JOHN LENNON REMEMBERED

It was thirty years ago today that we lost John Lennon. I remember the day well. I was away at boarding school in Vermont. The daily trek up a steep field to campus was getting easier. Our dining hall was massive and barn-like, with post and beam exposed wood. Giant windows looked south toward campus, and on the north side, toward a stunning view of rolling hills and apple orchards. As I passed the double doors that led into the kitchen, I spotted the little chalk board at the opposite end of the room by the stove. One of the cook's must have heard the news on the radio. It was just a brief message that John had died. Was it a joke? Or maybe some kind of stunt? For a few seconds, I couldn't really accept the news. But then I heard that our classmate and friend, a nephew of Yoko's, had rushed away to be with family. I remember that all of us spent the day in a kind of shock, thinking of our friend's loss and trying to fathom the greater loss to the world.


Remember John today. What was your first encounter with John Lennon as artist or activist? Do you remember the first time you heard his voice? What was the song? The first record I ever owned (that wasn't a children's album), was The Beatles Help. A friend of my dad's passed it down to me. I'm sure I heard the Let it Be album before this, but my first real memory of listening to his songs is playing Help over and over as a 5 or 6 year old. I had the US soundtrack version with the "James Bond" intro to the title track. Maybe that single experience is responsible for both The Beatles and James Bond in my life now? I also recall my imagination being really sparked by the photography on the record jacket, and later by the music and fashion in the film. There was something about that mid-1960s period that caught my eye then, and it continues to seduce me. And of course, I've spent the rest of my life learning about John's work and ideas. His impact on people and culture around the globe is unmeasurable.


Rolling Stone has printed their last interview with John. The website has a digital companion page to the piece, where you can access additional content, including video and audio files. Yoko encourages us to do something positive today. She has also shared a nice memory of having tea and enjoying daily life with John on her website. She invites others to contribute. Yoko Ono site here. My sound/film collage tribute to John and my experimental film/re-mix for Yoko Ono on my Youtube channel here. Read Spy Vibe's article about the surreal/satire boom in 1960s UK (with John Lennon!) here. Portrait still from Help! from the Beatles Photo blog here.

MRS PEEL, WE'RE STREAMING

Saving the world in style- on the internet. Fans of The Avengers who are looking for new ways to catch John Steed, Emma Peel, and Tara King in action will be happy to hear that Netflix now offers streaming episodes of the 1967 season (Diana Rigg) and the 1968 season (Linda Thorson). Spy Vibers with a Netflix account can now watch unlimited episodes at a low cost, including classics like Return of the Cybernauts (Peter Cushing), The Living Dead, Never Never Say Die (Christopher Lee), and Fog. Hopefully we will see additional seasons added to their on-line content. If you know a budding Spy Viber who has never seen The Avengers, this may be a good way to pass this cult classic on to a new generation.


In the mood for more stylish adventure? Check out Spy Vibe's fashion articles Peeling Off the Trench Coats and Mods to Moongirls. Spy Vibe's Jason Whiton goes Nehru here. Cold War Fear & Fashion here.

BO DIDDLEY: FLASHBACK

Enjoy the start to your week with a Spy Vibe flashback. Last summer we celebrated the signature beat of Bo Diddley and looked at how his partnership with female musicians and his choice of guitars echoed the women's liberation movement and space-age designs of the early-mid 1960s. Grab your Gretsch Jupiter, hop on that scooter, and let's go for a ride!

Meet Bo Diddley & the Duchess
Space Age Guitars
Road Runner
Hey Bo Diddley
Shindig
The Duchess & Liberation

Spy Vibers interested in seeing more about Shindig, Hollywood a Go Go, and Go Go dancers should check out the Spy Vibe archives from June 2010. Shake it up.

LAND OF THE GIANTS: PRICE DROP

Heads up to fans of Irwin Allen's cult 1960s TV shows (Lost in Space, Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea): The incredible box set of the complete Land of the Giants series has dropped in price on Amazon. The set is currently around $120 (down from its usual price around $230). The package design is similar to the U.N.C.L.E. DVD set in that the box takes on a thematic form based on the series. In this case, a small cage that shows our lilliputian heroes trapped inside. Reviews state that the transfers are excellent (individual episodes can be purchased for streaming), and the box contains a huge collection of vintage-style memorabilia and bonus features. Spy Vibe recommends! Amazon page here. For more Irwin Allen fun, check out the fantastic books from Hermes Press, including reprints of 1960s Gold Key comics and behind-the-scenes coffee table books. Hermes website here. In addition, be on the lookout for the January 11th release of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Season Four, volume 2 on DVD (Amazon page here).

