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Q Branch Archive for April, 2013

Articles

Diamonds Are Forever

 

Diamonds Are Forever.  This song has been recorded by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band and is one of our favourites!  A slow seductive start on the piano, a little gentle push with the vocals and then all the band enter with passion, feeling and a whole lot of brass.

Diamonds Are Forever – the James Bond Film made in 1971 with the title track of the same name, sung brilliantly by Dame Shirley Bassey and written by the incredible John Barry.  This Bond Theme only just made it however as the producer of the film hated it, and it was only through persuasion by co-producer Cubby Broccoli that ensured the song was used in the end!  The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band are really pleased they did!  What a cracking number and as always, sung with passion by Dame Shirley Bassey.  According to rumours it was said that John Barry suggested, when singing the typical 007 Bond lyrics that were filled with innuendo – that she imagined she was singing to erm… well… a phallic shaped object!  We’re not really sure if that would have been inspirational or not!

To hear our version please follow the link to Soundcloud.  In order to give the best representation of our sound, this demo was recorded in the studio and mixed down by our own Sound Engineer Tony – who also happens to be one of the UK’s top recording engineers!  Please note – there are no multiple tracks or layers in this recording.  Just 10 musicians doing what they do best – and loving the end result.  Because we always bring Tony with us for all our Bond Themed events we can ensure that we always sound as authentic to the original music as possible – whatever bond music we are playing – whether in the recording studio or performing live at events.

As we only ever perform LIVE and only ever as a 10-piece, with the arrangements written especially for Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band, we know we sound like this each and every time we perform at all our events.  So, if you are looking to book band for a band for a James Bond Event then look no further! We are a lively Bond Tribute Band with an entertaining Cabaret style Bond themed set which is followed by a further set of non-stop party hits to really get the party started.  We know that for all the events we attend that our sound for the Bond Tribute set will be as close to the original themes as possible.  In addition, our performance is lively, professional, and above all we really do enjoy what we do.  This ensures that the client and all their guests also have an amazing evening and a night to remember!

April 11, 2013 Short URL
Articles

Live & Let Die

Live and Let Die.  This bond theme song has been recorded by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band and we love it.  This is an awesome track and is the Bond Theme from the Bond Film Live & Let Die which starred Roger Moore in his first role as the 007 Agent.  Here Bond meets the dark forces of Voodoo and Dr Kanaga, Baron Samedi, snakes and Jane Seymour as the Bond Girl Solitaire.

Interestingly enough Clint Eastwood was approached to star as the next James Bond after Sean Connery left – but he declined as he felt the role should be played by someone with an English accent. Roger Moore was successful and a new Bond was born.  Live and Let Die was written by Paul and Linda McCartney and was a change in style from the previous Bond Themes written by John Barry.  This time it was pure rock and roll.

The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band love the light and shade in this bond theme.  Another soft start but with lots of rock and a whole lot of roll.  Our drummer Matt Venn LOVES playing bond music, especially this number – loving the middle section when the drums start flying and he can really get stuck into making the whole number sound PHAT! Gavin Lazarus on vocals can adapt his voice to suit any number and this one has a lovely melodic start but then Gavin lets his rocky side soar.  An absolutely fabulous Bond Theme.

Looking for music for a James Bond Event – visit our website www.bondtributeband.co.uk

April 11, 2013 Short URL
Articles

Skyfall

Skyfall – this bond theme has been recorded by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band.  Originally recorded by Adele for the Bond Film Skyfall in 2012 which starred Daniel Craig as the suave 007 Agent.  The song was actually released at 0:07am on the 5th October as this date was apparently called “James Bond Day” and marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Dr No.

Sadly, the original Skyfall recorded by Adele was the last Bond theme to feature the amazing Derek Watkins on trumpet.  He was a hero to many trumpet, and brass, players all over the world having a unique and unmistakable sound and technique and had played on every Bond sound track.  He was, quite simply, a legend! A truly remarkable and gifted musician.  To see a clip of Derek and an absolutely stunning version of My Way – follow this YouTube link – you’ll see for yourself why he performed on every Bond Theme and why he has been so inspirational to so many brass players – a very classy performer and in a league all of his own!

The recording by Adele apparently had 77 musicians performing this bond theme and over took two days to record.  The Bond Tribute Band are just 10 people and we took a total of 4 hours to do all six new tracks in the studio but we think our version of this piece of bond music is authentic in sound and dynamic.  This is one of our favourite bond themes to perform.

The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band only ever perform totally LIVE and only as a 10-piece.  You won’t find any backing tracks used in any of our performances.  If you are looking for a band for a James Bond Event then please get in contact – we’d love to hear from you!

