Vic Flick, the guitarist behind the famous James Bond theme riff, has passed away at the age of 87. Known for his exceptional skill and as a “musician’s musician,” Vic is most celebrated for playing the unforgettable twanging open E string riff that became synonymous with the iconic spy franchise.
Born in 1936, Vic’s connection to composer John Barry was key to his involvement in the Bond theme. As a member of The John Barry Seven, Vic was the guitarist Barry turned to in 1962 when he was asked to work on the soundtrack for the first Bond movie, Dr. No. The theme song, written by Monty Norman and rearranged by Barry, featured Vic’s distinctive guitar riff at the forefront.
Vic recorded the famous riff on a 1939 English Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe guitar, paired with a Fender Vibrolux amplifier. Reflecting on his contribution, Vic once said: “It had an edge to it, sort of a dynamic sound. I overplayed it – leaned into those thick low strings with the very hard plectrum, played it slightly ahead of the beat, and it came out exciting, almost ‘attacking,’ which fit the James Bond image.”
In an interview with Guitar Player magazine, Vic explained the unique sound by attributing it to the combination of the plectrum, strings, and DeArmond pickup placed near the bridge, enhanced by a crushed cigarette packet under it to bring it closer to the strings. “That helped to get that round sound. It was a sound we created, to a certain extent, and it had a bite that they loved.”
Despite his pivotal role in creating one of the most recognizable riffs in film history, Vic received a modest one-time payment of just £6 for his contribution. However, his connection to the Bond franchise continued, as he also played on the theme song to Goldfinger, sung by Shirley Bassey.
As a highly sought-after session musician, Vic worked on numerous hit tracks, including Tom Jones’ It’s Not Unusual and What’s New Pussycat?, as well as Petula Clark’s Downtown. He also played on Ringo’s Theme (This Boy) for The Beatles’ 1964 movie A Hard Day’s Night. Throughout his career, Vic collaborated with notable artists like Eric Clapton, Dusty Springfield, Cliff Richard, and Jimmy Page.
Vic Flick’s contributions to music remain legendary, and his iconic guitar riff will forever be linked to the world of James Bond.
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