Joe Meek was a hugely innovative and influential producer – NME rank him #1 in their ’50 Greatest Producers Ever’ list.
He was also pretty much the original ‘bedroom’ producer, living and working in a small flat above a leather goods store in London.
His distinctive sound(s) are the result of pushing the recording equipment of the day to their limits, along with plenty of his own home-made gear.
As with many an artist, particularly such a demanding perfectionist who yet manages to be so prolific, he suffered what today we would recognise as serious mental health problems. The recent suicide of Robin Williams may have shocked the world, but will surely come as no real surprise to anyone who has spent much time among serious performers, musicians, writers and artists of any other kind.
Meek was also homosexual, at a time when that was illegal in the UK. Besides one minor conviction, he spent his whole life under the threat of blackmail and persecution.
Finding himself penniless and without an income as the result of an entirely unjustified and malicious copyright suit – which was judged in his favour shortly after his untimely death – he descended into psychosis and paranoia, at a time when such things went undiagnosed, much less treated compassionately.
In an episode of extreme psychotic delusion, he shot dead first his landlady, then himself, tragically cutting short the life of a complete innocent along with that of a truly creative artist to whom we all, one way or another, still owe a considerable debt.
I would like to draw your attention to the touching eulogy to the man and his music posted over in ‘Effects’ by Fabien of Tokyo Dawn Records:
How is it possible to post such bile while attempting to claim the moral high ground?FabienTDR wrote:Well, even the name sucks by several standards.
Let's have a listen at his latest"incredible" recordings..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sfH16XrEfc
This guys is a crazy, coward murderer. I really don't understand how some ppl can follow anything "Meek", both from the musical and moral point of view.
Until I read that, I was seriously considering MeekPro for my 5th place vote.
It now has my 5 points (apologies to the other 4 I voted for, and the 3 or 4 others I was considering: your votes will be a point short of their rightful tally this DC; but I believe it is in a just cause).
I urge you to consider doing so also.
Such ignorant and bigoted views have no place on a public forum such as this.
Nor are the people who post them welcome.
Please join me in this stand against intolerance, and the slander of the great by the mediocre.
)
