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/ … rbacks.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
I even have a letter from him explaining me how to become a member... in the 80's!
