June 28, 2013

LOST AVENGERS AUDIO SETS

Dr. Keel, we're needed! Long before Avenger John Steed was partnered with Emma Peel and Cathy Gale (played by Diana Rigg and Honor Blackman- both left to do James Bond films), he was the shadowy partner of Dr. David Keel (played by Ian Hendry). Although some of those early programs have been released, many remain missing. Fans of Doctor Who may be familiar with the syndrome, as it was once common practice to wipe studio tapes. Much of early television in the UK was shot on video and remains lost forever. If only they knew about the future of syndication, home video release, and streaming content back then. Big Finish Productions has been filling the gaps by producing outstanding audio adaptations of early Doctor Who shows. Now the company has set their sights on lost episodes of The Avengers



Big Finish is working with Studio Canal to resurrect twelve lost episodes of The Avengers from the Keel/Steed era. The audio productions will be based on the original scripts and they plan to release three 4-disc sets. Big Finish's David Richardson has said that they are looking forward to recreating the lost stories and are hoping to officially announce the cast soon, which may include some high-profile actors in lead roles. The first set is due January of 2014 and will be available in CD and download editions. Great news for fans of The Avengers!


Spy Vibe is having a giant Summer Sale! Items include First Editions of Fleming, Gardner, Deighton, Rare Large-Print 007 editions, Raymond Benson, Gulyashki, Man From UNCLE, Beatles, Corgi, music items and CDs, and More! Save with combined shipping. Head over to eBay for details here. Happy collecting, fellow Spy Vibers!

Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links
Jon GilbertRaymond BensonJeremy DunsPeter LorenzDavid FosterRob MallowsRoger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming ShortMatt Sherman. 

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

June 27, 2013

FOR YOUR SHELF ONLY: BOND VEHICLES

Spy Vibe agent J Kraus of Auto Universum has uncovered an interesting French forum devoted to scale replicas of James Bond vehicles. In a very extensive backlog of posts, you can find cool models of virtually every vehicle that has appeared in the series. You will find not only impressive shots of collectors' shelves, but some nifty macro photos that bring some of the toys to life. I've always wanted to do a macro series of 007 dioramas, and these images shot against their box art remind me to take up the challenge someday soon. Here are a few that stood out as I browsed through the first thirty pages. Can you name the scenes? Forum link here.






Spy Vibe is having a giant Summer Sale! Items include Ian Fleming James Bond FEL editions, First Editions of Fleming, Gardner, Deighton, Amis, Rare Large-Print 007 editions, Raymond Benson, Gulyashki, Man From UNCLE, Beatles, Corgi, Fleetway Super Spies, music items and CDs, and More! Save with combined shipping. Head over to eBay for details here. Happy collecting, fellow Spy Vibers!


Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links
Jon GilbertRaymond BensonJeremy DunsPeter LorenzDavid FosterRob MallowsRoger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming ShortMatt Sherman. 

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

June 21, 2013

SPY VIBE SALE!!


Spy Vibe is having a giant Summer Sale! Items include Ian Fleming James Bond FEL editions, First Editions of Fleming, Gardner, Deighton, Amis, Rare Large-Print 007 editions, Raymond Benson, Gulyashki, Man From UNCLE, Beatles, Corgi, Fleetway Super Spies, music items and CDs, and More! Save with combined shipping. Head over to eBay for details here. Happy collecting, fellow Spy Vibers!

Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links
Jon GilbertRaymond BensonJeremy DunsPeter LorenzDavid FosterRob MallowsRoger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming ShortMatt Sherman. 

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

June 20, 2013

007 ROBOT & BATMAN ARCHIVE

The first week of summer break has been filled with work on book projects. Edits continue on my forthcoming spy novel, Miki Zero, and I've been working on a new comic-related non-fiction ebook (more details later!). I've also been enjoying some R&R, feeding my vintage Batman obsession by building up the ultimate archive of fine art, pop art, artifacts, and comic imagery devoted to The Batman on Pinterest. If you love the classic Caped Crusader, are nostalgic for the movies, animated series and TV show, or are looking forward to the new Batman 66 comic and toys, check out my Pinterest board here. You'll find artful Dark Knight, from vintage painted cards and Japanese manga, to Andy Warhol and limited prints and sculpture. Here's a teaser collage with some samples.


