Battle of the Bands: only one winner
The Pinky Piglets from Japan. Photo courtesy of the organizers
Talent shows can be both appalling and entertaining. Sometimes they are both at the same time. It’s usually easy to spot the people profiting off the gimmicks – and they’re usually not those who’ve worked up the nerve to get on stage.
Then there’s the Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB), which invites genuine musicians from around the world to compete for USD 100,000. The competition begins with country challenges (Beijing heats take place at Yugong Yishan), at which a winner is selected to take part in the world challenge in London at the end of the year.
Before the rockin’ gets a-rollin’, the Beijinger had a chat with co-founder Matt Walker about the GBOB philosophy...
the Beijinger: How exactly did GBOB get started? What's the purpose/goal of the competition?
Matt Walker: My colleague Tore Lande had been organizing a very successful competition like this in Scandinavia for over 20 years. A-ha and Europe (of “Final Countdown” fame) both participated in his competition (Europe won, A-ha didn’t!). In 2003, he decided to take the competition global and contacted me to get involved. Our intention was to create an alternative to TV reality show-manufactured stars and provide a platform for real bands playing their own music. We have two main rules: no cover songs and no pre-recorded music – no karaoke! We had our first World Final in 2004.
Australia finalist Powerage
tbj: How successful have the winning bands been?
MW: All the winning bands have been successful in some way: 2004’s Second (Spain) was signed by Warner Brothers/Atlantic Records and EMI Publishing; 2005’s Kopek (Ireland) was signed by manager Thomas Valentino (who steered Kid Rock to fame) and produced by Danny Saber (U2, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, etc.); 2006’s Heavy Mojo (USA) was signed by Universal Records; 2007’s Boys In A Band (Faroe Islands) are about to sign an international record deal; and 2008’s Floors and Walls (England) is currently being produced by Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, etc.).
tbj: How do you think something like GBOB is different from something like, say, American Idol? Or is it much different?
MW: It’s very different. The two rules mentioned above ensure that.
tbj: What have been some of the funnier, entertaining, gutsier bands that you've seen since GBOB started?
MW: I particularly liked Drive Like Maria, whose first gig was in the GBOB challenge Netherlands. They won that and came second in the World Final in London, despite the bass cutting out for their first number and the guitarist breaking a string at the start of the second number (bands only play two numbers in the GBOB Challenge). They played on like professionals and have done well since – they have toured the USA and recently got the guest spot when AC/DC played the Amsterdam Arena on their world tour. It’s not just the winning bands that have greater success after taking part in GBOB.
Ladyfire from Faroes
tbj: Which countries have impressed or surprised you the most?
MW: All countries have surprised and impressed me. I just love the World Final – where else can you see 30 fantastic bands playing all styles of music live in just four or five hours?
tbj: What are the future plans of GBOB? Which countries do you hope to expand to in the future?
MW: We want all the countries in the world to participate.
tbj: How many bands compete in the final?
MW: There will be around 30 countries this year. One band from each country.
tbj: What are your judging criteria?
MW: We don’t believe in rigid guidelines for judging, such as so many points for stage presence, so many for musicianship etc. Instead we ask judges keep an open mind and to look for that special star quality that comes in many shapes and forms. We want the kind of competition that The Sex Pistols or Bob Dylan could have won.
The Beijing heats for GBOB begin on Sep 6 at YGYS . For more info and to register your band, visit www.gbob.com.
Thailand's Most Wanted
