Sir Roger Moorepassed away this week at the age of eighty-nine after a short battle with cancer. The actor loomed large in the Spy Vibe world for his leading roles in Ivanhoe (1958-1959), Maverick (1960-1961), The Saint (1962-1969), The Persuaders (1970-1972), and as James Bond from 1973-1985. But as he portrayed our dashing heroes on the screen, perhaps his greatest satisfaction in life was trying to make a difference in the world on behalf of UNICEF. Moore continued to work through the decades, authoring books and making live appearances to talk about his career and chat with his fans. He died surrounded by family, who issued in their statement: "The affection our father felt whenever he walked on to a stage or in front of a camera buoyed him hugely and kept him working into his 90th year, through to his last appearance in November 2016 on stage at London's Royal Festival Hall. The capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance away from where he was born."
I first saw Moore as Simon Templar in The Saint, and he made quite an impression on me as a small boy. I'm reminded about something Paul McCartney once said about Elvis Presley: that he admired Elvis as a kid, and how Presley “just looked perfect.” Growing up with The Saint, I looked to Moore with a similar sense of awe. Not only did he fill those stylish suits with an archetypal heroic physique, he had that perfect haircut that swooped back across his head. The things we focus on when we're young. Moore brought a roguish charm to The Saint, raising an eyebrow to the camera and inviting us into that deliciously decadent world of 60s jet setters. The notion of being a "jet setter" didn't seem like merely grist for adventure tales to me as a boy- it seemed like a future career option! I literally saw Moore on the screen and though to myself that looks like a good job! And the world of The Saint was filled with wonderful thriller elements such as sports cars, the gentleman thief/spy convention, gorgeous actresses, and exotic locations. Even seeing his Volvo P-1800 driving through quaint Hertfordshire villages filled me with a sense of romance. The world of Moore’s Templar was, as McCartney put it, “just perfect." I really looked up to him. Little did I know that I would grown up and eventually spend summers touring around Saint-related filming locations with fellow fans in Britain.
Like many Spy Vibers, my first big-screen experience with Bond was a Roger Moore film. Though the clothes and cars seemed slightly less cool to my 1960s Spy-Vibe tastes, I remember being completely swept up by his performance. His stories were lighter, even humorous, but one always got the sense he was inviting the viewer to be a part of the fun, to enjoy the adventure, and importantly to a youngster, to trust that he would bring us home safely after the ride. Many of the tributes and obituaries that have come in this week have mentioned how Roger Moore was, by nature, self-depracating, warm, and fun-loving. No matter the roles he played (with the exception of his wonderfully sinister work in The Man Who Haunted Himself), Moore's natural charm and good nature always shined through. Screenwriters typically use five keys to evoke empathy when developing characters, and part of Moore's success as a Bond or Templar might also be attributed to his embodiment of all five traits: liability, power, sympathy, jeopardy, and humor. He had it all in spades.
In an era of cynicism and harder-edged entertainment, Moore's 007 has often held a unique spot in the hearts of Bond fans. Despite periods when I thought I needed 007 to be edgy and serious, I ultimately discovered that his era was usually more fun for me as a viewer. After meeting Richard Kiel (Jaws) about ten years ago, I re-watched my first big-screen Bond movies, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker as a double feature. This was right around the time of Quantum of Solace (Daniel Craig). Seeing Moore and Kiel once again brought me back to those early days in the theater as a boy, and I found myself once again cheering for the heroic, witty, and roguish Roger Moore. In fact, I return to his 007 films the most often because they are so fun and because he brings out the romantic kid in me. Moore once said, "Sean played Bond as a killer. I played him as a lover." Even as a fan of OHMSS, Connery, Dalton, and Skyfall, Moore will always be... "my Bond." Rest in peace, Roger Moore (1927-2017).
Episode #3 of Spy Vibe on the Cocktail Nation radio show is now live! This month I talk about my favorite Bond film and 007 theme, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The movie is on everyone's radar this weekend, as the Bond community checks out the new George Lazenby documentary, Becoming Bond, just released on Hulu. My segment starts at 8:28 on Cocktail Nation. Also on this episode: Koop gives us an update on Hugh Hefner and plays a swinging version of Man From Thrush. I will be on Cocktail Nation every month to present some of my Spy Vibe favorites. I hope you will join the party! Links here for Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim). Can you help Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation in our Paypal tip button at the top-left of this page. Thank you! Enjoy!
