February 24, 2017

PRISONER SUPERGRASS

The Village from the 1960s cult TV classic, The Prisoner, has become the theme of the week, as more videos join XTC in the list of cool Portmeirion projects. The band Supergrass filmed this promo for Alright Personalizer in 1995. And this time, Spy Vibers are treated to footage shot all over Portmeirion. The video begins on the estuary sands during low tide and eventually moves into the Village proper, with scenes shot around many of the major buildings and sites in the main piazza and Battery Square. We even catch a glimpse of the miles of roads that lead to the entrance and wind through the woods around The Village. Thematically, the band also chose to root the video in the 1960s by being rolled through locations on a wheeled bed, referencing Richard Lester's The Knack... and How to Get It (1965) and The Monkees TV series (1966-1968). Seeing three guys goofing off on bikes also reminded me of a Goodies (1970-1982) vibe, albeit without the witty jump-cuts and cinematic illusions. Alright Personalizer had a following and reached #2 in the UK singles chart. According to some reports, Steven Spielberg thought Supergrass could even lead a new Monkees TV series. The band, who hailed from Oxford, continued on and off with group and solo projects since their success during the 1990s Britpop era. They split officially in 2010 after a series of farewell concerts. Their final album remains unreleased. Enjoy the video! Related posts: My Photographs of The Village 2015 and 2016, Prisoner XTCPrisoner XTC 2, DC Fontana Prisoner videoJaz Wiseman Interview, My London photos Filming The PrisonerThe Prisoner audio drama review by Alan Hayes, Set Countdown- The PrisonerPrisoner/Capt. Scarlet DebutBrian Gorman InterviewEric Milval Book 


Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 1966 Pep SpiesBatman Book InterviewExclusive Fleming InterviewAvengers Comic StripsRobert Vaughn RIPUNCLE FashionsThunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film GuideLost Avengers FoundThe Callan FileMission Impossible 50thGreen Hornet 50thStar Trek 50thPortmeirion Photography 1Filming the PrisonerGaiman McGinnins ProjectIan Fleming GraveRevolver at 50Karen Romanko InterviewMod Tales 2Umbrella Man: Patrick MacneeNew Beatles FilmThe Curious CameraEsterel Fashion 1966Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview007 Tribute CoversThe Phantom Avon novels returnIan Fleming FestivalArgoman DesignSylvia Anderson R.I.P.Ken Adam R.I.P.George Martin R.I.P.The New Avengers ComicsTrina Robbins InterviewThe Phantom at 80007 MangaAvengerworld BookDiana Rigg Auto ShowThe Prisoner Audio Drama ReviewDavid McCallum novelAndre Courreges R.I.P.Who's Talking on Spy VibeUFO Blu-rayAvengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes InterviewJaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI InterviewCasino Royale Interview: Mike RichardsonLost Diana Rigg InterviewHonor Blackman at 90UNCLE School.

2 comments:

  1. thanks for the discovery!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was sure the wheeled bed thing was a Goodies thing too.

    ReplyDelete