James Bond & Friends

What makes the Bond musical ‘sound’?

This week Warren Ringham of Q The Music returns to the show to talk about the James Bond sound and his life as a performer dedicated to 007. We discuss the challenge of composing an original Bond-esque song as Warren has just completed his first composition. Along the way we tackle mainstream journalists writing about Bond music; Bond themes as a snapshot of their musical era and embracing the contemporary; melody replaced by rhythm and ambiance in much modern film scoring; Newman’s scores and where to from here with Zimmer; and the atmospheric scoring of Moonraker, Thunderball and From Russia With Love.

We then transition to Warren’s personal story, growing up in a musical family, attending Music college and then 15 years of building the Q the Music tribute band. He notes the particular challenge of arranging the Bond music for his group and his commitment to creating an authentic Bond sound; Q the Music’s little flourishes or takes on some of the Bond themes; the buzz of the live performance; writing and performing a 20 minute medley for the 50th Anniversary event at Piz Gloria; and what might happen if he met his musical hero.

The recording took place in the UK and New Zealand.

Paul Atkinson is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Warren Ringham is the founder of Q The Music (qthemusicshow.com)

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

How was EON's new film received and what lies in store for 007 after 2020?

In this episode, Bill draws the straw to go to one of the first US screenings of EON Productions' new film The Rhythm Section and files his report. Back in the world of James Bond, we follow up on the Billie Eilish news and ponder what the Oscar ceremony may have in store (or not), and from one long production to another, debate the merits of a 3-hour runtime. Along the way, we worry about Ben Whishaw's comments, reach down the back of the couch to help Aston Martin's rescue deal, wonder what might be in store with a second trailer, and kick around preferences for an MGM takeover between Apple, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. We round out by making a couple of bold predictions for the next ten years.

The recording took place on January 31st 2020 in the USA and Spain.

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

How will the music choices – and late changes – affect No Time To Die?

This week we recap all of the music news hurriedly released after the press got wind of both composer Hans Zimmer and title-song artist Billie Eilish at work on No Time To Die. We talk about the integration of the title song with the score, plus the lacklustre attempts to do so on SPECTRE and Skyfall; the young age of Shirley Bassey, Sam Smith, Adele, Sheena Easton, and Nancy Sinatra at the time of their Bond themes; the perspective a young title-artist will bring to the Bond sound; directors’ choices of composer and artistic impact of key personnel; why Dan Romer was dropped; who proposed a Young Bond prequel television series and why it got nixed; and the possible three-hour running time.

Along the way we stumble on listening to Wings without earmuffs, when good artists experiment and fail, flogging DB5 replicas to keep Aston Martin afloat, the missing melodies, Michael Wilson's naps, cross-dressing Felix, recycled scripts and set-pieces, foreign tax breaks, and why David would never buy the 4-door Aston.

The recording took place on January 17th in the USA and Spain.

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Phil Nobile Jr is Editor-in-Chief of Fangoria magazine, former Bond correspondent for Birth.Movies.Death

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020

'No Time To Die' end song by Catherine Cassell Music

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

How will 2020 be remembered by Bond fans?

This first episode of a new decade looks forward to what we can expect from a busy year of Bond - plus a number of question-marks that hang over the year and the future of the franchise. We discuss the marketing campaign for No Time To Die, the anticipation of the release, the key announcements to come (composer, albeit with Zimmer’s shop now looking more likely, and title song), avoiding spoilers in the week between UK and US release, and what the press will be talking about during and after the film’s premiere. We also delve into the dearth of Bond books and games and wonder whether the franchise will remain on autopilot or garner some fresh blood through new ownership?

The recording took place on January 3rd in the USA and New Zealand.

Paul Atkinson and James Page are co-founders of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

Reflecting on the people the James Bond franchise lost in 2019.

In this end-of-year episode, we look back over 2019 and the people we lost from the James Bond franchise. From lesser-known names to world-famous stars, we reflect on their roles in the series and their careers in general.

The recording took place on December 20th in the USA and Spain.

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

Is James Bond a good cook?

This week Edward Biddulph returns to the podcast for a special Mission Debrief episode all about the food of Bond. We discuss Bond’s heroic consumption of eggs, the novelty of an avocado in the 1950s, strange savoury desserts, Fleming (and consequently Bond’s) passion for rich French-style cuisine, touring Europe like 007, Bond novels as a travelogue, his kitchen and single-use gadgets, and the general dearth of food in the films when compared to the novels.

The recording took place on December 8th in the UK and New Zealand.

Paul Atkinson is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Edward Biddulph is author of Licence To Cook (buy now from Amazon) and the jamesbondfood.com blog

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

Could Fleming's second novel be adapted faithfully in the 21st century?

This episode we consider how Daniel Craig's reboot of the series could have continued with a faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's second novel Live And Let Die to follow up the modern update of Casino Royale. Often easily waved away as an outdated story with race issues and bygone attitudes, we take a close look at how the essence of the book could have been kept for a 2008 adventure. What other problems would arise from making another film based on the book? What shadow would Roger Moore's 1973 outing cast?

The recording took place on November 22nd in the USA.

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

What can we learn from the No Time To Die trailer? What might be the reaction of a wider audience? 

This week we assemble a large panel to dissect the No Time To Die teaser trailer that debuted on 4th December 2019. Each panelist offers their hot take to the first good look at the 25th James Bond film and we all concede this is no mere teaser trailer. Then we jump into the minutiae - dissecting the characters, sets, photography, and what we learned about the plot – before chatting through the launch strategy of Good Morning America. Along the way we discuss the villain’s lightsabers, the time that passed between SPECTRE and No Time To Die and pitching the trailer at a more general audience, where you might find the gun barrel, a grotesque villain in a politically correct era, a possible flashback in the snow, more homages to Dr. No, Blofeld’s preposterous age, Bond’s new reading habits, the nature of Safin’s scheme, films that don’t feel like Bond films, a missing wedding guest, para-military chic, and that Ken Adam vibe.

The recording took place on December 4th 2019 in the UK, USA, Spain, and New Zealand.

James Page and Paul Atkinson are co-founders of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Phil Nobile Jr is Editor-in-Chief of Fangoria magazine, former Bond correspondent for Birth.Movies.Death

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

Has the creative team written themselves into a cul de sac?

This episode we continue our round-up of all the latest news and interviews for No Time To Die since principal photography wrapped, digging in to some of the more contentious issues that have popped up in recent weeks. Along the way, we discuss an MIA composer, underscored scenes, Kitty Galore, bad dubbing options, a BMW switcheroo, retirement planning, Bill's Sisyphean task, and whether the attempts to appease sections of the audience may end up leaving everyone unsatisfied.

The recording took place on November 15th in the UK, USA, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

John Clark (AKA HaphazardStuff) runs the aptly named haphazardstuff.com

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man

What's been happening since No Time To Die wrapped photography? 

This episode we round up all the latest news and interviews for No Time To Die since principal photography wrapped, and welcome newcomer John Clark (AKA HaphazardStuff) to the panel. Along the way we discuss Daniel Craig's insistence that he's happy to be James Bond, a throwaway joke that enraged some fans, an emerging publicity campaign, keeping SPECTRE in the desk drawer, missing Greene, a not-so-big budget, and sketchy Italian truck drivers. 

The recording took place on November 15th in the UK, USA, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

John Clark (AKA HaphazardStuff) runs the aptly named haphazardstuff.com

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Joseph Darlington is Head of Section at beingjamesbond.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2019

Music credit 'Spy & Die' by Jay Man