Retro TV W/C 30th April 2010

Barry Murphy returns once more to trawl the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to), finding anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 30th April to Thursday 6th May 2010.

Highlights of the week

What is the DNA of a great rock 'n' roll band? New series I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band! (BBC 2. Saturday 1st, 9.40pm. Repeated Thursday 6th, 11.40pm) breaks this mythical beast down into its constituent parts: singer, guitarist, drummer as well as the shadowy 'other one', whose face we don't quite know but without whom the magic wouldn't happen. The evidence is examined closely in forensic studies of what makes these rock 'n' roll types tick, starting with the lead singer. Often he's the leader, sometimes the dictator, benign or otherwise. His voice is his instrument and out front there's nowhere to hide. He hires. He fires. And when it all goes wrong and the backlash begins, he will get the blame.

Mikkel Rude 60s-style shirts - new range now available

We're quite keen on Mikkel Rude shirts. Not least because of their excellent fit, great choice of cloths and the ability to stay looking good after a few washes. If you fancy giving them a try, the new range is now available, some of which are pictured here and over the page.

The fit, cut and design are essentially the same, a classic 60s-style button down with fairly high button-down collar, slim fit, box pleat, button sleeve and single breast pocket. Although this year, there are also some long sleeves in the range, as well as some plain colours.

Check out many more pictures over the page. You can buy the new shirts at Oi Polloi in Manchester, American Classics in London, Storm in Copenhagen and Martin C. in Paris, as well as online at the Mikkel Rude website, although the new designs don't seem to be selling on line just yet (keep checking). Prices are around the £65 mark.

Mikkel Rude website

eBay watch: 1950s wood and formica plant stand

A design that really does scream the era - this 1950s wood and formica plant stand.

Perfect for a period home, it has a wooden triangular base with angled leg supports, a larger surface in black formica with a plastic rim, plus four simila,r but smaller coloured platforms, again in formica with plastic rims. Perfect for plants, prefect for anything other ornaments too.

According to seller, it is in 'good' condition, with a couple of chips and age-related marks which 'do not interfere with the overall look of the piece'. If that's good with you, it's up for auction now with a current price of 99 pence plus postage.

Find out more at the eBay website

Cube alarm clock by Authentics

Wake up each morning to the retro looks of the cube alarm clock by Authentics. 

Its design combines a number of influences: while the gently rounded corners to the cube suggest older eras, the digital display, combined with the choice of bright blue, green or yellow for the front casing, gives it an 80s twist. Somehow it all works together and it looks simple to use as well - just what you need first thing in the morning!

Nice price too at £25. 

Buy it from Lifestyle bazaar

Lifestyle Illustrations of the 60s by Rian Hughes

A new glossy illustrated book from a new publishing house, Lifestyle Illustrations of the 60s by Rian Hughes is a new take on an ever popular decade. 

This book is one of the first titles to be released by Fiell Publishing, the new book enterprise from Charlotte and Peter Fiell. If their names sound familiar it's because they were previously editors of many of Taschen's design titles (including the one on Scandinavian design we featured ages ago) and now have decided to bring their expertise to their own publishing company.

Like the Scandinavian design book, this publication is jammed full of images. It features over 1000 illustrations in its 576 pages, focused on magazine artwork from that period. So while you get a survey of that decade's commercial artistic talent, you also get a sense of the social and material aspirations of that period - and how they were affected by the youthquake that took place within its years. Definitely worth a flick through then. Fans of the Fifties will be pleased to note a companion volume focusing on that decade is due in September. 

The book is available for £23.70 from Amazon