Ongoing History Daily: The story behind the Better Call Saul theme
When Breaking Bad ended, Better Call Saul stepped into the gap. When the show was greenlit, showrunner Vince Gilligan started looking for someone to write a theme song.
He found his guy in Barrie Cadogan, an English guitar player who has played with Liam Gallagher, Primal Scream, and Morrissey. He was also the co-founder of a cult-y group called Little Barrie, which somehow had come to the attention of the Better Call Saul people.
The mission was formidable: Write a memorable theme song that fit the vibe of the show and could be cut to 20 seconds for the beginning of each episode. Cadogan submitted 29 examples, recorded with Virgil Howe, the late son of Yes guitarist Steve Howe.
When it was all over, submission number seven of 29 was picked. He’s now making regular royalties from all runs of Better Call Saul.