While searching for old tin toys from Japan, I came across this cool one-of-a-kind treasure. According to the artist, he painted a Space Walk Man with a Robby the Robot reproduction head and then inserted a vintage Sean Connery image (vintage Japanese toys in this style had human faces). Ingenious! If these were ever produced, what Spy Viber wouldn't want their own James Bond Robot? I know some of our For Your Shelf Only series contributors sculpted movie props, but have any of you ever crafted your own toys or collectibles like this? If you could have a talking version of this robot, what Sean Connery dialog would you program into it?


Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links
Jon GilbertRaymond BensonJeremy DunsPeter LorenzDavid FosterRob MallowsRoger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming ShortMatt Sherman. 

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

June 19, 2013

BOND GIRL MARVEL MASHUP

Here is something I would have loved when I was a kid! Freelancer Bill Walko has created a series of images that mash characters from Marvel Comics up with Bond Girl iconography. Entitled The Women of Marvel/Shaken and Stirred, Spy Vibers will recognize the design motif inspired by Michael Gilette's book covers. The first three are perhaps the most widely known characters and Walko shows a humorous undercurrent by pairing them with specific Fleming titles that relate to their character arcs. Happy Wednesday (new comic book day), Spy Vibers! 

Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in PeanutsRalph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.


Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

June 18, 2013

PAUL MCCARTNEY AT 71

Paul McCartney's friend and collaborator, Barry Miles, summed up their early years by saying, "I think of the 60s as a supermarket of ideas. We were looking for new ways to live." If Swinging London in the 1960s represented a hurricane of cultural revolution, McCartney was in the eye of the storm. On his 71st birthday, Spy Vibe looks back at the art of Paul McCartney. Photo below in true space-age fashion by Richard Avedon.

Paul McCartney was born seventy-one years ago today. His mother Mary (as in "mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom") was a nurse. His father, James, was an amateur musician. He had his own "Jim Mac's Jazz Band" back in the hot jazz days, and he brought Paul and younger brother Mike up with an appreciation for all kinds of music. The family listened closely to old 78 records and the radio, and McCartney developed a keen ear and passion to make music of his own. After a brief interlude with a trumpet that his dad gave him, he was inspired by the skiffle craze to pick up the guitar. He swapped his horn for a Framus Zenith acoustic model. It wasn't until he saw an image of Slim Whitman that he realized he could restring the instrument backwards for easier playing as a lefty. As Lonnie Donegan belted out Rock Island Line and other skiffle hits, McCartney wrote his first tunes, including When I'm Sixty-Four. In 1956, Paul found his "messiah" Elvis Presley. With Elvis, the floodgates of Rock came rushing in with the likes of Fats Domino, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and the Everly Brothers. Photo of young McCartney playing guitar in his yard by brother Mike McCartney (The Scaffold).


McCartney's childhood friend, Ivan Vaughan (also born on June 18th), brought him to the Woolton County Fete on July 6, 1957, where he formally met John Lennon for the first time. The two of them shared a love for Rock n Roll, especially two rockabilly cats that would tour England quite a bit in those early years, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent (Vincent seen below with Paul and John in matching leather gear). As the story goes of that first meeting, McCartney impressed Lennon with Cochran's Twenty-Flight Rock and Lennon played Vincent's Be-Bop-A-Lula for the first time on stage. McCartney soon joined Lennon's band and history followed with Hamburg, The Cavern, world tours, Sgt. Pepper's, Abbey Road, and beyond.