JAMES BOND DRINKS

James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, was famous for his enthusiasm for the finer things in life, especially the sensory experiences of food and drink. His novels are filled with descriptive moments where 007 takes note of the quality of a fine blend and the alchemy of a gourmet menu. As a reader and viewer, I've found these details fascinating, and I appreciate the function they serve in creating the Bond character. 007 has a developed palate and an eye for good-taste, qualities that make him a fun agent to hang out with. He is exacting and decisive. "Shaken- not stirred." His choices echo the prowess he shows as a spy and man of action/romance. Though my tastes lean more toward the fashion, architecture, gadgetry, and design of Fleming's creation, Keith at Teleport City has written an interesting article about the particular role that alcohol has played in the world of James Bond. Check it out here.

007 LIMITED EDITION PRINTS

My fellow COBRAS blog, Illustrated 007, has posted many amazing images from the world of James Bond. Its archives are like a virtual museum of Bond art and artists. Today our man Peter at the blog alerted us to the special news that illustrator, Robert McGinnis has a series of limited edition signed prints for sale. McGinnis is perhaps most well-known among Spy Vibers for his poster illustrations for the 007 film, Thunderball (1965), as well as poster art for Barbarella (1968) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). If you ever fantasized about having signed classic 007 images by the master himself, now is your chance.


There are a few Thunderball-related illustrations and more to explore. Each 17x23 print from the Hollywood Edition is around $210. Collectors who order two or more prints receive an additional sketch print by McGinnis that shows some of his process. From what Peter has shown from his collection, I can say that these are very beautiful illustrations that evoke iconic, 1960s Spy Vibe elements of secret agents, seduction, fashion, and mystery/adventure thrills. Did I mention spy girls with spear guns? Alert for younger readers: illustrations do contain nudity. Details about the Robert McGinnis Hollywood Edition here.

CHRISTIE'S: JAMES BOND WALTHER AIR GUN

Although Christie's was disappointed that the Darth Vader costume from Empire Strikes Back failed to sell recently, the auction house realized a higher price than was anticipated for what arguably is the most iconic gun in movie history: James Bond's Walther air pistol. Before you stop in confusion, Spy Viber's actually know this piece very well- even if not by name- as the gun used in all of the promotional images for From Russia With Love (1963) starring Sean Connery. How many spy fans have struck that classic pose: one hand tucked under an elbow with pistol (or pistol-fingers) aloft? Christie's sold the original piece in a very lovely Walther gun case on November 25th for $437,501 (estimated value was $23,730-$31,640). Bond really is bigger than ever!



From Christie's: "The original vendor, who was commissioned to shoot the images required for the publicity campaign for the second Bond film From Russia With Love, explains in his accompanying letter that ...it was decided that for the main image in the poster and advertising campaign what was required was a strong portrait of Sean Connery as Bond 007, with his Walther pistol... He explains further that when Connery arrived at his studio for the shoot, it was discovered by publicist Tom Carlile that no one had brought the gun needed for the shoot, the synonymous small Walther automatic [Walther PPK]. By chance the photographer practiced air pistol target shooting as a hobby and had the gun he used for this purpose, also a Walther, at the studio..." For more information about this historic prop, visit Christie's here.

Spy Vibe brief on the fashion of silencers and iconic clips here.

NETWORK SALE

In the world of cult spy and adventure TV, the UK distributor and on-line shop, Network, is the oasis that fans have been looking for all their lives. Similar to A&E in the States, Network has been consistently releasing box sets of television series, but they often push their productions further to include high-quality transfers- and to go the extra distance by making available many sets of rare music cues and soundtrack collections. Network pays great attention to details and often includes cool bonus features (even for the music sets). I like to think of them as the Criterion Collection of cult TV.


Spy Vibers have heard about many Network releases over the last year or so, and we even had a give-away contest for Network's soundtrack box set of The Prisoner a while back. Network is currently running a 30% off sale until December 21st on their web-exclusive products. You'll find many DVD box sets (region 2), including their recent release of the rare show, Corridor People (Spy Vibe coverage of the DVD release here and articles about the surreal/satire boom in 1960s England here and here), as well as classics and rarities like The Saint, The Sentimental Agent, Interpol Calling, and Space Patrol. If you can play UK Blu-ray discs, you'll also find Gerry Anderson's Fireball XL5 and Space 1999 (season one of Space 1999 is out this month on region 1 Blu-ray from A&E).


