"People in the film industry here in the UK need to work twice as hard, for half as much, to make something that is five times better than something that would come out of the States."

June 30, 2009 4:30 PM

Telstar: A film about the genius Joe Meek, had a fittingly interesting route to the screen. [previously]
posted by sam and rufus (10 comments total)

I had a dream about this.
posted by roll truck roll at 5:12 PM on June 30, 2009

I always get Joe Meek and Phil Spector confused.

Meek killed himself after committing murder. Spector went to jail.
posted by unmake at 5:16 PM on June 30, 2009

roll truck roll - reality is a really weird thing isn't it?
posted by sam and rufus at 5:31 PM on June 30, 2009

I always get Joe Meek and Phil Spector confused.

The biggest tragedy is, they were scheduled to co-produce Charles Manson's major-label debut, but a little nastiness at the Tate residence skewered the plan...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:00 PM on June 30, 2009

ouch... telstar was a pretty clean cut song back in the day... I'm not remembering this kind of stuff related to it...

thanks, but no thanks, but i'm gonna relish the innocence of my youth..
posted by HuronBob at 6:42 PM on June 30, 2009

I was just re-reading a bunch of entries on the totally awesome Another Nickle in the Machine (and looking for skiffle tracks on iTunes), and this post has brought everything I've been reading and watching and listening to full circle:

Nick Moran is directing a film about Joe Meek, who lived on Holloway Road, as did Michael X (and Joe Orton, who also appears in this piece about Joe Meek and being gay in England in the 60's). Michael X was a character in a recent film called The Bank Job, which starred Jason Statham, who was also in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels with Nick Moran.

It pleases me when the things I've been wasting time on tie up so neatly. Like it was meant to be.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:56 PM on June 30, 2009

I really want to see this - Joe Meek is perfect fodder for a movie. He won me over years ago once I heard John Leyton's "Johnny Remember Me", which he produced. And it's the production that totally sells that song.

The longer trailer on the official site makes me want to see it even more!
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:09 PM on June 30, 2009

I'm a movie now? It's hard enough just being an asshole.
posted by telstar at 8:59 PM on June 30, 2009

Also, Joe Orton died in a murder-suicide in 1967. Coincidence, or something more sinister?
posted by Grangousier at 9:54 PM on June 30, 2009

Looks cool. Sadly, there's no-one listed in the IMDB page for George Bellamy, rhythm guitarist with The Tornados and father of Matt... Yes, indirectly, Joe Meek was responsible for (probably the best band around today) : Muse...
posted by benzo8 at 2:57 AM on July 1, 2009