April 11, 2013 Short URL
Articles

Thunderball

Thunderball.  Originally performed by the Welsh Sex God that is of course Tom Jones! The original sound track for this film was “Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” sung by Shirley Bassey but concerns were over whether the title of the film should be the same as the sound track and so Thunderball was used instead.  This is the version by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band and features Gavin Lazarus (who is our very own Sex God but without the tight leather pants) who nails the long top note at the end and sings with suave sophistication all the way through this number.

Apparently rumour has it that when recording this Bond Theme Tom Jones said “I closed my eyes and held the note for so long when I opened them again the room was spinning”. What an absolute legend!

The Bond Tribute Band love this Bond theme – we have two trumpets, one trombone and one saxophone playing on this track.  We love the way the vocals interlink with the brass, chasing each other all the way through the song.  Nick Malcolm has a unique style and sound on trumpet and he can be heard with his own solo in the middle of Thunderball – blimmin marvellous stuff! Nick’s been known to raise a few eyebrows of his own at our Bond events – a few hairs on the back of the neck also with his wonderful trumpet solos in both the Bond and Party set.

If you are after a James Bond Themed Night and would like some quality bond music performed then please get in contact – we’d love to hear from you and see how we can make your event a night to remember…. but for all the right reasons!

April 11, 2013 Short URL
Articles

Man With The Golden Gun

The Man With The Golden Gun – a hit for Lulu in the James Bond film of the same title and written by John Barry.  This Bond theme was originally described as “mundane” but we think it’s far from it if the lyrics are anything to go by!  John Barry wrote this theme music in just under three weeks but it was not one of his favourites!  Alice Cooper also wrote a bond theme titled The Man With The Golden Gun but the powers that be opted for the Lulu version instead.

This version is by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band and we think it’s a great fun number – lots of bounce, cheeky lyrics and gives a bit of audience interaction when we perform this number live at James Bond themed events!

So if you are looking for a band for a James Bond event and would like some bond music for the evening that’s a bit like this bond theme – fun and entertaining – then please get in contact. Visit our website for more information www.bondtributeband.co.uk

April 11, 2013 Short URL
Articles

From Russia With Love

From Russia With Love – starring Sean Connery as Agent 007 – Bond, James Bond.  The book written by Ian Flemming was apparently one of the top ten books that President John F Kennedy loved to read don’t you know!  Although John Barry had replaced Monty Norman as the soundtrack composer on this bond film, the bond theme was written by Lionel Bart. You may also recognise, and be able to sing along to, some of Lionel’s other songs from a famous film where a little boy asked for “More”- do you know what it is yet? Of course you do! It’s Oliver but he was also responsible for many more hits written for Shirley Bassey and Rod Stewart.  Lionel Bart couldn’t actually read or write music – he used to hum the songs and, for the 21 Carry On films, his co-partner at the time – Eric Rogers, used to transcribe them for him.

Matt Munro, who was affectionately nicknamed “the singing bus driver”, sang this Bond theme and his phrasing in this number is amazing.  The ease and sophistication in his vocals are like velvet.  Well the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band have their own “fabulous crooner” in Gavin Lazarus who also has the ability to beautifully phrase lyrics old stylie when needed! When we were thinking about what Bond Themes to record for the website Gavin’s phrasing ability was a deciding factor in choosing From Russia With Love.

We hope you enjoy this one – To you….. From the Bond Tribute Band With Love …. awwwwww!

April 11, 2013 Short URL
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Win a pair of 007 Cufflinks!

bond tribute band 007 cufflinksWant to win a pair of 007 cufflinks?  Then visit our Facebook page!  There is a picture on the page of two of the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band Band members, a couple of raised eyebrows, tuxedos and a carrot!  Come up with the best James Bond Caption under this picture and you will be entered into a draw to win the 007 cufflinks.  The Bond Tribute Band Caption Competition is open until the end of May when the best caption will be picked from all the entries.  You have to “like” the Facebook page first then enter your caption under the Bond Tribute Band Caption Competition photograph to be entered!  Remember the best James Bond quote wins so get your imagination going and enter!  Winner to be announced soon!

April 5, 2013 Short URL
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Most Memorable Bond Girl Ever!

Well it’s official!  The Queen has been given an honorary Bafta for the “Most Memorable Bond Girl” in recognition of a lifetime’s support of British Film and Television.  The award was presented to the Queen by the Sir Kenneth Brannagh. We all know that the London Olympics was fantastic for the UK both economically and emotionally and seeing the Queen arrive in style by parachute and “Skyfall”  (yes ok, we know it was a stunt man really but this was brilliant for the film and Bond fans worldwide) had to be one of the main highlights of the Olympics.  Daniel Craig arriving at Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and escort her through the corridors was a brilliantly fantastic idea and showed the World that the Queen has a great sense of humour.  Only one thing was missing in our view though – an appearance by a James Bond Tribute Band!  It would have been awesome to have had THE Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band there performing the Bond Music – Skyfall as she landed and made her entrance!

 

April 5, 2013 Short URL