Elbow to soundtrack 2012 BBC Olympic coverage


Photo by Philip Cosores

Though Elbow had finally reached a decent level of success in the United States, it is nowhere near the level they have achieved back home in the UK. The group has won a Mercury Prize and a BRIT award for best English band in 2010, and now, a new kind of honor has been bestowed on the band: they are soundtracking the 2012 London Olympic games.

Elbow are currently in the final stages of completing a bespoke (or “custom,” in American) musical composition that will accompany BBC coverage leading up to the games, as well as the games themselves. As this year has been the celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary, this duty is clearly the icing on the cake, with singer Guy Garvey noting “We are knocked out to be involved and it’s been quite a challenge. We have feelings of real responsibility as we will be the soundtrack to so many images of personal sacrifice and endeavour while the nation roots for and celebrates with Team GB.”

We’ll keep you posted when this music comes to the surface. But, at least we know it will be summer at the latest.