HBOS Marketing Campaign HBOS Marketing Campaign In late 2000, UK bank Halifax began a long-running television advertisement campaign featuring staff singing popular songs with the words changed to reflect its financial services products. The campaign was the brainchild of DLKW Creative Directors Malcolm Green and Gary Betts, who had previously found fame when they launched the Gary Lineker Walkers Crisps campaign. Auditions were held and Halifax employee Howard Brown was selected by Green and Betts to spearhead the new advertising drive for the bank in 2000. Brown was the first and most frequently featured star of these adverts. His first advert saw him
The Adverts Understanding the band's limitations, the song's lyrics, composed by TV Smith, were likeably self-deprecating: I wonder what we’ll play for you tonight Something heavy or something light Something to set your soul alight I wonder how we’ll answer when you say ‘We don’t like you – go away Come back when you’ve learnt to play The Adverts were a prolific live act. Their first nationwide tour was with Stiff labelmates the Damned. The tour poster read: "The Adverts know one chord, the Damned know three. See all four at..." Later they would support Iggy Pop on tour, as well as