James Bond show takes aim at the States

BY MELANIE LOUDEN

Everyone has their favourite – Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey, A View To A Kill by Duran Duran or Die Another Day by Madonna.

Entertainer Tim Beveridge has gathered all the Bond songs and a host of talented New Zealand singers for The Music is Bond ... James Bond.

The concert was first performed last year and was a huge hit.

Now Mr Beveridge is calling the performers together for one more Auckland show on November 5 before he heads to the United States where promoters have shown an interest in touring it.

Mr Beveridge, a singer and actor who has appeared on television screens and stages around the world, says he came up with the idea for the show while he was listening to a James Bond song.

“I was listening to some music and thought ‘wow, there’s some good songs in there’.

“I realised there were a lot – enough for a whole show.”

The St Heliers resident says the thought of taking the show to the US where there is nothing like this – is “hugely exciting”.

“I’ll be really satisfied if we get it to the States. It’s hard to get word out there that we have some amazing artists in New Zealand.”

Mr Beveridge says Bond music, sung by leading artists such as Tina Turner, Tom Jones and Paul McCartney, appeals to all generations and makes for a “spectacular show”.

The Music is Bond ... James Bond features a number of well- known New Zealand artists, such as Tina Cross, and newcomer Melissa Nordhaus who will be joined by the 20-piece Neophonic Orchestra.

Mr Beveridge, who conducts and sings during the show, says all the songs have a different feel to them. His favourite is Nobody Does It Better from the movie The Spy Who Loved Me “for the big power ballad”.

Mr Beveridge’s favourite movie is For Your Eyes Only, while his favourite James Bond actor is Sean Connery.

“Every man in his wildest dreams would love to be James Bond. But I think that’s why it’s so popular – it’s escapism.”

- The Music is Bond ... James Bond is at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, on November 5 at 8pm. For ticket information see www.ticketmaster.co.nz or call 970-9700.

- © Fairfax NZ News