Network has an amazing list of soundtrack sets on sale (look through their website beyond the sale page), including The Prisoner, Danger Man, Man in a Suitcase, The Champions, Department S, Jason King, and the excellent compilation, Music of ITC. There is a lot to explore and discover. Details here at Network. You can also find reviews of Network releases on my fellow COBRAS site, Double O Section.

GREEN HORNET TRAILER REVIEW

The trailer to the new Green Hornet film screened over the holiday weekend with the latest Harry Potter movie, giving a wider audience a taste for what's in store for the newest 1960s re-make. Spy Vibe was excited to hear about the film's production in its early stages, but quickly became weary that the filmmakers were taking the road most traveled by adapting a cult show into a buddy/comedy flick. Well, that's exactly the impression I get from the trailer. Yes, the action looks cool. And yes, we get to see some iconic moments, like the Hornet's gadget-loaded car swinging up from its hidden chamber. But the presentation of the characters and story seem, at least at the outset, completely interchangeable with other buddy-formula action films. Is this really just the I Spy movie with cooler costumes and gadgets? The gas-gun gag really gets my eyes rolling with dread. It makes sense that the main character is driven to find meaning in his life through crime-fighting (like Bruce Wayne), but why does he spell out his epiphany and mission to us like a cardboard cut-out? I think modern audiences can understand a hero who poses as a villain (like Batman) without having the facts spoon-fed to us. Just looking at this image below is foreboding. Is the true identity of this dark hero with Q-branch gadgets really just Fozzy Bear?


I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of guy, so I will probably find many things to enjoy about the film once it screens this winter. And I'm a huge fan of Michel Gondry, who I think of as a very inventive filmmaker. But I don't have high hopes that his Hornet will become a modern classic. And isn't that what these re-makes are often missing? The comedic approach usually takes these kinds of projects off-track (OSS 117 notwithstanding), and the filmmakers really miss an opportunity to add to the mythology of the properties they cultivate. The relaunch of Batman and James Bond both had an integrity to them that I believe will help sustain the films in the future. The Dark Knight will most likely remain a modern classic.


One of the qualities that I always enjoyed about the original Green Hornet TV show was that they played it pretty straight. The show used fun mystery/adventure conventions and the stars, unlike the Batman TV series, never winked at the audience. The two shows had cross-over episodes in the 1960s, where this distinction was evident. The Hornet show could be stiff, however, and certainly a modern feature film could bring more tension and excitement to viewers (not to mention a better soundtrack). It could even use humor to relieve tension or to enhance the pacing. But, do all modern characters have to be wiseguys at this point to appeal to ticket-buyers? I fear that the new Green Hornet will likely be fun, but quickly forgotten. I hope my fears are unfounded. It would be fantastic to see the effort pay off as classic material, especially in light of the fact that it has taken so long for a Hornet film to get off the ground, and that the TV show (with Bruce Lee, for any Spy Vibers who have not seen it), has yet to be released on what we still quaintly call "home video."

Spy Vibers looking for more Hornet action should check out TV clips on Youtube. And if you are into the slower-paced, action/adventure conventions of the 1930s and 1940s (think playboy/detectives punching it out with thugs), try some of the original radio shows or cliffhanger serials. The best Green Hornet so far may exist in some imaginary crossroads between all of these incarnations. Comic book cover image from Gold Key Stories here.

Deal Alert: Ken Adam & Space Adventure

Deal alert: Amazon is currently selling the blu-ray edition of Dr Strangelove (w sets by 007 designer Ken Adam) for $8.99. Other titles to check out are Mad Men seasons 1-3, the new blu-ray edition of Gerry Anderson's Space 1999 season 1, and the excellent space-race doc, In the Shadow of the Moon.

Playboy: the 50s

Another deal spotted that Spy Vibers might be interested in: Barnes and Noble has sealed copies of Playboy Cover to Cover: the 50s on their sale book shelf for $24.99. This is an amazing box set that includes a digital library (searchable) of every issue of Playboy in the 1950s, along with an illustrated art book and a reproduction of the magazine's famous first issue with Marilyn Monroe. Spy Vibers will find the set an interesting time capsule that includes the first Playboy review of Ian Fleming and features on style and bachelor pad design.

Black Friday

Deal alert: James Bond films in $4.99 bin at Borders. And for the next 30 minutes or so, Amazon has Casino Royale listed at $1.99.

007 ASTON MARTIN HISTORY

James Bond's Aston Martin designed with Spitfire, fighter plane modifications? Read more about the history of the famous DB5 at the Telegraph here.

