The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word STRIPS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
T
R
I
P
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Bands" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case bands = strips.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STRIPS mean?
STRIPS noun- The act of removing one's clothes; a striptease.
- (of games) Denotes a version of a game in which losing players must progressively remove their clothes.
- To remove or take away, often in strips or stripes.
- (usually intransitive) To take off clothing.
- To perform a striptease.
- To take away something from (someone or something); to plunder; to divest.
- To remove cargo from (a container).
- To remove (the thread or teeth) from a screw, nut, or gear, especially inadvertently by overtightening.
- To fail in the thread; to lose the thread, as a bolt, screw, or nut.
- To remove color from hair, cloth, etc. to prepare it to receive new color.
- To remove all cards of a particular suit from another player. (See also strip-squeeze.)
- To empty (tubing) by applying pressure to the outside of (the tubing) and moving that pressure along (the tubing).
- To milk a cow, especially by stroking and compressing the teats to draw out the last of the milk.
- To press out the ripe roe or milt from fishes, for artificial fecundation.
- To run a television series at the same time daily (or at least on Mondays to Fridays), so that it appears as a strip straight across the weekly schedule.
- To pare off the surface of (land) in strips.
- To remove the overlying earth from (a deposit).
- To pass; to get clear of; to outstrip.
- To remove the metal coating from (a plated article), as by acids or electrolytic action.
- To remove fibre, flock, or lint from; said of the teeth of a card when it becomes partly clogged.
- To pick the cured leaves from the stalks of (tobacco) and tie them into "hands".
- To remove the midrib from (tobacco leaves).