The Bees (English band)
The Bees |
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The Bees (known in United States as A Band of Bees) are an English band from Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Although their sound is generally classified as indie rock or psychedelic music, the band have a colourful range of styles and influences, such as 1960s rock, country, reggae and jazz.
History
The Bees have so far released three albums: 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 the influential Abbey Road Studios), and the band's most recent work, 2007's Octopus.
The first two albums feature 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 Bees supported Oasis in 2005 and Madness in December 2007 during their 2007 Christmas Tour.
Members
- Paul Butler – lead vocals, guitar, piano, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, mandolin, drums, various Percussion instruments
- Aaron Fletcher – bass guitar, guitar, piano, drums, percussion, lyrics, vocals
- Michael Clevett – drums, bass guitar, percussion, hammond organ, vocals
- Tim Parkin – trumpet, bass guitar, piano, rhodes, percussion, vocals
- Warren Hampshire – hammond organ, celesta, acoustic guitar, percussion, jew's harp, vocals
- Kris Birkin – guitar, vocals
Discography
Studio albums
- Sunshine Hit Me (25 March, 2002; We Love You (UK)/Astralwerks (US); #180 UK)
- Free The Bees (17 August, 2004; Virgin (UK)/Astralwerks (US); #26 UK)
- Octopus (26 March 2007; Virgin (UK)/Astralwerks (US); #26 UK)
Compilations
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" #118 UK (August 2001)
- "A Minha Menina" #80 UK (June 2002)
- From Free The Bees
- "Wash In The Rain" #31 UK (April 2004)
- "Horsemen" #41 UK (June 2004)
- "One Glass Of Water" (7" and download-only release, October 2004)
- "Chicken Payback" #28 UK (April 2005)
- 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)
Collaborations
- "Off The Lip" (Aspects (band) & The Bees, August 2004)
- "Bill Murray" (Gorillaz & The Bees, 2005)