LIAM GALLAGHER TONIGHT

On the heels of Liam Gallagher's new single release with Beady Eye, Bring the Light, and his "Menswear Brand of the Year" award from Draper's Fashion Awards last week, Liam will be making an in-store appearance tonight at Selfridges, Birmingham, to unveil the Pretty Green autumn/winter collection. The event will be held from 6:00-8:00pm. More info here. Check out Liam's Mod fashion design company, Pretty Green here. Upcoming UK and European dates for Beady Eye at the band's website here. Congrats to Liam on the fashion award, and best wishes for Beady Eye as they play their first gigs since the disbanding of Oasis last year. Hope to see you guys in San Francisco soon.

MI6 DECLASSIFIED: GOLDFINGER

Among the various publications out there for James Bond fans, MI6 Declassified stands out as a regularly published, non-subscription 007 magazine. Each issue highlights one of the films, providing lots of behind-the-scenes info, interviews, and rare images, as well as features about the Bond franchise and latest news. It's a high-quality project, and readers can enjoy the freedom to order issues that spotlight particular films and topics. I was thrilled to receive a review copy of the previous issue #7, which focused on the anniversary of my fave 007 film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. I was impressed with their production values and articles, and I recommend the magazine to Spy Vibers. MI6 Declassified #8 analyzes the various elements that made Goldfinger such an international phenomenon (which, in turn, launched the 1960s spy boom). Other features include Roger Moore on Kung Fu training for The Man With the Golden Gun, the latest Bond video game, and OSS 117 writer/director Michael Hazanavicius on his Bond influences. Issue #8 and back issues are available on the MI6 Declassified website here.

INGRID PITT 1937-2010

Spy Vibe is saddened by the news that actress Ingrid Pitt has passed away at the age of 73. Cinema Retro founder, Lee Pfeiffer, wrote in his tribute that "her life eclipsed any adventure she played on the screen." Ingrid was born in Nazi occupied Poland, survived interment in a concentration camp, and later fled communist repression to start a new life in the west. After a few uncredited roles, including Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles/1965) and Doctor Zhivago (David Lean/1965), she eventually landed her most celebrated parts in the espionage/war film, Where Eagles Dare (w/ Clint Eastwood/1968), cult horror classics The Vampire Lovers (1970) Countess Dracula (1971), The House That Dripped Blood (1971), and the original The Wicker Man (1973). Pitt also made appearances in TV spy shows, Jason King ("Nadine"/1972), The Adventurer (w/ Gene Barry in "Double Exposure"/1973), and the mini-series Smiley's People (w/ Alec Guinness/1982). Ingrid Pitt had quite a cult following, especially among us fans of Hammer Glamour, and she continued to bring her style and wit to her many book projects, articles, and appearances.


For more information about Ingrid Pitt, see tributes by Lee Pfeiffer and Cinebeats. Spy Vibers may also want to check out Ingrid Pitt: Queen of Horror by Bobb Cotter and Ingrid's books, Darkness Before Dawn, Life's a Scream, and The Bedside Companion for Vampire Lovers. The official Ingrid Pitt Website here. Hammer Films website here.

LENNON70 SOUND/FILM COLLAGE

In tribute to John Lennon and his 70th Anniversary, I've created a new sound and film collage called Lennon70. Rather than composing a contemporary mash up, the experimental score weaves original music with brief samples of Beatles Christmas messages (mailed to fans in the 1960s on flexi-disc records), and two, one-note phrases by The Beatles and Bauhaus. This art film features original footage from Tokyo and TV broadcast images of John Lennon and The Beatles.

Lennon70 Links: Youtube here, film website here.

I hope Spy Vibers have looked at the new Beatles store on iTunes. The site offers some excellent free video content, including a brief career overview film and a complete concert from their 1964 US tour! Congrats to Apple & Apple for working things out. iTunes accessibility will open up Beatles music (and solo years music) to new fans. I like to imagine young listeners out there discovering The Beatles for the first time, making "mix tapes" (playlists) of their fave songs. Looking at the impact that this music has had across time and cultures, surely The Beatles represent globally one sound-one tribe. By the way, if any Spy Vibers are interested in the remastered CD editions of the classic "Red" and "Blue" compilations, the albums will be half-price in Amazon's lightning deal on November 29th at 1:00pm ($9.99 each).

Lennon70: new experimental sound collage and film tribute to John Lennon by filmmaker/composer Jason Whiton on Youtube. For more information, visit the Jason Whiton website. For more experimental work, explore Yoko Ono & the Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon, and Liverpool Sound Collage by Paul McCartney. Also, check out my recent award-winning film, The Sun is Down, an experimental piece for Yoko Ono that features a song by me, Ono, and the Plastic Ono Band (a winner of the 2009 Sun is Down remix contest).