Although the movie A Hard Days Night created an on-screen persona of McCartney as the cute, crooning Beatle, history shows that McCartney and Lennon belted out rockers and ballads equally. McCartney's musical background did broaden his pallet to include jazz and show tune-influenced songs, which Lennon called Paul's "granny music". And although Lennon embraced avant-garde projects in the later 1960s, it is not as well-known that McCartney was a cultural trailblazer for the group in the mid-1960s. While his band mates moved out to the suburbs, McCartney stayed in Swinging London to feed his appetite for new avenues of creativity. See below for more on experimental projects. Here is a sample of one of my favorite McCartney pop tracks from the London days, Paperback Writer, which is fueled by his infectious Epiphone guitar groove.


While juggling the busy Beatles schedule, McCartney was a man about town, soaking up inspiration from all corners of the arts. He helped Barry Miles start the underground London paper, International Times, and they attended happenings at the Roundhouse with performances by Beat Poets and The Pink Floyd. McCartney began to attend film screenings and to make his own experimental films (his footage was later stolen). He also became fascinated with John Cage and the creation of tape loops and sound collages, which he called "electronic symphonies." He facilitated Lennon's contribution of his hand-written lyrics to The Word, Yoko Ono's book of graphic scores for John Cage. And McCartney helped to renovate and set up the Indica Gallery (Miles and McCartney shown below at Indica), where Lennon later met Yoko Ono. Moving with the in-crowd in Swinging London, it would prove to be one of the most creatively fertile periods for both McCartney and The Beatles.


McCartney's passion for experimentation fed back into a number of Beatles projects, including the seagull-sounding tape loops on Tomorrow Never Knows, The Sgt. Pepper's concept album, the formation of an Apple subsidiary label devoted to poetry (including William S Burroughs) and experimental music, and the Magical Mystery Tour film. McCartney later teamed with Sgt. Pepper's cover artist Peter Blake, Super Furry Animals, and others on an interesting album called Liverpool Sound Collage (2000). Here's is the track Free Now, which contains samples from Beatles sessions.


Paul McCartney has continued to explore mainstream and experimental projects each year since The Beatles disbanded in 1970. In the last twenty years, he has released many classical music compositions, new electronic experiments, an anthology of poetry (including a memorial to childhood pal, Ivan), and exhibited a large body of work as a painter. How does he manage it? If lifestyle is any clue to his output, jogging, family, laughter, music, and being meat-free seem to be the top of the list. Spy Vibers will, of course, celebrate McCartney's addition to the world of James Bond with his theme to Live and Let Die. Others may also applaud him for his Swinging London style. It all comes back, however, to his deepest roots- music. That kid playing guitar in the photo above is still driven by a love of music and performing- a love that shines through during his epic three-hour concerts. Spy Vibers can see for themselves during his current tour. In recent years, McCartney has mentioned an interest in making another tape-loop project. I'd love to contribute (I did get to make a re-mix and film for Yoko Ono a few years back). Happy Birthday, Paul. Many Happy Returns from Jason at Spy Vibe.


Photos from Getty Images, Richard Avedon, Mike McCartney, and press archives. If you are interested in seeing more of Paul McCartney's experimental work, here are some favorite essentials:

Albums

Working Classical (1999)

Run Devil Run (1999)

Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest (1993)

Rushes (1998)

Liverpool Sound Collage (2000)

Electronic Arguments (2008)

Ballad of the Skeletons (Allen Ginsberg/1996)

Hiroshima Sky is Always Blue (unreleased/w Yoko Ono/1995)

Good Evening New York City (2009) 
Kisses on the Bottom (2012)



Movies

Beatles Anthology (1995)
Live At the Cavern Club (2001)

Wingspan (2001)

The Real Buddy Holly Story (2004)

My Old Friend (1998)

Paul McCartney Live in Red Square (2005)

Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

Music and Animation Collection (2004)
Live Kisses (2012)



Books

The Unknown Paul McCartney (2002)

Many Years From Now (1998)

The Complete Beatles Chronicle (2010)

Paul McCartney Paintings (2000)
Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999 (2001)

The British Invasion (2009)


I have a spy novel coming out. Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! More info at Jason Whiton's website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archiveCold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangersChristopher LeeBettie PageDashiell HammettMiles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE mangaOrson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in PeanutsRalph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.


Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!