New release: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. If the decade of the 1960s found its identity in cultural change and innovation, one of its defining moments came in the form of a record album by The Beatles in early June, 1967. Turning away from tours and public appearances, the group concentrated on writing, recording, and on discovering new maturity as artists. As the public and press waited for news of their progress, The Beatles would ultimately surprise the world with an experimental masterpiece that would change the course of the culture- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album will see a 50th anniversary release on May 26th, with various editions promising rare studio chat, outtakes, and an additional stereo mix by Giles Martin. Spy Vibers curious about how the songs and album took shape will want the 4-disc box set, which also includes the wonderful Making of documentary with George Martin, a deluxe book, and more! Story continues below. Spy Vibers, have you heard my new radio show with Cocktail Nation? Episode #3 is coming up this weekend 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).
From the press release: "It was 50 years ago when The Beatles' John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr astonished and delighted the world, ushering in the Summer of Love with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a groundbreaking masterwork that became popular music's most universally acclaimed album. The album is newly mixed by Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell in stereo, sourced directly from the four-track masters at Abbey Road Studios in London, and guided by the original, Beatles-preferred mono mix produced by his father, George Martin. This extensive collection gives an unprecedented insight into how The Beatles made their ground-breaking album. The box set features a new stereo version by Giles Martin and 33 tracks from the Sgt. Pepper sessions that place you in the studio as the group develop the songs. 4 Audio CDs: A new stereo mix of the album by Giles Martin. Sgt. Pepper Sessions on 2 CDs with over 100 minutes of audio illustrating how the album was created. Newly mixed from the original four-track tapes, most of the material is previously unreleased. Also contains the original 1967 mono mix of the album and bonus tracks including three previously unreleased mixes. Blu-Ray/DVD: Fully restored 1992 documentary The Making of Sgt. Pepper, including interviews with Paul, George and Ringo and fascinating in-the-studio footage introduced by George Martin. Restored promotional films for 'A Day In The Life', 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane'. 2017 Giles Martin 5.1 surround sound mix and high-resolution stereo audio in 96KHz/24bit of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band plus 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane'. 144-page hardback book featuring an introduction by Sir Paul McCartney, comprehensive song-by-song details and recording information, in-depth essays about the design of the cover, the album's musical innovations and its historical context... and much more. Illustrations include photographs from the recording sessions, handwritten lyrics and Abbey Road documentation. Plus a replica of the original card insert and two bonus posters." More info at Amazon. More below.
The Beatles experimented often during their career, pushing pop music into uncharted territory and exploring the avant-garde. Even their solo efforts saw the band members reaching for experimentation and the cutting edge. John Lennon collaborated with Yoko Ono on many experimental films and sound recordings. He also starred in Richard Lester's surreal film, How I Won the War (1967). George Harrison played with Indian and early Moog music, and he released an experimental soundtrack to Wonderwall (1968). Paul McCartney made a number of experimental films and tape-loops (later stolen), techniques that inspired the sound collage on Tomorrow Never Knows. McCartney returned to experiment with electronic music and sound collage with the Firemen and Liverpool Sound Collage projects. And Ringo Starr pursued a film career that included collaborations with Peter Sellers, Frank Zappa, Harry Nilsson, and Marc Bolan. Lennon's son, Sean, has continued to carry the experimental touch through his collaborations with Yoko Ono, Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto), and Les Claypool. Below: The Beatles at the Pepper release party, May 19th 1967, photographed by Linda Eastman- less than two years before her marriage to McCartney. Continues below.
