Released June 1973 Length 6:10 Producer(s) Budgie | Genre Heavy metal Label MCA | |
Writer(s) Tony Bourge/Ray Phillips/Burke Shelley | ||
"Breadfan" is a heavy metal song originally recorded by Budgie, appearing on their 1973 album Never Turn Your Back on a Friend. The title refers to a person's relationship to money, "bread" being slang for money. The lyrics highlight the moral dilemmas on what to do with money; keep it, give it away, spend it and to ultimately be free of it and not to let it rule your life. This song was also featured in the video game Brütal Legend and its introduction used in a Brazilian sports TV news Globo Esporte.
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Metallica cover
Metallica released a cover of the song in September 1988 as a B-side to their "Harvester of Sorrow" single. It was later included on their 1998 album Garage Inc., and was also used as an encore during their 1988-1989 tour supporting their ...And Justice for All album. A live video version is present on the Live Shit: Binge & Purge boxed set, taken from their Seattle concerts on August 29 and 30, 1989 where it was performed in the second encore. It was also played with frequency during the Madly In Anger with the World and World Magnetic Tours. A short clip of "Breadfan" is played at the beginning of the "Whiskey in the Jar" music video.