AJB Interview with Graham Rye
Barbel
ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
Our next guest is Graham Rye, the man behind 007 Magazine
and for many years The James Bond International Fan Club with which I am sure many of us are familiar (I still have my plastic card from the 1980s) as well as organising conventions etc, working on Bond documentaries....
He's also the author of The James Bond Girls
which has been revamped and reissued many times in many different covers, as well as.... but, why don't you ask him yourself?
PS Be sure to ask him about the Moon Buggy from DAF! Great story.
and for many years The James Bond International Fan Club with which I am sure many of us are familiar (I still have my plastic card from the 1980s) as well as organising conventions etc, working on Bond documentaries....
He's also the author of The James Bond Girls
which has been revamped and reissued many times in many different covers, as well as.... but, why don't you ask him yourself?
PS Be sure to ask him about the Moon Buggy from DAF! Great story.
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My question would be: I love Graham's designs and photography for the covers of his James Bond Girls and The Essential Bond. My favourite, however, is the cover of The James Bond Bedside Companion, which is echoed in The Complete Avengers. Was this style perhaps unconsciously influenced by the 1970s Pan covers of the Fleming novels, which featured items mentioned in each novel? Or was there some other influence at work?
My question can be delicate but I sincerely want to know what happened with 007 Magazine and The James Bond Fan Club. Some kind of "divorce", I know, but could it be explained, at least, from his point of view? Thanks.
Also I’m sure each issue of 007 magazine is a labour of love, but are there any issues that he’s particularly proud of, and why?
Thanks Barbel! -{
I really looked forward to the magazine arriving, as it was before the internet and my
only contact to the world of Bond.
My back issues are up in the attic. One day I'll search through them and see if I can spot your letter!
I've bought up a good few of the back issues of 007 Magazine from eBay over the years and I actually remember coming across your letter and that you were a section leader for the Club or something like that. I can't quite remember the exact term used, but you may recall that, TP. It was nice to see! There were actually quite a few names in the magazines that are famous now in the Bond fan comminuty; some even have books to their name!
Pity I missed this interview!
I wonder if they are all off attending an AJB Interviewees Conference? 8-)
Well, that’s quicker than the NTTD teaser trailer for sure!
As promised, here are Graham Rye's answers. Please note that these are his own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of AJB007- as is the case with all these interviews.
I have given you the exclusive story on the breakaway of The JBIFC and 007 MAGAZINE. 100% true!
1- I love your designs and photography for the covers of your The James Bond Girls and The Essential Bond. My favourite, however, is the cover of The James Bond Bedside Companion, which you echoed in The Complete Avengers. Was this style perhaps unconsciously influenced by the 1970s Pan covers of the Fleming novels, which featured items mentioned in each novel? Or was there some other influence at work?
Thank you. It was a direct homage to the wonderful still life set of PAN Books of the 1970s, designed by Raymond Hawkey and photographed by Adrian Flowers. For the definitive information about these cover designs please visit: http://www.007magazine.co.uk/factfiles/factfiles_uk_paperbacks.htm
2- Do you have any Bond memorabilia that you particularly cherish? If so can you tell us about it?
Mostly all of the Bond memorabilia I owned I sold off over the years to keep me and 007 MAGAZINE surviving over the last 40 years; once owning Blofeld’s Coat of Arms from OHMSS, the Oddjob SFX hat from Goldfinger, and the Moon Buggy from Diamonds Are Forever has been immensely useful for the remarkable longevity of 007 MAGAZINE.
3- I’m sure each issue of 007 MAGAZINE is a labour of love, but are there any issues that you're particularly proud of, and why?
I’ve been making my living publishing 007 MAGAZINE since 1988, so what was once a labour of love in the early years has now sometimes become somewhat of a bittersweet love affair. The GOLDFINGER portfolio and OHMSS and YOLT issues I’m rather fond of.
4- This question can be delicate but I sincerely want to know what happened with 007 MAGAZINE and The James Bond Fan Club. Some kind of "divorce", I know, but could it be explained, at least, from your point of view?
