A Life in the Death of Joe Meek (2013) User Reviews

Amusing, surprising bio doc

[abraxas73 · 8/10 · 17 January 2008]

Having begged a friend who had to do coverage of this doc for a "big" festival to let me watch it with her (I am a big Joe Meek fan), I have to say, I was wonderfully surprised.

Joe Meek is slowly becoming a household word after nearly 40 years since his death and probably for all the wrong reasons. This film gleefully and briskly sets the record straight. What works so well is the collection of entertaining interviews by a variety of genuine characters and the very personal perspectives they impart. Highly informative, poignant and entertaining.

What it boils down to is that Joe was a human being who did extraordinary things -- he was not a homicidal superman as another doc from a distant era would like you to believe. Not a carnival freak, but a clever intuitive human who knew how to get a lot out of other equally intuitive individuals. That's what an artist does and the doc hits on this dead on. Very inspiring and never disappointing. Especially from this fan's perspective.

Absolute watermark in documentary storytelling!

[garrettmulholland · 10/10 · 13 April 2008]

A vibrant, super-fast paced winner from 2 American filmmakers who shocked the audience I saw this with at the Sensoria Film Festival here in Sheffield, UK. The story of Joe Meek, a name I've heard made many times in passing reference over the years by friends of mine in numerous local bands finally has an indelible, very human face to it with this warm, complex and extremely funny documentary that had everyone around me, after 2 hours of running time, begging for more, but only because we were already marvellously satisfied! Joe Meek was the United Kindom's first independent pop record producer. Gay when the UK deemed it criminal, devoted only to creating extraordinary, unique pop recordings on his own terms, endlessly battling against the rigid, corporate norms of the 1950's and '60's recording studio rules, Joe pioneered, not only new ways of recording music, but new ways of promoting it and new markets to promote to. He was pretty much the first producer to aim his sights directly at the burgeoning teen record-buying market after WWII and after successfully identifying the needs of that market, he gave them exactly what they wanted: loud, rhythmic music with enough hooks and strange sounds to last several lifetimes. But the real treasure in this feature is how we are made to care for this man's desperate struggle to make contact with someone, anyone and how much instinctive genius he used to do it. Telstar by the Tornadoes is his most famous achievement, but the film shows many other acts under his control that are just as worthy of attention. The segments chart his chronological growth from inventive little boy in far away rural Newent to his ultimate move to London where he focused his talents to suit his own idea of pop recording and basically fought the industry to a desperate and bloody showdown. I won't dare give any more away from this carefully plotted, dazzlingly edited mini-epic for it would truly spoil all the fun that the very creative co-directors have constructed. What a task! The interviews themselves are a treat and the art within them is an obviously unbiased uncondescending care toward each and every subject. Each person has wit, personality and warmth and more importantly: something to say! Remarkable retro-graphics are equally deft and well directed. The director, before the screening mentioned that things still need technical tweaking, but for the life of me and the half-dozen friends that came with me, we had no idea what he could have been referring to! It is really hard to imagine how much better this brilliant, sensitive and perfectly imagined doc could possibly get, but after seeing it for ourselves, we'd trust that he'd accomplish whatever he (and his collaborator) set out to do. This film is a treat and I hope it gets a major release here and not just in the States. It's an audience picture, one that effortlessly educates, entertains and leaves you ready to discuss, debate and watch it again and again. Smart pick for the opening night of this wonderful new fest! Great job, Yanks!

A brilliant achievement

[alan-maddrell-120-530926 · 30 September 2014]

I saw this at the Doc 'n' Roll festival in London. It's an indie production in the truest sense - a labour of love that's inspired contributions from an amazing array of artists and people connected with Joe.

The film does what documentaries do best: get out of the way and tell the story of their subject faithfully, while lightly sketching a compelling central character.

People's experiences of Joe could differ wildly and these contradictions are left intact for all to see, showing the complexity of someone with remarkable strengths and debilitating weaknesses in all areas of his life.

There are some remarkable contributions from people who haven't spoken about their experiences before. Hearing these stories from people personally connected to Joe can be difficult, moving, interesting, touching and hilarious. Most importantly, the life shines through, which is what Joe's achievements deserve.

Hopefully this film will be seen by a wider audience.

Haunting and pertinent

[stonedmeerkat · 10/10 · 5 October 2009]

I saw this "in progress" edit a while ago and was afraid it had all but disappeared. I had searched for a DVD but nothing had turned up until a few weeks ago, my boyfriend got me a DVD of TELSTAR thinking it was the same movie (both are about 1960's British recording engineer, composer and innovator Joe Meek) but, frustratingly so, it was not.

