King of the Bees is the latest musical project from San Francisco singer-songwriter Bob Hillman. Originally, King of the Bees was envisioned as a ‘secret’ band, with mystery surrounding its members. However, it didn’t work out that way, partly because knowing the personnel who have contributed is actually a big plus; this is a talented group. Featuring guitar from Trevor Menear, who plays with Dawes, and drums from Pete Thomas, best known for his work with singer Elvis Costello, King of the Bees have created dynamic songs with melody at their heart. In Interesting Friends, Thomas’s percussion bounces with energy, and Menear supplies a tuneful solo that rises naturally from the song’s rhythm and flow. Over Jonny Flaugher’s bass and Peter Adams’ keys, Hillman delivers a smooth vocal performance that hooks you into his catchy tones.
Hillman says of the theme behind Interesting Friends: “I heard a variation on the ‘you made some interesting friends while I was gone’ refrain somewhere, but I can’t remember where. Most likely I read it in a book, turned it over in my head for a while, and came up with my own simple story. It’s not that deep, as my kids would say, except maybe for the subtle implication that the woman is hanging out with right-leaning ideologues. There’s also the sense that the singer’s sincere and really wants to make the relationship work, which is not how my stories usually go.”
Interesting Friends follows previous single, The Invisible World, from the King of the Bees EP. The 6-song collection was originally tracked during the Covid-19 period, and all the artists recorded themselves at home. Then, it took years to get the songs mixed as everyone involved busied themselves with other projects and bands. Finally, the songs are ready, with a focus on rock energy, melodic hooks and words worth paying attention to. Check it out on 14th August 2026.
