The Legendary Joe Meek Trivia Quiz

Answer: Newent

Newent is situated about nine miles from the city of Gloucester, and is the town where I was brought up. Joe's brother, Eric, lived next door to us and I met Joe when he brought Heinz Burt to visit Joe's mother.

Answer: Robert

He was born as Robert George Meek on 5 April 1929. He was always interested in electrical items and built radios and televisions in the garden shed of his home.

Answer: John Leyton

Joe worked with all of the singers given as choices, but John Leyton had the hit. The song featured Joe's trademark electronic sounds, created in his flat. John Leyton was also well known as an actor and appeared in 'The Great Escape'.

Answer: Telstar

Telstar was a communications satellite launched in 1962. The record became the first by a UK band to be number one on the US Billboard chart and was also at number one in the UK for five weeks.

Answer: Heinz Burt

All the choices were original members of the band. The song 'Just Like Eddie' was a tribute to Eddie Cochrane. Heinz Burt died in 2000 from motor neurone disease.

Answer: Female drummer

Honey Lantree played drums for the band, and the name of the group was formed partly from her name. Their biggest hit was 'Have I the Right?'.

Answer: Tom Jones

At the time, Tom was the lead singer of a band called Tommy Scott and the Senators. Joe was unable to obtain a record deal at the time, but sold his tapes after Tom had his first big hit 'It's Not Unusual'. Joe heard both Bowie and Stewart sing, but was unimpressed and declined to work with them.

Answer: 1967

Joe died on 3 February 1967 at the age of only 37. His funeral took place at St Mary's Church in Newent and he is buried in the cemetery in Watery Lane.

Answer: Shooting

Joe had confiscated a shotgun from Heinz Burt. He had an argument with his landlady, then shot and killed her before turning the gun on himself. The demand for his music had declined with the advent of The Beatles. A court case over plagiarism meant that he had financial problems as his royalties from "Telstar" could not be accessed. Joe was also homosexual at a time when it was still illegal in the UK.

His mental health had always been unstable, and all his problems led up to this final tragedy.

Answer: Con O'Neill

Con also played the part on stage, and has a resemblance to Joe, in my opinion. The other choices all appear in the film and Nick Moran is also the director. I hope the film brings Joe's music back to public attention. The sounds he created are now commonplace, but to produce these in a flat above a shop with his limited resources is an incredible achievement.

Update - the film was shown at the London Film Festival in October 2008 and went on general release in the UK in 2009. Added by rossian in 2020.