Book your seat for a once-in-a-lifetime night of Bond music with @shirleybassey, @garbage and more @RoyalAlbertHall for #TheSoundOf007InConcert. pic.twitter.com/aMw7tFkE1a

— James Bond (@007) July 28, 2022

The James Bond film series’ standout soundtrack will be showcased within the upcoming event; the concert has been curated by celebrated composer David Arnold. The English movie composer’s credits include five James Bond films along with such blockbusters as Independence Day, Hot Fuzz and the BBC tv show Little Britain. Set to headline the concert is Dame Shirley Bassey, the legendary singer best known for her work within the Bond films. Dame Bassey has a long association with the Bond franchise; the singer lent her vocal talents to the themes of Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

To celebrate 60 years of Bond, I will be joining some other wonderful artistes to perform, for one night only, at the Royal Albert Hall! The Sound of 007 In Concert is taking place on Tuesday, October 4th.https://t.co/yjbHBDWpaO — Dame Shirley Bassey (@shirleybassey) July 28, 2022

Also billed to perform at The Sound Of 007 are a host of special guests and artists featured in the Bond soundtracks. Also scheduled to take the London stage is rock group Garbage, fronted by Scottish singer Shirley Manson; the band performed the theme for the 19th Bond film The World Is Not Enough. Also included in the lineup is singer Celeste; the singer will join further acts to perform new renditions of the film’s classic theme songs. Backing Dame Bassey and the event’s star-studded lineup is the acclaimed Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, confirmed to conduct throughout the event is Nicholas Dodd.

Artistic Director of the Royal Albert Hall, Lucy Noble, has given the following statement concerning the upcoming event, “We could not be more honoured to host this landmark anniversary of one of the world’s greatest franchises. The Hall has forged an indelible association with 007 over many years and we are delighted to help them celebrate.“

He’s got a licence to kill. We’ve got a licence to thrill.

Introducing 60 years of Bond – a series of electrifying concerts including film screenings with a live orchestra, and even a special appearance from @shirleybassey herself

Find out more: https://t.co/2FmOx5yuWI pic.twitter.com/DPzfFA9iSI

— Royal Albert Hall (@RoyalAlbertHall) July 28, 2022

Also commenting on the upcoming concert, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, James Bond producers, have stated, “Music has always played a vital role in the success of the 007 series. Over the sixty-year history, we have been blessed with the extraordinary talents of legendary composers and artists who have created the most powerful and moving musical contributions to our twenty five films. The Sound of 007 in Concert on October 4th will celebrate their tremendous achievements.“

The Royal Albert Hall will also be celebrating the James Bond film franchise in November with a string of screenings of the series’ most recent releases. The venue will host the screenings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra providing a live rendition of the film’s soundtrack, instalments included within the series of in-concert screenings are Spectre, Skyfall and Casino Royale.

Further information concerning the concert and its billed performers are yet to be announced, along with the event’s partner charity. Tickets for The Sound Of 007 go on sale on 10 am on Monday August 1^st 2022, and pre-sale for Friends and Patrons of The Royal Albert Hall went on sale today.

Click here to purchase tickets.

The atmospheric song, ‘Blackstar’ was unveiled in a minute long snippet over the opening credits of The Last Panthers. The clip features Bowie chanting in priest-like fashion over an swirling choir chorus while quasi-religious symbolism and gangland imagery plays in the background. All the while Bowie preaches “On the day of execution / Only women kneel and smile”, before a beat kicks in and takes the credits to their close. You can watch the clip below:

The show follows jewel thieves operating in Europe, referred to by Interpol as the Pink Panthers, and if the opening credits and music are anything to go by then the show promises to be a particularly dark and brooding take on the real life Pink Panthers. On Bowie’s Facebook page the show’s director discussed how Bowie drew influence from the show’s themes to craft the new track:

“I showed Mr. Bowie the two first episodes in the rough state they were at the time, and he liked what he saw very much. We discussed the various aspects of the show; naturally the plot line, but also the underlying currents of guilt and personality flaws. We talked about the dark heart of Europe. We talked about the biblical aspects of human nature. He asked if there was anything else to see, so I showed him the first concept board I had just made for the title sequence – images from the show laced with chimaeras and demons from the worlds of Bosch and Grunewald. That’s when he said go – it all fits. Then he played me his new song ‘Blackstar’.”

This marks the first time Bowie has worked on a TV theme since he wrote the music for the BBC’s adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia, 20 years ago. Though just recently it was reported that Bowie was working on music for the new Spongebob musical.