PRISONER SUPERGRASS

The Village from the 1960s cult TV classic, The Prisoner, has become the theme of the week, as more videos join XTC in the list of cool Portmeirion projects. The band Supergrass filmed this promo for Alright Personalizer in 1995. And this time, Spy Vibers are treated to footage shot all over Portmeirion. The video begins on the estuary sands during low tide and eventually moves into the Village proper, with scenes shot around many of the major buildings and sites in the main piazza and Battery Square. We even catch a glimpse of the miles of roads that lead to the entrance and wind through the woods around The Village. Thematically, the band also chose to root the video in the 1960s by being rolled through locations on a wheeled bed, referencing Richard Lester's The Knack... and How to Get It (1965) and The Monkees TV series (1966-1968). Seeing three guys goofing off on bikes also reminded me of a Goodies (1970-1982) vibe, albeit without the witty jump-cuts and cinematic illusions. Alright Personalizer had a following and reached #2 in the UK singles chart. According to some reports, Steven Spielberg thought Supergrass could even lead a new Monkees TV series. The band, who hailed from Oxford, continued on and off with group and solo projects since their success during the 1990s Britpop era. They split officially in 2010 after a series of farewell concerts. Their final album remains unreleased. Enjoy the video! Related posts: My Photographs of The Village 2015 and 2016, Prisoner XTC, Prisoner XTC 2, DC Fontana Prisoner video, Jaz Wiseman Interview, My London photos Filming The Prisoner, The Prisoner audio drama review by Alan Hayes, Set Countdown- The Prisoner, Prisoner/Capt. Scarlet Debut, Brian Gorman Interview, Eric Milval Book.  

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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 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.

BLUR MOD

Start the weekend with a funky tune by Blur. I love the art direction for this rare Music is My Radar video, which features a retro TV talk-show format and some groovy Mod dancers reminiscent of The 10th Victim (Petri, Mastroianni, Andress/1965). Damon Albarn (Gorillaz) sings over a groove that really kicks into gear at about the 2min mark. The song was originally released on Blur: The Best Of (2000), but the video remained elusive for many years. After a long hiatus, the band reformed in 2008 and has continued to tour the world. The moving story of the reunion was captured in a documentary film called No Distance Left To Run. They released Blur 21 in 2012, a massive box set of remastered CDs, DVDs and LPs, to great acclaim. Blur recently headlined the 2012 Olympic Games concert in Hyde park. You can preview the set and learn about the band on The Blur App available for iPad and iPhone on iTunes. Music is My Radar video below, followed by a lobby card image from The 10th Victim of Mastroianni surrounded by Mod dancers. By the way, the Blu-ray edition of the film is currently only $16.49 on Amazon. The Spy Vibe collection was used for the entire stills/posters gallery on the disc. Now, here's Blur- Enjoy!

Recent Spy Vibe posts: The Goldfinger Variations, Mod Tales Interview, Kraftwerk returns to US, Beatles BBC on Fresh Air, Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic Art, Modern Architecture LP, Julius Shulman, The Prisoner and Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Diego Fortunato and Verner Panton,  Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute.

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, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive. 

LIAM & BEADY EYE

Spy Vibe reported back in September 2009 about new fashion projects for Liam Gallagher in the wake of his brother Noel's split with their band Oasis (see Mod Fashion by Liam). Over the past year, Liam's fashion line, Pretty Green, has been a great success with limited edition clothing (see Mod Style: Pretty Green). New arrivals include a "Lennon Military Jacket" that is seriously FAB! Speaking of The Beatles, Liam has a Beatles-related film in development (project news here).

Liam has re-grouped with other Oasis members as Beady Eye. The band has already been back in the recording studio and their first single will be released tomorrow via download and limited edition 7 inch vinyl. Check out their website for more info. Congrats to Liam and the guys from Spy Vibe! Looking forward to your new tunes! I'm also digging the Rubber Soul vibe of these first Beady Eye photographs, not to mention the very cool 1960s-style font for the band's new logo.


From the Beady Eye website: Beady Eye will be making available ‘Bring The Light’, the first track to be heard from their debut album, as a free download worldwide to their fans on Wednesday 10th November from 10am (GMT) from their website www.beadyeyemusic.com. The album was recorded over the past summer in London and will be released next year. A strictly limited 7" vinyl of 'Bring The Light' will also be available for fans to purchase. It will only be available through the Beady Eye website and comes with 'Sons Of The Stage' on the B-side.