The Bees (UK band) 2135345 219095376 2008-06-13T15:25:33Z 92.13.66.51 {{otheruses4|the English band|the US band|The Silver Seas}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = The Bees | Img = | Img_capt = | Img_size = <!-- Only for images smaller than 220 pixels --> | Landscape = | Background = group_or_band | Alias = A Band of Bees (U.S. name) | Origin = [[Isle of Wight]], [[England]] | Genre = [[Indie rock]], [[Psychedelic rock]] | Years_active = 2001–present | Label = [[Virgin Records]] (formally [[Wall of Sound (record label)|We Love You]]) (UK)<br/>[[Astralwerks]] (US) | Associated_acts = | URL = [http://www.thebees.info/ www.thebees.info] | Current_members = [[Paul Butler (musician)|Paul Butler]]<br/>[[Aaron Fletcher]]<br/>[[Kris Birkin]]<br/>[[Michael Clevett]]<br/>[[Tim Parkin]]<br/>[[Warren Hampshire]] | Past_members = }} '''The Bees''' (known in [[United States]] as '''A Band of Bees''') are an [[England|English]] [[musical group|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 Bees album)|Octopus]]''. The first two albums feature songs that have been used in [[United Kingdom|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, 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 [[Madness (band)|Madness]] in December 2007 with their 2007 Christmas Tour and Oasis in 2005. ==Members== *'''Paul Butler''' – [[lead vocals]], [[guitar]], [[piano]], [[saxophone]], [[trumpet]], [[clarinet]], [[mandolin]], [[drums]], various [[percussion]] *'''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 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 Records|Virgin]] (UK)/[[Astralwerks]] (US); '''#26''' UK) * ''[[Octopus (The Bees album)|Octopus]]'' ([[26 March]] [[2007]]; [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] (UK)/[[Astralwerks]] (US); '''#26''' UK) ===Compliations=== * ''[[The Bees Present: The Sound Selection]]'' ([[2008]]) ===EPs=== *''You Got to Leave EP'': "You've Got to Leave"/"Elane"/"Whistle Stop"/"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 === Collaborations === *"Off The Lip" ([[The Aspects]] & The Bees, August 2004) *"Bill Murray" ([[Gorillaz]] & The Bees, 2005) ==External links== *[http://www.thebees.info/ Official website] *[http://www.comfortcomes.com/?page=reviews&id=1730 Listening Man] *{{myspace|thebeesofficial|The Bees}} *{{allmusicguide|11:002gtq4zpu4p|The Bees}} *[http://www.thedwarf.com.au/bands/international/b/bees_the The Bees at The Dwarf] *[http://www.videology-tv.com/viewclip.php?id=76 The Bees' Music Video for "Listening Man" + Interview with director Dominic Leung] {{DEFAULTSORT:Bees, The}} [[Category:English musical groups]] [[Category:English indie rock groups]] [[Category:People from the Isle of Wight]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2001]] [[fr:The Bees]]