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A Band Of Bees

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Biography

About|the English band|the US band|The Silver Seas|the Japanese band|B'zRefimprove|date=June 2011Infobox musical artist | name = The Bees| image =| caption =| image_size = | background = group_or_band| alias = A Band of Bees (U.S. name)| origin = Ventnor , Isle of Wight , England | genre = Indie rock , Psychedelic rock | years_active = 2001–present| label = Virgin Records (formerly Wall of Sound (record label)|We Love You ) (UK)
Astralwerks (US)
Fiction Records (UK| associated_acts =| website = http://www.thebees.info/ www.thebees.info| current_members = Paul Butler
Aaron Fletcher
Kris Birkin
Michael Clevett
Tim Parkin
Warren Hampshire
Tom Gardner| past_members = The Bees (known in the United States as A Band of Bees) are an England|English Musical ensemble|band from Ventnor on the Isle of Wight . Although their sound is generally classified as indie rock or psychedelic rock , the band have a colourful range of styles and influences, such as 1960s garage rock , Country music|country , reggae and jazz .

History


The Bees have so far released four album s: 2002's Mercury Prize -nominated Sunshine Hit Me (which was acclaimed by critics for being recorded in frontman Paul Butler's own garden shed), its 2004 major label follow-up Free the Bees (which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios ), and 2007's Octopus (The Bees album)|Octopus . Their fourth album, '' Every Step's A Yes , was released on 11 October 2010.

The first two albums featured songs that have been used in British television advertisements, which are partially responsible for the band's recognition: Sunshine Hit Me 's "A Minha Menina", a cover of an Os Mutantes track, appeared in a Citroën car commercial and also an advert for Magners Irish Cider , whilst "Chicken Payback" and "Wash in the Rain", both from Free the Bees , were incorporated in adverts for Sure Deodorant for Men and Sainsbury's , respectively. The official video for "Chicken Payback" featured the band in an Arcade game|arcade -type dance game slot-machine in a Japanese video arcade . The lead character, apparently a rock and roll dance diva, dances so quickly that his shoes catch fire. The song was used in a 60-second flagship advert produced by Karmarama commissioned by Age UK to launch the charity's 2011 "Thank You" campaign. It was performed by 81-year old Joy Graham http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/06/29/22929-karmarama-creates-tv-campaign-for-age-uk/ accompanied by a Jazz Orchestra and was directed by BAFTA winning director Becky Martin of Channel 4 sitcom " Peep Show ". http://www.2am.co.uk/article/home/becky-martin-age-uk/1625#0

The Bees supported Oasis (band)|Oasis in 2005, and Madness (band)|Madness in December 2007 during their Christmas tour, and supported Paul Weller in the UK on selected dates of his "Winter Arena Tour". http://www.ellesmereportpioneer.co.uk/ellesmere-port-news/local-ellesmere-port-news/2010/12/01/paul-weller-visits-liverpool-manchester-during-13-date-uk-tour-55940-27742717/
In 2010, The Bees performed a set for The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun , covering "We Speak No Americano" and playing songs from their album, ''Every Step's A Yes . Paul Butler appeared on stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 2010 with Devendra Banhart , after performing two sets of their own.

In 2011, The Bees supported Fleet Foxes on their UK tour.

One of the influences the Bees have cited is the mind-altering drink called ayahuasca . Butler came to drink this plant medicine with shamans in Peru after being introduced to it by Banhart. "The whole thing has brought a lot of joy into my life. I think this kind of cleansing helps with your natural rhythm. Everyone has a song within them or a rhythm that is individual and personal only to you … and this kind of activity unlocks that." http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/aug/08/ayahuasca-bees-klaxons-devendra-banhart

Members


  • Paul Butler – Singing|lead vocals , guitar , piano , saxophone , trumpet , clarinet , mandolin , Drum kit|drums , various Percussion instrument s

  • Aaron Fletcher – bass guitar , guitar, piano, drums, percussion, lyrics, vocals

  • Tom Gardner – drums, bass guitar

  • Tim Parkin – trumpet, bass guitar, piano, Rhodes piano|rhodes , percussion, vocals

  • Warren Hampshire – hammond organ, celesta , Steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar , percussion, jaw harp , vocals

  • Kris Birkin – guitar, vocals

  • John McMullan - guitar

  • Michael Clevett


    • Discography


    Studio albums


  • Sunshine Hit Me (25 March 2002; We Love You (UK) / Astralwerks (US)

  • Free The Bees (17 August 2004; Virgin Records|Virgin (UK) / Astralwerks (US) - UK Albums Chart|UK #26cite book

    • | first= David
    | last= Roberts
    | year= 2006
    | title= British Hit Singles & Albums
    | edition= 19th
    | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
    | location= London
    | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
    | page= 52
  • Octopus (The Bees album)|Octopus (26 March 2007; Virgin Records|Virgin (UK)/ Astralwerks (US) - UK #26

  • '' Every Step's A Yes (11 October 2010; Fiction Records (UK) - UK #64

  • '' Every Step's A Yes - Deluxe Version (30 May 2011)(iTunes exclusive)


    • Compilation albums


  • The Bees Present: The Sound Selection (2008)


    • EPs


  • You Got to Leave EP : "You Got to Leave" / "Elain" / "Whistle Chop" / "Jackel Head" (March 2002)


    • Singles


    ;From Sunshine Hit Me
  • "No Trophy" (7" only release, January 2001)

  • "Punchbag" (June 2001)

  • "A Minha Menina" (June 2002)


    • ;From Free The Bees
  • "Wash In The Rain" (April 2004) - UK Singles Chart|UK #31

  • "Horsemen" (June 2004) - UK #41

  • "One Glass Of Water" (7" and download-only release, October 2004)

  • "Chicken Payback" (April 2005) - UK #28


    • ;From Octopus
  • "Left Foot Stepdown" (download-only release, November 2006)

  • "Who Cares What The Question Is? " (March 2007) - UK #53

  • "Listening Man" (June 2007) - UK #91

  • "(This Is For The) Better Days (Ashley Beedle Remix) (Available as download through 'www.thebees.info', 2008)


    • ;From ''The Bees Present 'The Sound Selection
  • "Papa Echo" (UK download-only release, July 2008)/ (US Split 7" with Mother Hips, 2008)


    • ;From ''Every Step's A Yes
  • "Silver Line" (July 2010)

  • "I Really Need Love" (October 2010)

  • "Winter Rose" (December 2010)


    • Digital Only Release
  • "Go Where You Wanna Go" (February 2011)(As used in UK 'Travelodge' TV advert)


    • Collaborations


  • "Off The Lip" ( Aspects (band)|aspects and The Bees, August 2004)

  • "Bill Murray" ( Gorillaz and The Bees, 2005)


    • References


    Reflist

    External links


  • http://www.thebees.info/ Official website

  • http://www.comfortcomes.com/? page=reviews& id=1730 Listening Man

  • myspace|thebeesofficial|The Bees

  • Allmusic|class=artist|id=p526494|label=The Bees

  • http://www.thedwarf.com.au/bands/international/b/bees_the The Bees at The Dwarf

  • http://www.videology-tv.com/viewclip.php? id=76 The Bees' Music Video for "Listening Man" + Interview with director Dominic Leung


    • DEFAULTSORT:Bees, The Category:Astralwerks artists
    Category:English rock music groups
    Category:English indie rock groups
    Category:Psychedelic rock music groups
    Category:People from Ventnor
    Category:Musical groups established in 2001

    fr:The Bees

    Copyright Citations

    This article is licensed under the GNU License
    Click here for original article: A Band Of Bees




          

    		  
       
     
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