On July 27, 2012, over a billion people listened to the 50th anniversary of the "James Bond Theme" as performed by guitarist Vic Flick when Daniel Craig and HRH Queen Elizabeth II opened the XXX Summer Olympiad in London, England. The festivities, of course, honored the half century since Dr. No premiered. It was for that film the most famous guitar solo in history made its first appearance as played on Flick's cello-bodied Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe Guitar.
On February 2, 2013, that guitar goes on the eBay auction block. According to Bond expert Matt Sherman, the high bidder not only takes home the Clifford Essex, but also gets a "special day with Mr. and Mrs. Flick and the vehicles of Bond, plus airfare and a cabin for two aboard the brand new Dream-class Carnival Breeze to join OOSailin, a tour hosted by espionage experts of James Bond and spy locations in Jamaica and The Bahamas in April 2013 celebrating the 60th Anniversary of April 1953’s publication of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale." Get out your checkbooks, 007 fans!
Over the years, Flick has told the story many times of how he came to record the "James Bond Theme," how his version appeared in eight 007 films, how he worked with George Martin on A Hard Day's Night, why Paul McCartney chose him to play on the former Beatle's Thrillington project, and his work on recordings by the likes of Petula Clark, Tom Jones, and Peter and Gordon. He told the full story of his career in his lively 2008 memoir, Vic Flick, Guitarman: From James Bond To The Beatles and Beyond published by Bear Manor Media.
But for the occasion of the auction of his old friend, Vic graciously agreed to answer a few questions about the Clifford Essex and its storied history. Here's what he had to say.
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