Set against a backdrop of early 60s london, telstar is the story of the worlds first independent record producer, joe meek. Meek is considered one of the most influential sound engineers of all time, being one of the first to develop ideas. Telstar tells the story of meek s rise the multimillionselling telstar was the first song from a uk act to top the us charts and his ultimately fatal fall. A brilliant film tells the tragic story of joe meek, a gifted music maverick known as britains answer to phil spector. Field, james corden, shaun evans, callum dixon, tom harper. The turbulent life and times of tortured telstar producer joe meek make for a fascinating but patchy slice of nostalgia, says jason solomons. He also assisted the development of recording practices like overdubbing, sampling and reverb. Rent telstar 2008 starring con oneill and kevin spacey on dvd and bluray. Legendary british producer and recording iconoclastic joe meek the man behind the global hit telstar has become a cult figure since his death in 1967, inspiring several fan clubs, myriad musical compilations, websites of various types, and a silly movie as well as a major documentary film, a life in the death of joe meek. Robert george joe meek 5 april 1929 3 february 1967 was an english record producer, musician, sound engineer and songwriter who pioneered space age and experimental pop music. Adapted from nick moran and james hicks criticallylauded stage play, telstar tells the remarkable tale of eccentric, londonbased songwriterproducer joe meek con oneill, whose innovative recording techniques ushered in a bold new era of rock n roll in the late 1950s. The movie telstar takes place mainly in a flat above a leather goods store in a typical london house.
The joe meek story photos view all photos 5 movie info. A maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal success with telstar the biggest selling record of its time before bad luck, depression, heartbreak and paranoia led to his downfall. The track completely brought the show to a standstill and he received many videos of people dancing to telstar. If dogged persistence is a virtue, then actor con oneill and writer. The cases telstar, heinz, madras place, howardblaikley the telstar case. A maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal success with telstar the biggest selling record of its. Legendary joe meek is a 360 pages attentiongrabbing book by john repsch which tells the life story of joe meek popularly known as telstar man. The film is directed by nick moran and stars con oneill, who also played joe meek in the original play, while kevin spacey plays. The film is directed by nick moran and stars con oneill, who also played joe meek in the original play, while kevin spacey plays meek s business partner, major wilfred banks. It was in these modest decorations that the legendary joe meek, a british producer, and. Drama based on the life of joe meek, the songwriterproducer behind the 60s hits have i the right, just like eddie, johnny, remember me and the unforgettable. My only disappointment with the film is the thick british accent a lot of dialog passed me by there were no subtitles on the version i watched but its not a reason. Joe meek is a very fascinating and tragic character.
The joe meek story you are looking for touching, serious and captivating movies about with prodigy, musicians life, artists and showbiz, rise and fall, lifestyle, recording studio and music themes of biography, drama and music genre shot in uk. Flamboyant and with a hairtrigger temper that more than once led to him pulling a gun on musicians, 1960s british pop producer joe meek makes phil spector look like a pussycat. Oddly enough i did see joe meek s movie live it up at the theater. In the early 1960s selftaught electronics whizz joe meek amazingly produces a string of home made hit singles from his studio in his flat above a leather shop in london. His biggest success is the instrumental telstar but accusations of plagiarism delay royalties. Story of joe meeks, genius behind telstar this film is the story of record producer, joe meek and his rise and fall in the british recording industry. Telstar digital spy tv, movies and entertainment news. A couple of months after telstar had become a smash hit, the french composer jean ledrut 19031982 supposed that meek s bestseller had four bars which were lifted from a film score he had written for the movie austerlitz, directed by abel gance 1960. A music producer in the very early 60s, joe meek managed to produce a no.
The joe meek story 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. With con oneill, kevin spacey, pam ferris, jj feild. Telstar, the new movie released this month, could well be subtitled the joe meek story or even, there is an excellent, lengthy reallife documentary of this name doing the rounds of film festivals and art house cinemas a life in the death of joe meek meek s incredibly turbulent and manic lifestyle personifies the old adage truth is stranger than fiction. For a little history lesson, joe meek was a man id never heard of until i saw this film, and history seems to have little time for him either. From meek s ascension to the top of the charts with telstar to his dabblings in the occult and implication in a boys murder, the film charts the composers tumultuous life.
Reviewed at london film festival new british cinema, oct. Later this summer, nick morans movie telstar, about meek s short and troubled life, is released in british cinemas. It was called telstar, and it concerned the rise and fall of joe meek, the. The film tells of his successes producing songs such as worldwide hits telstar the tornados and have i the right the honeycombs and british hits such as john leytons johnny remember me. Joe meek and the tragic demise of the maverick who revolutionised. He was a genius in many ways yet as many genius people are, a bit crazy. Sadly it was the song that eventually led to joe meek s suicide. The book reveals the little known and popularly known failures, secrets and achievements of the legendary music producer joe meek.
The legendary joe meek, the telstar man book joe meek. Joe meek was apparently every bit the character, madman and genius portrayed in this movie, and his story is conveyed very frankly, but its all in context. Joemeek are the makers of high quality pro audio equipment made with the mantra of their namesake if it sounds right, is right. A brilliant film tells the tragic story of joe meek, a gifted music. Con oneill, jj feild, james corden, kevin spacey, pam. Anyone who is interested in music history or records music at home will dig telstar. The movie compresses the last six or seven years of joe meek s life into an hour and a half of frenetic activity, doomed romance meek was gay at a time when it was criminal to be a homosexual in britain, whether or not one actually had sex with members of the same sex, strange music, occasional triumphs and longer and longer stretches of. Subtitles searchable search, download, and request subtitles for telstar. I have been listening to the arists joe meek worked with like mike mike berry and screaming lord sutch. But i am apparently alone in my insistence that the hall at least nominate joe meek, subject of the 2008 biopic telstar. The launch of the telstar satellite gave young record producer joe meek a moment of inspiration, and inspired a single that also soared into the stratosphere. Most tracks here qualify as interesting at least, and attentiongetting and haunting at the other end of the scale.