A LIFE IN THE DEATH OF JOE MEEK was unexpectedly one of the most engrossing and entertaining docs I have seen in a multitude of moons. And while it's main achievements are its ferocious pace, its compact yet detailed interweaving of history, industry and personal passion, pleasure and pain; the major score is the indelible imprint it leaves in your mind long after you've left the theater.

Hearing all the stories from family and friends and colleagues and enemies and admirers (some of whom are quite famous and have since contributed to changing pop culture in their own right), it is not so much a case of how oddball and aberrant and sensational this man's life has been (as was, not too surprisingly but disappointingly so, the case with TELSTAR); but instead a subtle, positive and forcefully inspirational message lingers. I am haunted by the desperation and instinctive drive of this "innarticulate" man (for lack of a better word) to make contact with the world the only way he knew how -- through music and, sometimes, noise itself in all manner of unconventional and conventional commercial means. Not just that Meek was gay at a time in England when it was illegal (punishable by imprisonment) or that he was a respected but constrained and tormented engineer at top UK recording studios that wanted to go independent (unheard of at the time) that makes the audience root for his success or even moreso, to answer his lonely, determined call for love.

It is the way the testimony of it's vast and personable cast is underscored by the accompanying photographs of Joe that persuades and provides guidance to understanding this everyman whose end is heartbreaking and beyond tragic. The succession of images of Joe - a handsome man with an engaging smile - that sits in the memory bank with the strongest impact. The way that smile deteriorates as Joe's world change around him is an ingenious and effective piece of direction. It made me want to intervene in someway, to involve myself, to help somehow. But, of course, that is impossible. But it seemed to me that the filmmakers want Joe to represent each and every one of us in the audience; to awaken within us the realization of our individual potential and ability to contribute value and meaning through our own passions is as valid as the next guy. To remind us that there are no boundaries to achievement and to compassion. And also to use Joe's fate as a caution. But that message isn't beaten over your head. It's Joe's vanishing smile (restored in a coda that sent my heart soaring) that says it all.

It's to this film's credit that I couldn't enjoy TELSTAR, the fictional take on Meek's life. TELSTAR doesn't really make a case for Joe at all. It assumes I know everything about Joe and that I should nod and wink with clique-ish acknowledgment at every passing anecdotal scene. Not so with A LIFE IN THE DEATH OF... The doc, if anything, unveils this life and death with a fresh, subjective point-of-view so that I can participate in each revelation, good or bad and not just observe a series of sensational events as seems to be the effect I had with TELSTAR.

Granted, I had seen this film before I had seen TELSTAR and because of that made me "disagree" with much of it(much in the tale is compressed and altered and sensational and narrow-minded and the actor who plays Joe is quite nasty). I can only hope that the TELSTAR effect won't discourage people from seeking out the documentary. The attitude and style of A LIFE IN THE DEATH OF... left a bright and hopeful feeling. I respected and felt for Joe (despite the tragic on unpremeditated circumstances of his last minutes) after the doc, but TELSTAR made me reel from him in disgust. Perhaps it is a bit of that 1960's homophobia that clings to the edges of TELSTAR that is distasteful. I get more of a sense of humanity from A LIFE IN THE DEATH OF... which at the same time never asks you to excuse his actions, but to forgive the circumstances. Quite a difference in approach and very interesting to compare.

In any event, I found the MySpace page for the doc and read that they were still filming interviews and were in the process of adding those into the existing feature. A huge relief. This film has a spirit and flavor that deserves to be relived and tells of a history that should never be forgotten.

the best documentary you've never seen about the most amazing man you've never heard of

[gretavanhousen · 10/10 · 16 June 2010]

