Band of the Coldstream Guards

History

The band of the Coldstream Guards was officially formed under the director of Music Major C.F. Eley on 16 May 1785.

The band received its first British bandmaster in 1835, Charles Godfrey.

On 18 June 1944 over one hundred twenty people were killed at Wellington Barracks when a German flying bomb hit the chapel. The director of the band was amongst the dead, prompting the appointment of Captain Douglas Alexander Pope.

In 1985, during the band's two hundredth anniversary year, the Coldstream Guards kicked off the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, performing "a fanfare composed by the Director of Music Lt Col Richard Ridings".

Two especially unusual performances took place in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the United States. On September 12, 2001, Queen Elizabeth II broke tradition and allowed the Coldstream Guards Band to perform The Star-Spangled Banner at Buckingham Palace, London, during the daily ceremonial Changing of the Guard. The following day at a St. Paul's Cathedral memorial service, the Queen herself joined in the singing of the American national anthem, an unprecedented occurrence. The Coldstream Guards played The Star-Spangled Banner again at Windsor Castle on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

On 30 July 2025, the band performed Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in tribute to Black Sabbath's co-founding member and frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who died eight days earlier at the age of 76, on the day of his funeral cortège in Aston, Birmingham.

Ensembles

There are several ensembles within the Band of the Coldstream Guards:

• Concert Band

• Marching Band

• Brass Quintet

• Jazz Trio

• Fanfares

• Woodwind Quintet
• 18th Century Band

Functions

The Coldstream Guards Band plays regularly for many events as part of the Massed Bands of the Household Division. Selected occasions that are most famous include:

• Beating Retreat
• Changing of the Guard
• The Festival of Remembrance
• Trooping the Colour
• Investitures
• State visits

Album and Record Deal

In June 2009 the band signed a record deal with Universal Music imprint Decca, reportedly worth £1 million. Their debut album 'Heroes' was released on 30 November 2009 and was nominated for Best Album of the Year for Classical Brits. The Band of the Coldstream Guards performed at the Classical Brits Awards gala at the Royal Albert Hall.

In media

In the closing credits of Dad's Army, the band played a instrumental march version of the theme tune, "Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?", conducted by Captain (later Lieutenant Colonel) Trevor L. Sharpe.

References

References

1. "Band of the Coldstream Guards". Coldstream Guards.
2. ''Pomp and Circumstance - The Band of the Coldstream Guards, A History 1685 - 2017''
3. "Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards - Royal Salute (Live Aid 1985)".
4. Graves, David. (2001-09-14). "Palace breaks with tradition in musical tribute". Telegraph.
5. Steyn, Mark (17 September 2001) The Queen’s Tears/And global resolve against terrorism. National Review Online.
6. "9/11 anniversary: U.S. anthem at UK's royal castle".
7. Henni, Janine. (31 July 2025). "King Charles' Guards Honor Ozzy Osbourne with a Rendition of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' Like You've Never Heard".
8. "Queen's guards sign to Decca". Complete Music Update.
9. (2010). "Popular Music and Television in Britain". Ashgate.