WVKEAF - "Jump" - 1997
  • Würzel - Chill Out Or Die (The Ambient Album) - 1998
  • Splodgenessabounds - "Artful Splodger" - 2001
  • Motörhead - BBC Live & In-Session
  • Würzel - Trippin' Me Nuts Off - Live and Wankered in Leuven - 2006

DVD Interview

Wurzel is featured on Disc 2 of Motörhead Videobiography, in a 50 minute interview, his first since leaving the band; filmed in early 2007. Ragnarock Films (CRP2360) released June 2007.[1]

  • Motorhead Overkill (Double DVD) Sandbeach Holdings Ltd; February 2008 (CRP2609).

VHS & DVD Appearances

References

  1. ^ Motörhead Videobiography (Double DVD with 48 page book) Edgehill Publishing Ltd., June 2007 ISBN 978-1-905954-38-4
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