James is a joe meek fan and loves to give credit to joe on his daily show. Joe s life and lifestyle were different to undertate the case. You know, this isnt an unenjoyable movie and, if you are desperate to see a movie, itll do, but its never fully. His name is unfamiliar to most americans, but in england, meek is a legend, a kind of combination alan turing, phil spector, nicholas tesla and brian epstein. Telstar, the new movie released this month, could well be subtitled the joe meek story or even, there is an excellent, lengthy reallife documentary of this name doing the rounds of film festivals and art house cinemas a life in the death of joe meek. But i have to admit to a certain fascination with much of his musical invention. Through the book, we get to learn that joe meek was the first pop music.
The joe meek story is a 2008 british biopic about legendary record producer joe meek, based on james hicks and nick morans play telstar. The joe meek story is a reasonable movie created by aspiration films, by using a description of the movie is set against a backdrop of early 60s london, telstar is the story of the worlds first independent record producer, joe meek. Robert george joe meek, fodd 5 april 1929 i newent, gloucestershire, dod 3 februari 1967 i london 1, var en nyskapande brittisk musikproducent och latskrivare. I now want to track down a copy of the movie about telstar. The movie telstar aims to show how it all went so wrong for joe meek. Con oneill as joe meek far right celebrates chart success with his young pop stars in the film telstar.
The joe meek story is a 2008 film adaptation of james hicks and nick morans play telstar, about record producer joe meek, which opened at the new. Telstar is a 1962 instrumental written and produced by joe meek for the english band the tornados. The joe meek story is a 2008 film adaptation of james hicks and nick morans play telstar, about record producer joe meek, which opened at the new ambassadors theatre in londons west end in june 2005. Joe meek and the tragic demise of the maverick who. The story is told in an excellent way and the end is shocking. A couple of months after telstar had become a smash hit, the french composer jean ledrut 19031982 supposed that meeks bestseller had four bars which were lifted from a film score he had written for the movie austerlitz, directed by abel gance 1960. This is just one of a number of books, documentaries, plays and even songs. The story of joe meek, the pioneering british record producer and songwriter who recorded a string of earlytomid 1960s chart hits in a threefloor flat at 304 holloway road in north london. Set against the backdrop of hedonistic, swinging, early 60s london, telstar shares the strangerthanfiction true story of joe meek tony award.
Sep 20, 2012 oddly enough, i also saw joe meeks movie sing and swing at the movies. Joe meek was flamboyantly gay, tone deaf, and the songwriterproducer behind 1960s hits johnny, remember me, and telstar with. Oddly enough, i also saw joe meek s movie sing and swing at the movies. Joe meek, each time i watch telstar i return to my teenage years, ok for me its personal but even my friends are caught in the excitement of the 60s and the superb soundtrack doesnt disappoint. The joe meek story 2008 movie trailer instantly, no need to login. The joe meek story the energy, craziness and often downright shabbiness of londons early 60s, prebeatles pop biz are vividly brought to life in telstar. Jul 23, 2011 disappointing biopic of joe meek,most off the film is historically inaccuratehe is a list of just a few points. Set against the backdrop of hedonistic, swinging, early 60s london, telstar shares the strangerthanfiction true story of joe meek tony awardwinner con oneill, who originated the role on. Meek also produced music for films, most notably live it up. A musicinfused drama about joe meek, the flamboyantly gay, tone deaf, songwriterproducer behind the 60s hits have i the right, just like eddie, johnny, remember me and telstar. The joe meek story is a 2008 film adaptation of james hicks and nick moran s play telstar, about record producer joe meek, which opened at the new ambassadors theatre in londons west end in june 2005. Adapted from nick moran and james hicks criticallylauded stage play, telstar tells the remarkable tale of eccentric. It is fun watching the clips at youtube and seeing steve marriott and ritchie blackmore.
Pam ferris as violet shenton and con oneill as joe meek telstar has its roots in the theatre, as it was first a 2005 stage play, written by nick moran and james hicks, with oneill playing meek. Joe meek appreciation society not just any other ordinary. May 30, 2011 joe meek and geoff goddard work out the tune for telstar the song was a massive hit both in britain and the usa. Ive been intrigued with the meek sounds since telstar was released in 1962. Billboard hot 100 in december 1962 the second british recording to reach number 1 on that chart in the year, after stranger on the shore in may, and was also a number one hit in the uk singles chart. Oct 01, 2016 a brilliant film tells the tragic story of joe meek, a gifted music maverick known as britains answer to phil spector. I really enjoyed this movie about joe meek, the english musical pioneer and the producer of numerous hit singles during the sixties. Even if telstar cant quite get the measure of its fascinating material, its pluck and ambition prove infectious enough to outweigh its flaws. Drama based on the life of joe meek, the songwriterproducer behind the 60s hits have i the right, just like eddie. Meek is considered one of the most influential sound engineers of.