Vic Flick born 14 May 1937

Vic Flick (born 14 May 1937) is an English studio guitarist, best known for playing the guitar riff in the "James Bond Theme". 

Victor Harold Flick was born at Worcester Park, Surrey, England. His musical career originated at the tender age of age of fourteen, when he traded his piano lessons for acoustic guitar. Flick's first major gig in the late 50's was with an acoustic band that toured with Paul Anka, named the Bob Cort Skiffle Group. On the same tour with Paul Anka of the United Kingdom was the John Barry Seven, led by Oscar winning composer, John Barry. Months later, after a call from Barry, Flick joined the Seven, becoming the lead guitarist by 1958.His first composition for the group was the track "Zapata". With them, he played the guitar riff for the theme of the popular TV show Juke Box Jury and appeared on every episode of BBC television's Drumbeat. 

Flick became a highly regarded session player, lending his masterful guitar skills to a variety of recordings and instrumental themes. Flick's first memorable foray into film scoring was his work with composer Barry on the 1960's cult film, Beat Girl. Some critics regard the score of this film, as the genesis for the Bond's theme; as the slick title track of Beat Girl is reminiscent of pre-Bond emanations. From this moment, Flick's contribution to the 60's music scene was soon to become immense. 

On the Dr. No soundtrack, he was lead guitarist on the track, the "James Bond Theme". Flick continued to contribute to the James Bond soundtracks from the 1960s through the late 1980s. He also played a pastiche of the "James Bond" guitar part for The Beatles' film Help! (1965). One of Flick's guitars, a Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe, on which he played the original "James Bond Theme", was displayed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Apart from his early 1960s work as the lead guitarist in the John Barry Seven, Flick was a session player, featured on many early 1960s UK pop records. Flick was a member of the George Martin Orchestra, and contributed to the soundtrack of the film A Hard Day's Night playing his Olympic white 1961 Fender Stratocaster on "Ringo's Theme (This Boy)" instrumental. 

He has worked with many popular recording artists, including Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones,Cliff Richard, Paul McCartney, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lulu, Shirley Bassey, Burt Bacharach, Petula Clark, Sandie Shaw, Crispian St. Peters, Hank Marvin, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, John Williams, Mark Wirtz, John Schroeder, Don Partridge, Typically Tropical and Don Lusher. He played the 12 string guitar part on Peter and Gordon's 1964 # 1 record "A World Without Love". He also recorded with Herman's Hermits, playing the distinctive guitar riff in the intro and bridge of "Silhouettes", a 1965 UK Top 5 hit although this has been disputed by band member Karl Green. 

                             

Since the Bond films, Flick has also added his talent to films such as The Pink Panther, The Ipcress File, Midnight Cowboy, and many more. Flick also collaborated with Merchant Ivory Productions as composer/music arranger for Autobiography of a Princess (1975), The Europeans (1979), Quartet (1981), and Heat and Dust (1983). In 1999, he worked with composer Nic Raine, backed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, on the James Bond tribute album titled Bond Back in Action. In 2003, he recorded the album James Bond Now, featuring tracks from James Bond soundtracks and new compositions. In 2005, he played on the soundtrack of the From Russia With Love video game by Electronic Arts. 

In 2008, his autobiography, Vic Flick Guitarman: From James Bond to The Beatles and Beyond, was published by Bearmanor Media. On 5 October 2012 Vic Flick was honoured at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for "The Music of Bond: The First 50 Years." He played the "James Bond Theme" on his 1939 Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe “James Bond” Guitar to a live audience. The newest Bond composer David Arnold, who has given Flick numerous accolades to the inspiration of his orchestration, has ensconced his trademark style. Flick and his style has been honored by several remakes and tribute music, by musicians and DJ's alike, including the likes of Propellerheads, Moby, and Proteus 7. 

He was also presented with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2013 by The National Guitar Museum for "contribution to the history of the guitar." He was the fourth recipient of the annual award. Flick appeared on a 2013 episode of the History Channel show Pawn Stars titled "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service". Here he brought in his 1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar to shop owner Rick Harrison, who, after consulting Jesse Amoroso, settled on a price of $55,000 for the guitar. The guitar sold at auction in 2014 for $25,000. Vic Flick continues his legacy to this day, by still creating and composing music for a new generation of fans of all ages across the globe. 

(Edited from vicflickguitarman.blogspot.com & Wikipedia)