I had seen this film a short while ago on a wild, stormy summer night after a full day of consuming rock docs. I have to say, I had never heard of its subject before. I gave it a chance, though my ass was already quite sore from the aforementioned daily indulgence and I hadn't eaten much between flicks. In fact, I was pretty grouchy too... But the add art was cool and the buzz about this thing in the lobby of the NFB piqued my curiosity. So I thought that I'd at least give it a shot. Now this was over a year ago and not one week has passed where my mind hasn't begged the question: "When will this film be released???" I found emotions and moments upon moments of humour and heart that quite simply DO NOT EXIST in current motion pictures, let alone rock docs. The story of England's first independent pop record producer and creator of such iconic melodies as the revelatory instrumental "TELSTAR" is rich with interesting characters who are eloquent and personal in sharing their recollections and sharp, profound insights on history and culture. The music is memorable as is the witty, fast paced editing and photo manipulations. One of the film's 2 directors was present at the screening, which he informed the crowd was actually a work-in-progress. Very impressive for a movie made by just 2 people on such a small budget (with a few very talented graphic artists as well!)! I have never seen a crowd more interested in a Q&A in my life! A documentary on the art-metal-delic rock band THE MONKS preceded this with one of The Monks actually present and went quite well, but when the Joe Meek director took the stage later in the evening, not one person left the theatre... for nearly another hour and a half! Unheard of! The story is just that fascinating. While thestory is at times very, very heartbreaking it also sparkles with wit and great storytelling. I really fell in love that night. With Joe Meek (his passion and innovation)and this film. But I also miss it and wish to see it surface again soon, hopefully finished to the very talented directors (one of whom is a woman, thank you very much!)satisfaction. I wish them all the best.

This one reverberates.

[raymich66 · 10/10 · 8 October 2008]

This ruefully humorous, at times quite poetic distillation of the life and art of UK recording maverick Joe Meek, creator of such 20th Century pop treasures as "Telstar" and "Have I The Right?", unfolds with a strong, pleasurable narrative confidence. And aside from merely presenting a window to another century's England made alien to us by time passing, the film also manages to explore the general nature of commercial individualism and commercial manipulation/sexual individualism and sexual manipulation. Rough trade, most definitely. What a cast of characters! Cult authors Simon Napier-Bell and Jake Arnott contribute some profound (and profoundly hilarious)insights to the industry and era as do nearly every one else in the intriguing collection of personalities up for examination. The pace is brisk, but I don't think too sacrificial of important details as it does manage to telegraph so much essential information about Joe's complex world. In fact, in under 2 hours we are very well put on track for understanding Joe's: childhood, approach to sound, sexual politics, work ethic and environment, personal emotions and psychological composition, cultural impact and importance, industry impact and importance. Add to this a general education on the music industry of the time, basic primers on sound recording and a coherent, generally upbeat trajectory of the essentially downbeat story and it all equals: a highly entertaining, never-too-sentimental, appropriately inspirational evening out at the cinema. A mouthful of praise, perhaps; but a great time, never-the-less.

Documentary that pulsates with excitement! "A Life In The Death..."indeed!

[dnaimprint67 · 10/10 · 6 October 2008]

Extremely funny, amazingly sad, informative, comprehensive, creative, and, most importantly, smashingly entertaining! Despite waiting an excruciating hour on a sold out queue at the Raindance Film Festival, the raw energy of the film and the delicate poignancy that was delivered more than made up for the extremely uncomfortable delay.

The filmmakers deliver a rich tapestry of a time and place where the qualities that comprised an individual were silenced and shoved underneath the carpet. Quite a different world from what exists today where personal freedoms and personal expressions have open global forums such as MySpace and Facebook.

A film both heartbreaking and hilarious and a magnificent entry point for those (such as I) who'd never heard of Joe Meek before. The overall production, by seemingly a half-handful of individuals is quite slick for such a low-fi approach; the music and graphics are alternately amusing and triumphant and the shrewd, lightening-paced editing wrings the strongest audience reaction out of every word from its consistently personable cast. Obviously a lot history, technical information and emotions for the filmmakers to tackle in a mere 2 hours running time, but the viewer feels enlightened, enriched and inspired by the end.

Looking forward to seeing this again at some point under less arduous conditions!

A great doc!

[mosaic300 · 10/10 · 25 July 2009]

I managed to see this at two separate UK fests last year. A lovely, lovingly made documentary about England's unsung treasure, Joe Meek. I was pulled into totally alien territory with the history, subject matter and characters and within minutes the filmmakers had tricked me into believing that I had been there and done that. Great feeling! Some of the sections are surprisingly funny, others are desperately sad, but ultimately all together inspiring. I was hoping to get this on DVD by now, only just read I had seen it as a work in progress! Could have fooled me (twice!). Looks damn well done to me! Best of luck to the filmmakers in finishing what I thought was already a smashing film! The new, fictionalised TELSTAR currently in release makes for pale comparison with this one, the real deal. But a good biopic is so hard to come by. Great info for history lovers, great music for music lovers, great subject for documentary lovers, great entertainment for film lovers. TIP: actually, forget DVD for now, let's get this one into theatres, boys -- it's really great when seen with a crowd!

