In an effort to escape spoiling an amazing documentary on such a legendary producer/composer I encourage you to skip past these words, click the link and get right into it. If the first 30 seconds doesn’t grab your attention enough to keep watching then you’re welcome to come back here so I can try to persuade you with basic information.
For those that have decided to continue reading: Joe Meek was behind-the-scenes for a fairly large share of the biggest hits in the early 60s and should be considered as nothing short of a revolutionary genius. While the recording process of that time involved very strict, scientific and standardized procedures (ei: all personnel had to wear lab coats) Joe was busy bringing his musicians into his apartment (much to the irritation of the landlady) and experimenting with the strange new techniques that gave him a unique sound. He was also fascinated by the occult and would call out to the dead (namely Buddy Holly) for guidance.
The sensational results were as much an avant-garde and other-worldly listening pleasure as they were a technical achievement. Competing labels spent a great deal of time and money trying to replicate effects that he had simply created with objects like an empty bathtub. This man is definitely one of the O.Gs when it comes to D.I.Y. and “indie” music.
Unfortunately, Joe’s most successful single “Telstar” was met with a lawsuit for plagiarism, which halted all royalties and sank him into debt. In 1967, Joe (who was also known for his states of paranoia and depression) shot his landlady during an argument before turning the gun on himself. Three weeks after his death, the courts settled the lawsuit in his favor.
Note: If you are interested in checking out some of his music after the doc, I highly recommend Joe Meek & The Blue Men – I Hear A New World (recorded in 1959 and released in full in 1991). It is very representational of his eerie sound and is one of my favorite records in my collection. This usually sells for $80-$100 if you can find one.
Also, there is another documentary coming out (which has been years in the making). Check the Kickstarter page for more details.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joemeek/a-life-in-the-death-of-joe-meek