FASHION W PEGGY MOFFITT & EDDA DELL'ORSO

Start your Spy Vibe weekend with an amazing mid-1960s fashion show with Peggy Moffitt and others decked out in our fave Mod and Moongirl outfits. Will those plastic visor-helmets ever make a comeback? The vocals for the show are provided by the siren of Italian soundtracks, Edda Dell'Orso. It may be raining here in the Bay area, but the weekend is looking Space-Age FAB here on Spy Vibe!

More about model Peggy Moffitt and Spy Vibe fashion from the excellent Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandise: "Hers is the face that launched a thousand ripples through the fashion world when she wore the world's first topless bathing suit. "Designer of the future" Rudi Gernreich considered Peggy Moffitt to be his muse and model of choice for his controversial designs. With her Kabuki-inspired face painting, Peggy created her own unique look in the Sixties. Gernreich collaborated with super hair stylist Vidal Sassoon to create Peggy's trademark hairstyle. He gave her a short helmet haircut, with precise geometric bangs cut right to her eyebrows. She also created her own makeup style with heavy black and white eyeliner and long false eyelashes to exaggerate her huge dark eyes. She took the term "strike a pose" very seriously in front of the camera. She made Gernreich's clothes all the more extreme with her striking presence."

Spy Vibers may also want to check out the Rudi Gernreich Book (Rizzoli) by Peggy Moffitt and husband/photographer William Claxton at Arcana Books here. Copies also available through Amazon here. Taschen did a reprint, as well.

007 ASTON MARTIN KIT

Spy Vibe loves the stylish cars of retro adventure thrillers and no automobile can top James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 (originally seen in Goldfinger & Thunderball). Talk about 1960s style in action! Like many fellow Spy Vibers, I owned a Corgi toy version as a kid and was fascinated by the various "working" parts -like the famous ejector seat, tire shredders, front wing machine guns, and revolving plates. Those models were quite small, however, and one's imagination had to fill in some broad gaps in design. Since then, I've seen some larger models, but a recent 1:8 kit by GE Fabbri, Aston Martin, and Eon Productions looks truly amazing. Subscribers to the kit receive installments of parts/components as well as issues of a beautifully produced instruction magazine with extra James Bond features and info. Maybe a winter project for some Spy Vibers out there? Here is their press release and video. Pay close attention to the size of this beauty at the end of the clip.


GE Fabbri launch James Bond’s DB5 partwork magazine. GE Fabbri are launching a new partwork model magazine giving James Bond fans the opportunity to build a perfect 1:8 scale replica of the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. The James Bond’s DB5 magazine is the first model to be fully authorized by EON Productions and Aston Martin and has been precision engineered to make it as accurate as possible.


Aston Martin helped design the model which includes all the dials and controls from a real DB5, in addition to James Bond’s hidden arsenal of Q-Branch gadgets. Stand out features include a working ejector seat, working tail and headlights, extendable tyre slashers and a working horn. The model comes in 85 weekly installments and each issue includes new parts for the car and a magazine featuring behind-the-scenes articles on the making of the 007 films. Model construction is incredibly straightforward and all the pieces either click into place or are held together with screws.


"Aston Martin are delighted to be involved with this beautiful model of one of our most iconic cars. Everything about it is perfect - from the materials to the attention to details - all of which are synonymous with Aston Martin".

The partwork launches in the UK in early January 2011 and is available to pre-order at from the official website here.

Spy Vibers interesting in finding out more about the famous 007 Aston Martin should check out the extra features documentary film On Tour With the Aston Martin DB5 on the Goldfinger DVD and Blu-ray discs.

RACING SALE ACTIVE!

As Spy Vibe reported last week, Spirit Level Films has put together an amazing bundle of documentary movies for a very special holiday sale. The GT Collector's Pack includes the cult fave, Rendezvous, by Claude Lelouch, The Snake and the Cobra (about the Ferrari/Cobra wars. Spy Vibe page), GT Racer seasons 1 & 2, and Shaken & Stirred (“Imagine the feel and style of John Frankenheimer’s 1966 Grand Prix with wa-a-ay more beautiful cars and you're halfway there. Aston Martins, Cobras, Maseratis"). These films often put you in the driver's seat of vintage cars, and they go behind the scenes to celebrate the history and culture of racing form and function. The GT pack is on sale until November 21st. Limited stock, so act fast if your a vintage racing fan. More info on the Spirit Level Films website here.