Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins and The Struts’ Luke Spiller secretly wrote a James Bond song – but lost out to Billie Eilish
The Struts frontman Luke Spiller has revealed that he once made a James Bond song with late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
The latest instalment of the spy film franchise, No Time To Die, featured a theme tune of the same name by Billie Eilish. It was written by the singer alongside her brother and collaborator Finneas, and boasted contributions from Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr.
Eilish and Finneas won their first Oscar for the track, as well as picking up a Golden Globe and a Grammy. The single peaked at Number One in the UK.
During a recent interview with The Sun, The Struts’ lead singer said he had submitted a 007 song for No Time To Die, featuring Hawkins on drums. “I’ve always been obsessed with a lot of the Bond songs. I had a crack at it, but got beaten by Billie,” he told the newspaper.
“It’s a fantastic song. I called Taylor and we cut the drums in his home studio.”
Spiller went on to say that he would like the opportunity to be considered for the next Bond movie – which will see an as-yet-unannounced actor step in to replace Daniel Craig in the lead role.
He added: “Hopefully the people making the next Bond film can listen to my record and appreciate the potential I have to create an incredible Bond song. I’ve got another up my sleeve.”
Spiller concluded: “I’m waiting for the call because I know it’s going to happen.”
The frontman participated in the star-studded Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2022. He sang lead vocals on ‘We Will Rock You’ with Queen and Foo Fighters.
Back in 2018, The Struts were hailed by Dave Grohl as “the best opening band [Foo Fighters have] ever had”.
Earlier this year, Lana Del Rey revealed that she had initially written her ‘Honeymoon’ track ’24’ for the 2015 Bond film Spectre.
The eventual theme for that movie, Sam Smith‘s ‘Writing’s On The Wall’, became the first Bond theme to reach Number One in the UK. In 2015, Radiohead said they had been asked to write a track for that film and released their entry, also titled ‘Spectre’, for free.
“I was within a fucking gnat’s pube of doing [a Bond song], but then they changed directors, changed scripts and that was it all done,” he explained at the time. “I had started writing it. I’m not gonna pretend it didn’t hurt not doing it.”
Sheeran added: “I think eventually as an English singer you’ve got to eventually do a Bond song. If they come back I’ll be like, ‘Yeah yeah, of course’.”
That same year, Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders told NME that frontman Alex Turner had “definitely got a Bond theme in him”. “I’m sure it’s something we would still be interested in,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s officially been proposed.”
Elsewhere, Jack White recalled creating his Bond song ‘Another Way To Die’ – which was originally meant to feature Amy Winehouse – and called it “one of the most divisive things I’ve been a part of”.
Fraser T Smith expressed his desire to write a Bond theme in 2021, saying that “it’s time” for a rapper like Stormzy to take on the prestigious job.
Other artists to have recorded tracks for the hit film series over the years include Adele, Chris Cornell, Madonna, Paul McCartney & Wings, Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones.
In other James Bond news, Skyfall director Sam Mendes recently said he would not return to the franchise as the studio wanted “more controllable” filmmakers.
Meanwhile, The Struts recently wrapped up a run of UK headline shows in support of their fourth and latest studio album, 2023’s ‘Pretty Vicious’.
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