CRAZY WORLD OF THE YOUNG

The Spy Boom in the 1960s spawned a world of copycat movies made on shoestring budgets hoping to cash in on the Bond-wagon. Toward the end of the wave came this interesting curiosity: The Crazy World of the Young (El mundo loco de los jóvenes/1967). Written and directed by Jose Maria Fernandez Unsain, the film was produced in Mexico and centered around a spy who used a rock band as a cover. I love this premise, of course. What better way to celebrate the impact of cultural elements such as the Cold War and the pop music scene! Music fans will spot the obligatory Hofner and Rickenbacker guitars popularized by The Beatles. And as we've seen in spy films that took place in the world of fashion and photography, the traveling life of the musician made for a great plot device. The movie starred Mexican band Los Dug Dug's, who had come to Mexico City in 1966 to seek their fortune. After stints playing clubs like 2+2 and Hullaballoo, their career began to take off with some recording contracts and songs for television. The coolest aspect of the movie trailer, though, is the playful depiction of TV studios, clubs and dancers- not to mention these great cat costumes! Popular dance TV shows like Shindig and Hullabaloo may have ended in 1966, but The Crazy World of the Young showed that the world was not yet ready to leave those Mod hoofers behind. Below: movie trailer and cat-costume image from the film. I've also included images and a comic promoting 5 de Fresca y 1 de Chocolate (1967), starring Los Dug Dug's and Angelica Maria. Note Angelica Maria's hooded outfit is quite similar to a fashion design I created a few years ago for the star of my upcoming spy novel, Miki Zero. Thanks to Agent K and Jhalal Drut for putting these movies on my radar. Enjoy! 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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 Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

GO GO LUNCHBOX

Here's a little something for the budding Go Go Dancer on your holiday list. The Go-Go Brunch Bag was produced by Alladin in 1966-1967 and featured both bag and box variations with thermos- all sporting a design with trendy white boots, slim slacks, sweater, and short skirt. The design arrived during the run of the popular Hullabaloo (1965-1966) and Shindig (1964-1966) variety shows, and almost a year after the Hollywood A Go-Go program left the air. The culture was gaga for Go Go, tuning in regularly to see the Shin-diggers (featuring a young Teri Garr), the Hullabaloo Dancers, the Gazzarri Dancers, and to catch numbers by choreographers David Winters (Viva Las Vegas, The Monkees)) and Toni Basil (Talking Heads, David Bowie, Bette Midler). Even a peanut butter sandwich would have seemed groovy cradled inside these cool lunch accessories. Enjoy! Related posts: Gazzarri Dancers, Bo Diddley A Go Go. 

Selected Spy Vibe posts: Road to Hong Kong, Inside Gerry Anderson, Ringo Does Goldfinger, Sixties Beat Wear, SPECTRE Announced, Popular Skullture, New Gerry Anderson Sets, New SECRET AGENT set, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Modesty Monday, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, Home Movies, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Designing Bond Books, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

SHAKE IT UP

Let's shake it up, Spy Vibers! Here are a few classic tracks to get your week started courtesy of Donna Loren on Shindig (1965), Johnny Kid & the Pirates (1960), The Twiliters in a slightly awkward scene from Milano Calibro 9 (1972), The Beatles at the Star Club (1962), Jerry Lee Lewis at the Star Club (1964), and The Lords reunited at the Star Club (2012). Shakin' All Over (4 versions), The Hippy Hippy Shake, and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On. Enjoy! You got a fave 'shake' tune?

Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, Japanese fashion model and spy! The creator of Spy Vibe has written a novel called Elevator Girl, inspired by his love of Ian Fleming and based on newly declassified intel from the Cold War. More info at Whiton's website here. Recent Spy Vibe posts: Peter Asher, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute, Ian Fleming memorial, Emma Peel Megaset returns, Bo Diddley here. 

Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address

CULT DVD SALE

The Video Beat! has extended their holiday discount sale. Check out their line of hard to find DVDs that cover cult and retro genres like Rock n Roll, Jazz, beatniks, bikers, spies, monsters, surf, cars, Mods, fashion, commercials, and more! Here are the deals and sale codes: Buy 2, get 25% off (code: save25), but 3, get 30% off (code: save30), buy 4, get 35% (code: save35), buy 10, get 40% off (code: save40), buy 15, get 45% off (code: save45), buy 20, get 50% off (code: save50). See recent posts for video clips.

VIDEO BEAT

Grab your Go Go boots and get the band plugged in! A reminder to Spy Vibers to check the cool listings of rare treasures at Video Beat- a great place to build your library of 1960s Go Go Dancers and performances on shows like Beat Club, Beat Beat Beat, Big Beat '65, Shindig!, Ready Steady Go, Hollywood A Go-Go, The!!!! Beat, Shivaree, and Hullabaloo. Video Beat is offering black Friday sales today, and they also offer discount codes when you sign up. Visit The Video Beat. What do these shows look like? Here's one of my fave scenes from Hollywood A Go Go with Bo Diddley!

THE MONKEES: SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COOL

One of best episodes of The Monkees, The Spy Who Came in From the Cool (1966), is a surreal send-up of spy boom conventions. The band is recruited to bait some foreign agents with microfilm and capture their confession of espionage on tape. In typical mid-60s fashion, the plot quickly explodes into a madcap, disco dance scene- complete with karate-chop dance moves. Didn't we see that on Get Smart a while back here on Spy Vibe? In fact, The Monkees do parody Maxwell Smart in the episode. I enjoy this particular clip for the obligatory gadget-training sequence. If you view The Monkees (1966-68) with the right context, thinking about youth culture, improvisation, surreal humor, pop culture, and catchy tunes written by some of the best songwriters of the era, it's really quite a fun show to re-visit.


Perhaps even more interesting is their feature film, Head (1968), which was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD by the Criterion Collection. Reflective of the later 1960s, the band, the film's producers, and Jack Nicholson, pushed toward satire of fame and entertainment and, now free from TV constraints, anti-war commentary. The serious tones of the film, which started with a leap from a bridge into a watery abyss, shocked the teenybopper viewers expecting to see more of the mainstream hi-jinx from the TV show. The film was essentially the band's grand finale as screen idols. The times were changing and there was no going back to playing lovable moptops for the masses. I think that happened to another band around the same time! The guys all went on to other projects, including a few reunions. It's not Spy Vibe in style, but I do recommend Davey Jones' recent recording of the song Your Personal Penguin by illustrator, Sandra Boynton. It's wonderful! The Monkees were originally launched by Don Kirschner. Kirscnher passed away on January 17th at the age of 76. For a very in-depth interview with the band members and producers of Head, see issue #19 of the fabulous Shindig! magazine.

BO WEEK: SHINDIG

Bo Diddley Week continues with a fantastic live performance by Bo and The Duchess on Shindig! August 18, 1965. This was the year of the spy boom, The Beatles' HELP!, and as Spy Vibers have seen over this past week, an era that offered a lot of live TV coverage for our man BO! One venue was the musical variety show, Shindig! (1964-1966) hosted by disc jockey Jimmy O'Neill. This appearance features the rowdy, rhythmic explosion of Give Me a Break, followed by You Can't Judge a Book By its Cover. Bo and The Duchess are once again decked out with space age guitars and a dynamic duo vibe. Check out the back of the stage for a line of swingin' Go Go dancers!