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]]