‘Bond has more to do with our culture than people will ever admit.’
HANS ZIMMER, THE SOUND OF 007
We have all the Prime in the world as Bond’s 60th anniversary is celebrated in this sterling new documentary look at the pop-cultural overtures of a pop-culture icon – The Sound of 007. Directed by leading music documentarian Mat Whitecross (The Kings, Oasis: Supersonic, The Road to Guantánamo) and produced by John Battsek at Ventureland in partnership with Bond’s EON Productions, The Sound of 007 is a stellar, richly curated look at the remarkable and culture-defining history of seven decades of James Bond music.
From 1962’s Dr. No to 2021’s No Time to Die, the film charts the incredible history of the music, enthralling true tales behind the tunes and famous faces who have recorded some of the most beloved soundtracks in cinema. From John Barry to David Arnold via George Martin, Hans Zimmer, Thomas Newman and more, this documentary celebrates and examines the creation and heritage of a music phenomenon. As much fever surrounds the appointment of a new Bond song performer as it is Bond himself. A Bond song is a pop-culture overture to a pop-culture icon and a 007 song travels the world faster than a Bond film.
Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Tom Jones, Louis Armstrong, Duran Duran, Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Sheena Easton, Nancy Sinatra, and many, many more of 007’s jukebox names are all featured, as are recording studios, orchestras, archive footage, the battle for the Bond charts, Oscars glory, Daniel Craig, and the fascinating timeline of bringing at least twenty-five Bond anthems to the big screen.
To mark the sixtieth anniversary of a spy and accompany this documentary is The Sound of 007 – The Concert. Staged at the Royal Albert Hall on October 4th 2022, the once-in-a-lifetime musical experience sees five-time Bond composer David Arnold captaining a concert that boasts not only Dame Shirley Bassey, Garbage and Celeste, but also The Man with the Golden Gun‘s Lulu, The Living Daylights‘ Chrissie Hynde, Becky Hill, John Grant, Jamie Cullum, Paloma Faith and Ella Eyre.
The concert created by EON Productions and sponsored by Bowers & Wilkins and Omega is also produced by David Arnold.
“We are truly honoured and grateful to have been selected as one of the chosen charities for the upcoming Sound of 007 concert at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, alongside The BRIT Trust. All funds raised for us from this spectacular event will go directly towards helping thousands of people across the UK to connect and communicate through the power of music.”
SANDRA SCHEMBRI, CEO, NORDOFF ROBBINS MUSIC THERAPY
For those unable to attend, The Sound of 007 – Live from The Royal Albert Hall will be subsequently streamed globally on Prime Video from October 5th. And because that is James Bond Day across the world with an extra reason to raise a Vesper to our man James, Prime Video will also be streaming the documentary feature The Sound of 007 from the same day. It will be available to 240 countries worldwide.
