MOOG MICKY MONDAY

Greetings, Spy Vibers! It's been hot hot hot here in the Bay Area this weekend (My pad was 105F inside yesterday). But still plugging away. I've been spending the afternoons writing the Spy Vive book in my car with the A/C. I hope you all are doing well and staying safe. If you haven't checked out the Hermes Press 25% off sale, don't forget to check my last post for links and sale code. A friend and I were just connecting on-line about The Monkees, especially about the role Micky Dolenz played as main vocalist and the grounding, anchorman vibe he brought to the TV series, the movie, and the music. Micky once said that there were two Monkees bands: a fictional band within a TV show that struggled to make it in the biz and a band of performers who evolved into a recording/touring group. As this real group asserted more control of their creative efforts, they embraced their garage-band vibe and began to experiment and innovate in some interesting ways. The Monkees brought Jimi Hendrix with them on tour (I think he left after 7 shows- not his crowd) and they hung out with The Beatles. As essential as each member was, I always find myself watching Micky Dolenz as the charismatic center of the group. He was always so present and super engaged. My friend on-line today reminded me that Micky was also one of the first Moog synthesizer owners. Sure enough, a look at Moog's Twitter confirmed it: "Sept 15, 1967, the first Moog Synthesizer IIIp was shipped to Micky Dolenz." The new instrument would come in handy during their album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (released Nov. '67) and a track called Daily Nightly. The AV Club had this to say about it: “Daily Nightly” is widely considered the first use of the Moog on a rock recording, or at least the first one that most people heard, because it was broadcast on a national TV show. The Moog soon found its way onto albums like The Beatles’ Abbey Road, The Notorious Byrd Brothers by The Byrds, and Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends. For The Monkees, the experimental track helped move them from their Pre-fab Four status into the latter, trippy part of the decade on an album that showed that they offered more musical resonance than reruns." The LA Music Blog ran into Dolenz in 2009, who offered a few comments: “Ahh, my little Moog synthesizer. It was actually a pretty difficult thing to use. I threw a party for John Lennon one night, and he sat there at the Moog for four hours making flying saucer sounds. It was great for flying saucer sounds. I sold it to Bobby Sherman. I think he still has it." The Monkees had already been involved in interesting deconstructions of genre and form through their series, but they really pushed the envelope in 1968 with their feature film, Head, in collaboration with their (very hip) producers and Jack Nicholson. The film was released in the States by The Criterion Collection. Micky and Mike are the surviving members of The Monkees at this point and the two have been doing some fun projects together. Current tours are postponed, of course, but they recently released an album called The Mike and Micky Show Live. Collectors take note: You can still order the Super Deluxe 3CD Rhino Handmade edition of More of The Monkees on the band's website. Now, here's Micky and his Moog. Enjoy! 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Beetle Bailey 70th, RSD Spies Vinyl, Ian Fleming Tribute, Fellini Box Set, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta, The Saint Podcast Bonus, The Saint Podcast, Barber Lotus, Diana Rigg at 82, Trad Roots, Morricone R.I.P., Fleetway Spy Designs, John Steel Casebooks, Paul at 78, ITC Podcast: The Persuaders, Dazzle Ships, Spy Vibe Radio: Raumpatrouille, Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Soviet Space Graphics, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, John Barry Event, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, New Year Cosmonauts, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration, Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

60S OVERDRIVE

Ever since Spy Vibe reported that a new print of the film Tonight Let's All Make Love in London was being screened at the Royal Albert Hall my mind has been in overdrive, as it were, thinking about the shifts in culture around 1966-67. The Beatles pushed rock music into new territory through their experiments on Rubber Soul, Revolver, and on their groundbreaking studio masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper's  Lonely Hearts Club Band. Batman led a wave of Pop Art and camp on television, and the patriotic adventures of the Spy Boom began to expand into the counterculture. Revolution and mistrust were high (no pun intended) in the point of view of projects such as The Prisoner, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Head, and Danger Diabolik. The focus of the youth movement became more concerned with freedom, peace, pleasure, and consciousness. It's interesting that Pink Floyd, another EMI band, spoke about making music that was intended to be experienced, rather than enjoyed simply for melody. I like this Pink Floyd footage below, which was used on Granada television and featured their track Interstellar Overdrive (Doctor Strange movie fans might recognize the tune). I can't wait to see more footage once Tonight Let's All Make Love in London is released on Blu-ray. People were pushing into new territory in the final years of the sixties. Paul McCartney once summed up "psychedelic" as a word used by people to describe new things they didn't understand- an explanation that was repeated in the Granada piece below. Sean Lennon and Les Claypool have been keeping the eternal flame of experimentation and psychedelic music alive and they recently covered Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine on their Record Store Day EP, along with covers of King Crimson, The Who, and others. See video below. If Spy Vibers are interested in exploring the early Pink Floyd, check out the new CD series The Early Years 1965-1972. Casual fans can pick up individual volumes, each containing rare recordings and film/video, but there is also a massive set for serious fans and collectors. More info at Pink Floyd. The V&A in London also just launched a new immersive exhibit called Their Mortal Remains, which looks amazing. I can't wait to see the show and check out artifacts from the band's 1960s era. More info at V&A. I was never a huge Pink Floyd fan growing up; I often found their music music a bit too jammy and depressing. But I must say I quite enjoy the early era with Syd Barrett. Does anyone else hear strains of Piper at the Gates of Dawn in Blur's Britpop albums? Fun stuff all around! By the way, stay tuned for cool Beatles news!  Spy Vibers, have you heard my new radio show with Cocktail Nation? Episode #3 is coming up and I'll be talking about On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here are info links for Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim). Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Fahrenheit 451 50th, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.