In November 2002 my business, The James Bond 007 International Fan Club & Archive Limited, found itself in financial trouble and had to close; it was eventually purchased in December 2002 by David Black, a Yorkshire businessman, who led me to believe that he would be able to build up the existing membership database to 10,000 club members by 2004 – this never happened! In fact, he didn’t spend anything at all on promoting the club or employ any staff in offices over that two-year period, like the professional organisation I had run with my team from 1988 to 2002. Therefore I found it necessary to withdraw myself and my publication 007 MAGAZINE from this unprofessional mess. I later also discovered during this period of withdrawal that Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field, two people when ‘Bond mad’ schoolboys I had entertained and assisted, and who I thought were trusted associates, had been working behind my back with David Black to produce a new publication for him, which they did, but this lacklustre effort only lasted for a few issues before they all ‘fell out’. Then later, David Black tried selling the mi6 confidential magazine through the JBIFC, until that also fell through – 21 issues ago. Now it’s just a solo-written news website and does nothing else.
In his JBIFC December 2004 Newsletter David Black impertinently explained: “…I took over the running of the club at the start of 2002 – I must admit I never realized quite what a task this might prove to be. We have tried hard to improve in all areas and will continue to build the club into something we can all be proud of. The reliable delivery of our club magazine with 4 issues per year has been one of my highest priorities. For the last 25 years the club’s magazine has been ‘007’ Magazine. When we took over the club it was agreed that Graham Rye would continue to produce and edit the magazine for us 4 times a year. I’m sure you’ll all agree that the magazines have been of the highest quality and punctuality has certainly improved more recently! Sadly, in order to get closer to the people at the top within the world of Bond we are having to move on, and, after the current issue – number 45, the club will be leaving ‘007’ Magazine and Graham behind as we start production of a brand new club magazine for 2005. This will be produced to the highest standard and feature some of the top writers who specialize in the Bond franchise. I’m very excited about the future and hope you will stick with us as we make these much needed changes.”
Since January 2018 I have produced twelve 007 MAGAZINE publications annually. 007 MAGAZINE remains as significant and relevant in 2019 as it ever was.
5- There's a story about finding and restoring the DAF Moon Buggy that I've heard some of – could you fill us in?
The full Moon Buggy story can be viewed here on the 007 MAGAZINE website:
http://www.007magazine.co.uk/news_moon_buggy.htm
http://www.007magazine.co.uk/moonbuggy/moon_buggy.htm
Pure dynamite: Therefore I found it necessary to withdraw myself and my publication 007 MAGAZINE from this unprofessional mess. I later also discovered during this period of withdrawal that Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field, two people when ‘Bond mad’ schoolboys I had entertained and assisted, and who I thought were trusted associates, had been working behind my back with David Black to produce a new publication for him, which they did, but this lacklustre effort only lasted for a few issues before they all ‘fell out’. Then later, David Black tried selling the mi6 confidential magazine through the JBIFC, until that also fell through – 21 issues ago. Now it’s just a solo-written news website and does nothing else.
Which was this David Black's "new publication"?
It was this one, KKBB:
https://www.007.info/kiss-kiss-bang-bang/?doing_wp_cron=1570272669.7011229991912841796875
It only ran for a handful of issues. I have a few of them in my collection.
P.S. Thank you Barbel for another great interview! I'd often wondered what had happened with the JBIFC and now I know!
Apparently, is David Black running now the mi6 confidential magazine? Or did he just try to sell it on his web??
I was not aware of Graham Rye and all his publications on Bond, I shall have to seek them out.
I am still looking for a copy of Benson's Companion, and now know I shall have to look specifically fo the one with Rye's cover.
I really like his website with all the history of the PAN paperbacks artwork.
His photos of the "messy desk" editions in particular show the complete wraparound image, including spine, with no bends or distortion. Did he have access to PAN's original artwork?
Too bad he found no evidence of the missing Live and Let Die.