Battle of the Ad Bands: The official announcement

It’s that time of year again: time to dust off your drum kit, locate your special pole-dancing undies, and bring your purple spandex out of storage.

CAANZ CEO Rick Osborne reckons Elvis is back in the building. Some say he never left. (Elvis, not Rick.)

The third annual Battle of the Ad Bands is gearing up and agencies are already practicing (ahem, OMD).

Finalists will go on stage at the King’s Arms in Auckland on August 19.

Band registrations will open on July 16 at 10am at www.botab.co.nz. It’ll cost you $250 to register. (Hit up your boss for the cash to enter. If you’re at the Backslash, enter several bands – Uncle Devo’s good for the dosh.)

The catch is, there are only 12 spots, due to sheer darn popularity. So be sure to be at the computer ready to bash that site at 10am on the dot.

Registrations will close on July 30, or when full.

Judges are yet to be announced, but Mr Ozzie Osborne said if the previous two years are anything to go by, there’ll be some “pretty mint prizes” to be won.

"Dialogue continues with some of New Zealand’s musical and media heavyweights for the much-coveted BOTABs judging positions."

CAANZ also has a new rule this year to mix things up a bit. (Stay tuned.)

Ad Hoc hears OMD is practicing hard, and Ogilvy is looking to bash a few instruments after its band The Hathaways came close to the top last year.

Ogilvy PR rocker Brendan Boughen confirmed the band would enter, although it had lost some key talent – such as ECD Jeremy Taine – since last time around.

"We've started practicing already, and even played our first gig with the new lineup last week at the first of Film Construction's Winter Jam nights," Mr Boughen told NBR.

"We are planning a ruthless and relentless set for BOTAB 3 that we hope will improve on our second placing last year."

The competition is sure to be fierce. Will TBWA make a massive comeback after it was dethroned by 99 last year? Who will have the naughtiest name? Where did all the pole dancers go? Will Barnes Catmur get wild on some matching shirts? You know it.

Once you’ve determined your band name, your outfits, and your scale out of 10 of how hard you reckon you can rock, contact adhoc@nbr.co.nz. We’re all ears. Well, not entirely. Can't leave out nose, mouth, heads, shoulders knees and toes.

99's Account Dracula rocks it off the chain at the 2009 Battle of the Ad Bands.