‘We’d watch the film together, and he’d pause the film at a certain point and say ‘Look at [that character's] face here. Write some music about that expression.’ Johnny Greenwood
Over the last few years I’ve discovered that musicians from some of my favourite bands have either collaborated or single-handedly scored films, some gaining critical success and awards.
When you take a look at this considerable list of names, you won’t be surprised by the musicians who have pursued the composition of music without words.
Mike Patton – Crank, Crank 2, A Perfect Place – YouTube interview with Mike Patton about his work on Crank
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) - The Social Network (collaboration with Atticus Ross), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (US version)
Neil Young – Where the Buffalo Roam, Dead Man
Air – The Virgin Suicides
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) – Into the Wild
Queen – Flash Gordon
Toto – Dune
Brian Eno – The Lovely Bones
David Byrne (Talking Heads) – The Last Emperor (Ryuichi Sakamoto), Young Adam, This Must Be the Place
Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead) – Bodysong, There Will be Blood, Norwegian Wood, We Need to Talk about Kevin - The Independent Interview with Greenwood about score work
“I think cinema has a unique appeal to musicians. The fact that, mostly, an audience will sit in the cinema quietly and listen to what you have done and that you have the audience’s attention is a great incentive. Music in films can move people in a way that is different to a song or gig.” David Arnold
Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy) – About a Boy
Daft Punk – Tron:Legacy
Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) – Local Hero, The Princess Bride, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Wag the Dog (and many others)
Cat Stevens – Harold and Maude
Johnny Marr (The Smiths) – The Big Bang, Colours, Mojo interview with Marr about his score work
‘Suddenly he was right on my shoulder, just like Frank from Blue Velvet, shouting in my ear: ‘Make it sound like the fucking cops!’ I immediately started making a sound with my guitar that I’d never been able to make before!’ Johnny Marr
Damon Albarn (Blur) – Ravenous (with Michael Nyman), Ordinary Decent Criminal, 101 Reykjavik (with Einar Örn Benediktsson), The Boy in the Oak
Nick Cave and Warren Elsis (Nick Cave and the Badseeds) – The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James, The Road, Lawless (all collaborations with Warren Ellis)
Clint Mansell (Pop Will Eat Itself) – Black Swan, Moon, The Wrestler, The Fountain, Pi, Sahara, Requiem For a Dream (and many more)
Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) – Lilly Was Here, Beautiful Girls, The Ref, Cookie’s Fortune, Alfie (new version, collaboration with Mick Jagger) – cool interview here about his scoring work
David Bowie – Buddha of Suburbia
Ry Cooder – Paris Texas, Crossroads, Last Man Standing, The End of Violence, Primary Colours, The Long Riders, Geronimo (and many more)
Tom Waits – Night on Earth, One from the Heart
Kevin Shields and Brian Reitzell – Lost in Translation
NME published an interview with Johhny Marr and Trent Reznor offering some insights as to the draw card scoring film can offer a rock musician.