A good introduction to a promising film

[thestunningchemist · 9/10 · 29 September 2006]

I have just got back from Raindance Film Festival where I caught this 12 min short. And not only that, I actually sat next To Howard S Berger after we had got chatting in the queue. I will admit that I had no idea who Joe Meek was before tonight but even in 12 minutes I now have a fair idea of what he meant to the music industry. There seems to be a lot to the guy, including his homosexuality and 12 minutes certain was not enough to capture the essence of his story. Shot as a documentary, the (short) film intersperses footage of Meek's work along with interview with his contemporaries and from more recent musicians, including Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand). Although this might just come across as being yet another Biopic of someone who not many people may know, I found this informative, entertaining and funny in places too. I look forward to seeing the finished work.

In concurrence, an excellent documentary.

[tinyfrond · 10/10 · 14 October 2008]

I am adding my opinion in apparent agreement with those previously posted. I endured the hour+ Raindance Film Festival queue as well and was similarly rewarded for the trouble.

Very fast, warm, and well rounded. What I found unusual is the easy, friendly manner in which the film's narrative simultaneously educates and entertains. Many stories worth repeating, many lines worth quoting.

Technically, the editing has the myriad episodes galloping straight out of the gate and the graphics are both amusing and cleverly detailed.

Like much of the music in the film, this documentary is tough to shake from the memory. I can't recommend this one more highly.

Informative, fast-paced and gripping.

[mrjackwoodcock · 5 October 2014]

I saw this film at a special screening at the Sheffield Showroom Cinema in early October 2014 having only recently been introduced to Joe Meek and the influence he had on the 1960's music scene. I found this documentary to be an amazing piece of work and really helped me to understand the real Joe Meek and his rise and decline.

The way Berger and Stahman have captured the highlights and pitfalls of Meek's career are so descriptive and the interviews with friends, colleagues and family really help you to understand what type of person Meek was and why he is so influential to this day in the world of music production.

It's easy to tell how much effort and love went into the this documentary and does not fail to deliver on making you feel as though you have been on this epic journey of discovery and knowledge right along side the directors.

To everyone, be you a long serving Meek fan or having just heard about him from this review, I recommend viewing this master piece. I guarantee you will not regret the decision.

Brilliant documentary!

[tacchan74 · 12 October 2014]

We recently saw this great documentary at the Doc 'n Roll Festival in London (September 2014). Before watching the film, I didn't know that much about Joe Meek and his legacy and this was an eye-opener. The filmmakers have done a fantastic job in conjuring up Joe's talent and controversial personality through their interviews with artists, colleagues and family members. The film is incredibly informative and entertaining and it tackles topics such as Joe's homosexuality and thunderous character in an honest and open way. Its editing style and use of music are very creative but never divert your attention from Joe and his work. What becomes absolutely clear in the film is the fact that Joe's life interest didn't lie in making money but in making the music that was so obviously part of his deeper inner being. Joe succeeded in creating a new sound world through hard work and perseverance and although his life was short his legacy has proved to be long-lasting. This is a great film and a must-see!

Yes, please!

[salasjulio929 · 7 November 2013]

Electric! Electric! Electric! Not much had I know of this early genius of the pop sound of the 1960's until I saw this wonderful documentary. From young days of curiosity to bigger times of making hits independent with teenage talent like soon to be rock giants Jimmy Page and Steve Howe, this film covers the ups and downs and the dark and lights of a very complicated man and life. It is a sad film. It is a funny film. And it really makes you think twice about life's injustice that can take even a pioneer in music down (it has happen again and again). Highly entertaining and very exciting with great music, special effects and interesting people. A very great, important documentary to savor!

Setting the record straight.

[josh-b-heenan · 8 October 2014]

I was fortunate enough to attend a screening of this marvelous documentary as part of the Sensoria festival in Sheffield.

As a pairing, previous offerings of showcasing Meek in 'Telstar: The Joe Meek Story' & BBC's 'The Strange Story of Joe Meek' were often fanciful, and arguably slanderous to the Meek legacy.

These recurrent elaborations providing for a source of frustration for Meek enthusiasts such as myself.

In contrast, A Life in Death provides a plethora of interviewees (ranging from Meek's brother to Jimmy Page) to deliver fact , and personal opinion that serves both to quell the conjecture whilst providing primary source viewpoint.

The passion and warmth radiated in this skilfully presented piece is a triumph to the resolution and virtue of both Stahman & Berger who have proved to be two of the most suitable custodians of the Joe Meek legacy.