The music world misplaced session legend Vic Flick on November 17, at age 87. Whereas not a family identify, Flick’s soundtrack riff in James Bond films turned one of many most-famous licks in guitar historical past, starting with 1962’s Dr. No.

“Nearly each guitar participant is conversant in his phrase used within the James Bond themes,” stated guitarist/bassist Bob Spalding of The Ventures. “Sadly, not many bear in mind the guitarist who performed that well-known phrase, nevertheless it was Vic Flick. He left an important legacy.”

Within the Swinging ’60s, Flick (VG, April ’12) recorded with an inventory of pop royalty together with Beatles producer George Martin, Jimmy Web page, Cliff Richard, and Nancy Sinatra. He additionally performed on pop smashes like Petula Clark’s “Downtown,” Dusty Springfield’s “I Solely Wish to Be With You,” and the Tom Jones classics “It’s Not Uncommon” and “What’s New, Pussycat?”

Earlier than discovering fame with 007, Flick performed instrumental rock with the James Barry Seven, led by the composer/arranger who’s identify is synonymous with the Bond soundtracks. The Barry connection helped Flick land the Bond job, for which he was paid a kingly £6 (lower than $17). Recalling the session, he stated, “I overplayed the guitar to offer the sound a little bit of urgency and sort of pushed the beat just a little so as to add pleasure. The sound of the 007 theme was additionally a breakthrough in recording, resulting from its method. Within the early ’60s, the orchestra would file just one take, utilizing what the studios known as ‘appropriate stereo.’ This distinctive recording methodology allowed for the sound of the guitar to bleed into adjoining microphones of the orchestra, including a lustrous, ambient high quality to the ultimate recording.”

Session guitarist and longtime Supertramp sideman Carl Verheyen relates how that Bond riff nonetheless impacts his personal studio work.

“I can’t start to depend the numerous instances within the studio I’ve gotten the request, ‘Are you able to get that James Bond sound?’ Or, ‘Play that E minor/major-Seventh spy chord,’” he stated. “Finally, I got here to search out out who the legendary guitarist behind these tones was – Victor Harold Flick. It will need to have been wild being within the swinging London studio scene within the ’60s, taking part in on hit information like Petula Clark and Tom Jones. Vic is even on the Beatles’ Assist! soundtrack – we heard him every single day. What a hero!”

Discussing his Bond rig, Flick informed VG about his uncommon six-string, the 1939 Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe. “The guitar may be very English. Clifford Essex was a luthier and banjo builder who established himself in London within the ’30s. Although predominantly a banjo maker, he made some nice guitars, mine being considered one of them… My Paragon De Luxe guitar was a superb rhythm instrument and designed to be performed in a dance orchestra… Principally, I used a DeArmond pickup by way of a DeArmond quantity pedal right into a Fender Vibrolux amp. I bought the Fender in 1962, simply previous to the Bond recording that June.”

After a long time of studio obscurity, within the ’90s Flick was (lastly) the topic of a characteristic by H.P. Newquist in Guitar journal. Now director of the Nationwide Guitar Museum, Newquist counted the London session man as a buddy.

“Vic was maybe essentially the most underrated electrical guitarist ever,” he stated. “Not solely was his efficiency on the James Bond theme iconic, however he performed on lots of of recordings that helped outline pop music within the Sixties and ’70s. As well as, Vic was a gentleman – very correct, very British, however with a really sly humorousness, which he delivered with a wink.”

Flick later obtained to inform his personal story within the pleasing autobiography, Guitarman. When requested if he ever obtained bored with taking part in the James Bond riff, he responded, “The great public reception I get each time I play ‘The Theme’ far outweighs the fixed repetition. I’m grateful that I’m a part of the James Bond world, having had no thought on the time that these few notes I performed in 1962 would observe me down by way of the years.” – Pete Prown

This text initially appeared in VG’s February 2025 situation. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.