Vic Flick was an English guitarist best known for playing the iconic riff in the James Bond theme song.
- Died: November 14, 2024 (Who else died on November 14?)
- Details of death: Died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 87.
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Vic Flick’s legacy
Flick got his start in music in the late 1950s as a member of The John Barry Seven. They had a 1961 hit with “Zapata,” written by Flick. But he spent the bulk of his career working as a session musician, backing some of the greats of the 1960s and ‘70s.
Flick’s best-known credit was one of his earliest ones. In 1962, Barry worked to arrange the theme to the first James Bond film, “Dr. No.” He brought Flick in to record the guitar part, and he listened when Flick made suggestions about how to achieve an iconic track. Among those suggestions was an idea to bring the whole piece down an octave to create a grungier sound. The guitarist also made some DIY modifications to his guitar that resulted in the unmistakable tone of the theme song.
Later in the ‘60s, Flick was the guitarist behind many top hits by U.K. artists. He worked extensively with Tom Jones in the days of the singer’s early success, playing on such hits as “What’s New Pussycat?” and “It’s Not Unusual.” He played on Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and on Herman’s Hermits’ “Silhouette.” He did some very early recordings with The Beatles, and he went on to play the guitar solo on “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy),” heard in the movie “A Hard Day’s Night.” He recorded alongside Jimmy Page before Page co-founded Led Zeppelin, and he played on Paul McCartney’s “Thrillington” album. Other artists with whom he recorded include Dusty Springfield, Englebert Humperdinck, Cliff Richard, and the Bee Gees.
The Paragon De Luxe guitar Flick used to record the James Bond theme was on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later, Flick sold it at auction, noting in an interview for Guitar Player that “Guitars are tools” and “It paid its way.” He also sold a 1961 Fender Stratocaster on a 2013 episode of “Pawn Stars,” getting $55,000 for it.
Flick on his guitar sound in the James Bond theme
“I placed the DeArmond pickup near the bridge. I put a crushed cigarette packet underneath it to get it nearer the strings. That helped to get that round sound. … Also important was the way the guitar was recorded. It was picked up by the mics for the orchestra, and it gave the guitar a mysterious, powerful sound. It was a sound we created, to a certain extent, and it had a bite that they loved.” — from a 2021 interview for Guitar Player
Tributes to Vic Flick
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
