The band was originally formed as Hills Contemporary Grass. Later they changed name to Six Ton Budgie but soon they become just Budgie.

Album Impeckable was originally titled "Catastrophe".

Canadian band Thrush Hermit covered "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" on the album All Technology Aside, included on the 2010 The Complete Recordings Box Set.

The song "Homicidal Suicidal" has been covered by the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden.

The title of album If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules is a pun on the concept of Brittania Ruling The Waves.

The song "In For The Kill", from album of the same name, was covered by Van Halen during the group's club days.

The song "Crash Course In Brain Surgery", originally released as a single, was covered by Metallica on their 1987 EP Garage Days Re-Revisited. Metallica also recorded a cover version of the song "Breadfan", from album Never Turn Your Back On A Friend, in 1988.

The song "I Can't See My Feelings" from album Bandolier, was covered by Iron Maiden on the B-side to their 1992 single From Here To Eternity.

Songs "Guts" and "Homicidal Suicidal" from the album Budgie can be seen as precursors to doom metal.

Burke Shelley has said that the band's name came from the fact that he, "loved the idea of playing noisy, heavy rock, but calling ourselves after something diametrically opposed to that''.

Budgie's November 2010 tour of Eastern Europe had to be cancelled as Shelley was hospitalised on 9 November in Wejherowo, Poland, with a 6 cm aortic aneurism. After surgery, he returned to Britain for recovery, but no decision of the future of the band has been made.

Also of interest to Budgie fans is a compilation called Ex Budgie: Budgie & Beyond. It features 18 tracks from bands featuring former Budgie members, including Tredegar, Bombshell, Freez, Titus Oats, and Six Ton Budgie. It was released through the Budgie fan magazine.

Budgie reformed in 1999 and relocated in San Antonio, Texas.