Crushed Butler

Crushed Butler was a British rock band active from 1969 to 1971, often regarded as Britain's first proto-punk band. The original lineup included Jesse Hector on guitar and vocals, Alan Butler on bass, and Darryl Read on drums. Initially performing covers, they soon transitioned to original material. Known for their distinctive style—ripped shirts, studded belts, and straight-leg jeans—their energetic live performances captivated audiences across venues like the Lyceum and Guildford Civic.

Despite auditioning for labels such as EMI and Decca, they struggled to secure a record deal. In 1970, under EMI, they recorded "Factory Grime" only after performing a producer-chosen track, which led to lost interest from the label.

In early 1971, renaming themselves Tiger with Barry Mitchell of Queen's early lineup joining, they still failed to land a deal and disbanded later that year when Read took a position at Track Records.

Post-split, Hector and Butler formed Helter-Skelter and later The Hammersmith Gorillas. Read pursued solo work, releasing albums like "Beat Existentialist" in 1991, acted, and tragically died in a motorcycle accident in Thailand in 2013.

Their music saw release starting with the 1998 album "Uncrushed" by Dig The Fuzz Records, followed by reissues on various labels. A single, "It's My Life," was released in 2010.