Various big 'pop-stars' and groups have issued Christmas messages to their fans for many years - a trend started by The Beatles in 1963 when they produced a flexi-disc (7" record on flexible vinyl) where they recorded odd songs, Christmas messages and a general thanks to their fans for their support over the year. Towards the end of 2014, following a suggestion from Professor Wurzel, The Wurzels agreed that it would be nice gesture to do a similar thing for their loyal band of followers. The first message was issued in December 2014 and has happened every year since expect for 2015 (unable to fit in due to very hectic schedule) and 2020 (due to the covid pandemic). Every message was recorded in the dressing room prior to the start of a show in December of the year concerned and was coordinated and produced by part-time Wurzel and sound recording engineer Louie 'Gribble' Nicastro.
This page brings together links to ALL The Wurzels' Christmas messages.
Christmas Message 2022!
The Wurzels' first Christmas message was a simple 'audio only' affair to which were added a series of images from their 2011 Christmas photoshoot.The message begins with 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' with piano accompaniment followed by a short greeting from Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, Sedge Moore, Louie Gribble and finally John Morgan. It plays out with their Christmas album track 'Sleigh Ride'. The message runs to 1 minute 30seconds.
This year saw an amusing but short 30 second video with the band singing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' followed by Pete Budd giving his thanks to all their dedicated fans for their support that year.
A short 30 second video with the band singing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' followed by Pete Budd giving his thanks to all their dedicated fans for their support that year. It ends with John Morgan giving a sober warning to all fans over the Christmas period!
This video comes in at 1 minute 30 seconds. It opens with their CD recording of 'I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas' and fading into the band singing 'We Wish You A merry Christmas', followed by Christmas greetings led by Pete Budd. As usual the final piece of dialogue goes to John Morgan. The audio fades out with 'I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas' while the video displays a scrolling message from the band superimposed on a background of a warming log fire. Lots of professional effects on this 'up-market' Christmas message from The Wurzels.
The audio fades out with 'I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas' with a visual 'cartoon' introduction. The band then launch into a short - and quickly abandoned - version of 'Twelve Days Of Christmas'. This is followed by Christmas greetings led by Pete Budd and Tommy Banner. The message concludes with a fade-out of 'I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas' and like the previous year a scrolling Christmas message of thanks from the band. Again this year's video had lots of professional effects on this 'up-market' Christmas message from The Wurzels.
After a 'message free' Christmas the previous year (due to covid restrictions) The Wurzels produced this short greeting and a rendition of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'. It was filmed prior to going on stage on Tuesday December 21st 2021 for the band's last gig of the year at the Cadbury Hilton, Congresbury. The parting comment from Pete Budd was in tribute to their drummer John Morgan who had passed away just four days earlier.
This year's message was again led by Pete Budd - wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody from 'the Wurzel Boys' followed by a rendition of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'. It was filmed prior to going on stage for Christmas gig at 'The Garage' in Highbury, North London on Wednesday December 14th.