Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the James Bond Franchise with various events dedicated to Ian Fleming’s iconic secret agent.
Now, pay attention, 007! And that goes for the rest of you, too. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first James Bond movie hitting screens. The classic ‘Dr. No’ marked our first-ever look at 007 on the big screen. With the classic theme by Monty Norman and conducted by the legendary John Barry, the superspy strode across the screen in the now iconic Gunbarrel. The character has been in 25 movies over those sixty years and the franchise continues on. To celebrate this monumental achievement, several events will be happening in London over the coming weeks.
Live at The Royal Albert Hall on October 4th is ‘The Sound Of 007 In Concert.’ This event will be recorded and streamed later on Prime Video as part of their 60th celebration of Bond. On September 23rd, ‘Bond 25’, an album performed by The Royal Philharmonic orchestra will be released. That’s not all. An online auction is taking place with a two-part charity auction. Sixty lots are involved and contains many items 007 fans would kill for.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Royal Albert Hall to host The Sound of 007 in Concert, an official charity event to celebrate 007’s 60th anniversary to benefit music charities Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and the BRIT Trust. Following the concert, Prime Video will globally stream an exclusive recording —The Sound of 007: LIVE from the Royal Albert Hall—as part of the streamer’s 60th celebration of James Bond.
The Sound of 007 —the documentary directed by Mat Whitecross and produced by John Battsek for Ventureland—will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide from 5 October, following a preview at the ‘James Bond at 60’ weekend at the BFI Southbank on 1 October.
The Christie’s Sixty Years of James Bond two-part official charity sale will include multiple music lots including a No Time To Die song sheet with lyrics signed by Billie Eilish
‘Bond 25’, an album performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will also be released by DECCA on 23 September.
THE SOUND OF 007 IN CONCERT
The Sound of 007 in Concert, the official charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall will take place on 4 October. Original Bond recording artists Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Chrissie Hynde, and Garbage will perform iconic 007 songs alongside guest vocalists Becky Hill, Celeste, Ella Eyre, Jamie Cullum, John Grant, and Paloma Faith accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Dodd.
The concert, created by EON Productions and sponsored by Bowers & Wilkins and Omega, will be produced by five-time Bond composer David Arnold. The event marks 60 years since the world premiere of Dr. No, the first 007 film, on 5 October 1962 and will benefit Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and The BRIT Trust (with 100% of their allocation of the funds raised being donated to The BRIT School). Sandra Schembri, the CEO of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, said: “We are truly honored 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.”
Josh Berger CBE, Chair of The BRIT School: “It is an honor for The BRIT School to be part of this momentous occasion marking 60 years of a Great British icon, and we are proud to be celebrating the power of music and film coming together.”
The Sound of 007: LIVE from the Royal Albert Hall, an exclusive recording of the live 4 October charity concert, will be available to stream globally on Prime Video following the event as part of the streamer’s60th celebration of James Bond. The Hall’s celebration of James Bond will continue with Films in Concert screenings of Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), and Spectre (2015) from 17-20 November. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase via the Royal Albert Hall’s website/box office.
THE SOUND OF 007
The Sound of 007, a feature documentary about James Bond music will premiere exclusively on Prime Video from 5 October in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. The Sound of 007 is directed by BIFA and BAFTA-nominee Mat Whitecross (The Kings, Oasis: Supersonic, The Road to Guantánamo) for Prime Video and MGM. The feature documentary pulls back the curtain on the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, taking viewers on a journey from Sean Connery’s Dr. No through to Daniel Craig’s final outing in No Time To Die.
Produced by John Battsek (One Day In September, Searching For Sugar Man, Everything Or Nothing) for Ventureland and EON Productions, 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. The documentary will preview on 1 October as part of the BFI’s James Bond at 60 Weekend. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Mat Whitecross, lyricist Don Black, and composer David Arnold.
SIXTY YEARS OF JAMES BOND CHARITY AUCTION
The Christie’s Sixty Years of James Bond two-part official charity sale of 60 lots benefitting over 45 charities will feature a number of music lots including:
‘No Time To Die’ song page with lyrics signed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell and theme music sheet signed by Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro, and Johnny Marr – benefitting NSPCC.
‘Live And Let Die’ Sheet Music, signed by Sir Paul Mccartney (estimate: £3,000-5,000) to benefit the Helen Bamber Foundation.
‘Another Way To Die’ Sheet Music, signed by Jack White And Alicia Keys, and ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ Song Score, signed by Sam Smith to benefit Feeding America.
Skyfall Song Score, signed by Adele to raise funds for The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service.
The cello case sled used by James Bond (Timothy Dalton) and Kara (Maryam D’Abo) in The Living Daylights (1987) in aid of The Silverlining Brain Injury Charity.
A custom Duesenberg guitar signed by Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, David Arnold, and the concert artists will also be sold by Christie’s to benefit Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and The BRIT Trust.
The online sale is open now until 5 October and the Live invitation-only auction will take place on 28 September at Christie’s London, with fans and collectors worldwide able to bid online using Christie’s LiveTM, via telephone bidding, or by leaving an absentee bid.
DECCA RECORDS PRESENTS BOND 25
Decca Records presents Bond 25, an orchestrated album featuring all 25 of the iconic Bond themes expertly reimagined and newly recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, includes brand new arrangements of the iconic title themes including From Russia With Love, Diamonds Are Forever, Live And Let Die, GoldenEye, and Die Another Day, track listed chronologically from 1962’s Dr. No to 2020’s UK No.1 single No Time To Die.
THE AUCTION
Below are the images of the items that are being offered at the Christie’s Sixty Years Of James Bond charity sale:
After sixty years and twenty-five movies, James Bond 007 remains a staple at the world’s box office and in the fans’ hearts. There’s no better way to celebrate the legendary superspy on his 60th anniversary. So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets NOW! Order your copy of the new album today. And start counting those pennies, ready for the auction. Because Nobody Does It Better!
Source: Prime Video
Author
Carl Roberts is the News Editor of The Future of the Force. Aside from being our horror genre aficionado, he is also passionate about Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and the Indiana Jones movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force frequently!
