The Mutton Birds were a New Zealand rock music group formed in Auckland in 1991 by Ross Burge, David Long and Don McGlashan, with Alan Gregg joining a year later. Four of their albums reached the top 10 on the New Zealand Albums Chart, The Mutton Birds (1992), Salty (1994), Envy of Angels (1996) and Rain, Steam and Speed (1999). They had a number-one hit with "The Heater" (1994), while their two other top 10 singles were a cover of "Nature" by the Fourmyula (1992), and an original, "Anchor Me" (1994). From 1996 to 2000 the group were based in England; they returned to New Zealand and then disbanded in 2002. History David Long on guitars and Don McGlashan on lead vocals and bass guitar formed the Mutton Birds in Auckland as a three-piece rock group in early 1991. For their first live performance, on Saint Patrick's Day, they used an interim drummer who was soon replaced by Ross Burge. McGlashan had been a member of Blam Blam Blam (1982, 1984) and the Front Lawn (1985–1993), Long had played in the Six Volts and appeared on the Front Lawn's albums. Burge had been a member of the Spines and Sneaky Feelings, and early on, he was drumming both for Dribbling Darts (1989–1993) and the Mutton Birds. In 1992, the three-piece band gained Alan Gregg, also from Dribbling Darts, on bass guitar. As a four-piece they recorded their first self-titled album. It peaked at No. 2 on the New Zealand Albums Chart in September 1992, and was certified platinum in New Zealand. It was in the top 50 for 52 non-consecutive weeks. They gained notice outside college radio for their cover version of "Nature" (August 1992), which reached No. 4 on the related singles chart. The original was recorded by the Fourmyula in 1969 (written by keyboardist Wayne Mason), and in 2001 was voted as New Zealand's greatest song of the previous 75 years. They signed with EMI Australia, which financed their second studio album, Salty (April 1994). This was self-produced and mixed by American producer-engineer Tchad Blake (Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Crowded House). It reached No. 3 and was certified platinum in New Zealand. Salty provided a number-one hit single, "The Heater", in April, and top 10 position for "Anchor Me" (October). McGlashan won an APRA Silver Scroll song writing award for the latter hit. Their next album, Nature (September