Some cool books crossed my radar again today that Spy Vibers might want to check out: Volumes I and II of the Thunderbirds comic collection, based on Gerry Anderson's 1960s cult classic series. Volume One: "2015 is the 50th anniversary of Thunderbirds, which debuted in 1965 and has had a cult following ever since. Devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the show became famous for its marionette puppetry, which Gerry Anderson dubbed "Supermarionation". However, THIS beautifully presented collection presents the 1960s and 1970s Thunderbirds comic book stories. Whether you are a Thunderbirds fan or just interested in fine science fiction adventures, this is the book for you. It's like a mix of James Bond, alien creatures, evil villains, and lots of space-age jets, rockets and flyers. The storytelling is dramatic and powerful. Beautifully drawn in full color, Frank Bellamy's art is the stand-out here, and at least half of the full episodes are by him. Additional illustrators include Graham Bleathman, and to a lesser extent, John Cooper, Eric Eden, and even one story by the legendary Frank Hampson. This includes several special sections of cutaway images of Thunderbirds vehicles and buildings, facts about the illustrators, and a tribute to Gerry Anderson." Volume Two: "Fifty years after Thunderbirds first blasted off onto British TV, discover the comic strips that captured the thrill and excitement of the cult TV series in spectacular style. This features the first 12 complete storylines illustrated by the legendary Frank Bellamy, and they are gorgeous sci-fi by a master, first published WEEKLY, three pages at a time! Gerry Anderson(1929-2012) was a television and film producer, director, and writer known for his futuristic television shows, the most successful of which was Thunderbirds. Illustrator Frank Bellamy has drawn Dan Dare, Fraser of Africa, Heros of Spartan and other features for the legendary weekly Eagle, then Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons for TV21. His big feature was Garth from 1971 to 1976, and he even did work on Doctor Who and an Avengers TV episode. He died suddenly in 1976, at the height of his powers." And if you really want to dive into a great Thunderbirds celebration, pick up Thunderbirds: The Vaultby Marcus Hearn. "On September 30th, 1965, International Rescue successfully completed their first assignment, and the Tracy brothers imprinted themselves on a generation of captivated children. Thirty-two episodes, many repeats, 60 territories, two feature films, three albums, numerous comics, books, toys, videos and DVDs and five decades later, Thunderbirds are still saving the world from the brink of peril. Thunderbirds: The Vault is the first ever lavishly illustrated, definitive, beautifully packaged, presentation hardback telling the story of this enduring cult phenomenon. Packed with previously unpublished material, including prop photos, design sketches, production memos and other collectible memorabilia, plus specially commissioned photography of original 1960s merchandise and new interviews with cast and crew, it’s going to be a collectors’ dream and a fantastic piece of cult TV history." This one really is a treasure!! Spy Vibers, have you heard my new radio show with Cocktail Nation? Episode #3 is coming up this weekend and I'll be talking about On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here are info links forEpisode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim). Enjoy!
New releases: Spy Vibers, fire up the Hi-Fi! Two titles turned up recently for Record Store Day that are definitely worth checking out. If you enjoy groovy Italian spy-fi lounge, this is for you! First up on the record player: the soundtrack to the 1967 film, Santanik. "RSD 2017 release. Stunning jazz soundtrack from the legendary duo of Roberto Pregadio and Romano Mussolini for the 1967 movie based off the Italian cult comic series Satanik. Deluxe complete edition for the first time, in a limited numbered edition of 500 copies in transparent red vinyl." And if that wasn't enough, you can also dive into the macabre, groovy world of Kriminal: "RSD 2017 release. A great blend of '60s mod and Italian jazz composed by the dynamic duo Roberto Pregadio and Romano Mussolini for the 1965 movie based on the mega-cult Italian comic, Kriminal. Complete edition for the first time in a deluxe limited numbered edition of 500 copies in transparent yellow vinyl." Check your local record stores and on-line retailers to see if you can find copies of these cool limited-editions. Learn more about the original 1960s comics and photo novels featuring Satanik, Kriminal, Sadistik (and others!) and purchase special editionshere. And check out Spy Vibe's Diabolikal image archive at Pinterest here. 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 forEpisode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim). Enjoy!
Happy Mother's day from Spy Vibe! In the final Diana Rigg episode of The Avengers ("The-Forget-Me-Knot"), agents John Steed, Emma Peel, and Tara King are first seen answering to their own controller, codename: Mother. The wheelchair-bound spymaster was portrayed by Patrick Newell (1932-1988). His base of operations moved from one eccentric location to another, which became a charming convention during the last season of the series. Briefings were held in places like the bottom of a lake, atop a double-decker bus, riding in a Rolls, and at a desk in a swimming pool- and always accompanied by his six-foot Amazonian assistant, Rhonda. Although some felt the Mother character broke the chemistry of the program's proven formula, his dream-like quality was well-rooted in the surrealism boom in England during the 1960s and certainly added additional flair and humor. Before taking the role of Mother, Patrick Newell appeared in two earlier episodes of The Avengers: "The Town of No Return" and "Something Nasty in the Nursery". Newell passed away in 1988 at the age of 56. More info at The Avengers Forever website here. 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!
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 Scarletand 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!
