APRIL 2019
HALL OF FAME
Anne Coxall (aka Honey Lantree) and Dave Adams have been inducted into The Joe Meek Society’s Hall of Fame
 |
 |
Thank you to everyone who came to JOE90. A special shout out to Maurici Ribera Torres who travelled all the way from Barcelona to Joe’s home town of Newent, now that’s commitment! Put the 4th April in your diaries folks as we’ll be heading back to Newent for the 2020 Joe Meek event!
A very BIG thank you to Francis McMahon on Tameside Radio for having our Chairman on his show again to plug the JOE90 event ..
https://www.mixcloud.com/TamesideRadio/the-50s-and-60s-show-with-frank-macmahon-27-03-19/
THE BLUE RONDOS – BABY I GO FOR YOU FEATURED IN HUAWEI ADVERTISEMENT
Their music supervision work placed the 1964 rock song “Baby I Go For You” by a British outfit named The Blue Rondos in the film – and it’s a song that comes with its own weighty backstory.
The 7″ record named Little Baby that the song originates from is the only record that The Blue Rondos ever released, but much of its ongoing notoriety has centred around rumours that the uncredited guitar parts of the record were played by a 20-year-old Jimmy Page! Another trivia note to assure this record’s position in rock’s history pages is that it was penned by the late producer and recording engineer Joe Meek, who was renowned as a teenaged prodigy in his youth and is often credited as being UK’s first independent pop record producer.
See the video by clicking here
THE TORNADOS – NEW ALBUM REVIEWED BY ROB BRADFORD
The Tornados – Through The Years (Private Pressing)
Nut Rocker / At The Hop / Dream Lover / Forget Him / True Love Ways / Three Steps To Heaven / Just Like Eddie / Halfway To Paradise / Take Good Care Of My Baby / Great Balls Of Fire / Telstar
With Clem now having officially retired, it is left to Dave Watts & his cohorts to carry the Tornados’ flame – which they continue to do with some considerable aplomb. Dave was signed up by Joe Meek in December, 1964. Thereafter he played / recorded with the Tornados during 1965 / 66 / 67 / 68. Dave’s line – up of the Tornados also backed up Billy Fury during 1966 / 67. Indeed, Dave Watts was, de facto, the Tornados leader and MD between 1965 and 1968 playing on their releases from “Early Bird” onwards. Additionally, bassist Pete Gill and lead guitarist Shaun Corrigan (who recorded with the Symbols) played on several RGM sessions at 304 Holloway Road in 1966. I’d say their Meek / RGM credentials are impeccable. Plus, drummer extraordinaire Tristan Long was inspired by Clem Cattini and rhythm guitarist / vocalist Jamie Thurston is a huge Joe Meek fan.
The Tornados are now appearing nationwide on various shows – both in clubs and theatres (50 + dates in 2019 already – details on the Tornados’ website). Fans are always asking them if they have any CDs for sale. Thus, in a way, the group are merely giving fans what they want. In essence, this CD is a reflection of aspects of their current stage act. Even when the Tornados were at their peak, they could never go out and play a complete set of RGM instrumentals on live shows / package tours. Indeed, it was exactly the same when Clem was touring between 1989 and 2016.
So, this CD covers all bases: RGM Sounds, Billy Fury, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and more. Recorded and mixed by Tristan Long – the sound quality is exceptional. Very powerful, punchy and clean. These guys are very, very skilled performers. Every track is full of dynamic energy. Very committed performances as befits their devotion to the music they love. It shows.
This CD can be thoroughly recommended to all Joe Meek / RGM / Tornados’ fans / 60s Music Lovers etc. Jamie Thurston is a superb vocalist – and Billy Fury fans will love tracks like “Forget Him” and “Halfway To Paradise”. Great to hear Heinz’s “Just Like Eddie” (a number rarely covered) too – with Shaun Corrigan’s blazing lead guitar work. Dave Watts’ incredible keyboard work is heard to great effect on “Great Balls Of Fire” and, especially, a fantastic “Nutrocker” (featuring a superb quasi – classical opening utilising snippets of Richard Addinsell’s “Warsaw Concerto”). Finally – a blistering re-working of the immortal “Telstar” brings the CD to a fitting finale. At the moment, you can only get the CD directly from the group at their live shows or via their website – www.thetornados.net – for the princely sum of £10.
WHAT ROBB HUXLEY DID NEXT
Robb was a Meek produced artist with The Saxons and The Tornados.
The second part of his planned book trilogy is now available. The book follows Robb’s musical and social ventures in Israel as he engineers a tipping point in Israeli musical history and along the way, with his fellow band members from The Churchills, contributes to one of the rarest psychedelic albums of all time…
With photos and special appendix of poems
Available post free to any country in the world from The Book Depository
or:
Available worldwide Amazon sites on-line in both e-book and paperback – check your local Amazon
Below are UK links
Paperback
e-book
Also available for non Amazon e-readers HERE
To purchase go to our Merchandise link
ROBB’S NEW RELEASE – 10 INCH VINYL
Official release from Western Star.
This is a wonderful project, featuring original 60s Joe Meek recording artist Robb Shenton backed here by our all star Western Star house band featuring the likes of Rusti Steel, Alan Wilson, Steve Whitehouse and many more.
MALCOLM LENNY BOOK 
Malcolm Lenny (ex Packabeats) has a book out. While not a 100 percent Meek book he does recall his recording with Joe.
It’s available in paperback and e-format at Amazon worldwide
Here’s the Amazon UK links:
Book Description: After being told that I should make a note of all the stories and people I’ve met during my life in music, as well as working in the television industry for 34 years, I felt compelled to put my own reminisces down on paper. It’s just that it occurred to me that I’ve met an awful lot of quite well-known people during my life, albeit some in only a small way. I played in ‘60s pop groups The Packabeats and recorded 3 singles with Joe Meek (The TELSTAR Man) and The Hi-Fi’s and recorded two singles with Glyn Johns (The Beatles record producer after George Martin). I also had a No.1 & No.4 in the German charts in ’65 and ’66 and a hit album with The Hi-Fi’s. Later on I worked in the TV industry, mostly with London Weekend Television (ITV) and later SKY TV (Satellite TV).
ADRIAN KERRIDGE’S BOOK
Now available on Amazon – in paperback or kindle:
 |
 |
ADRIAN KERRIDGE’S BOOK
We have been contacted by Adrian’s daughter to advise:
From: Suzanna Kerridge Subject: Adrian Kerridge’s book
Just to let you know we are in the final stages of editing. There was a delay due to the sudden death of my father. However, having worked closely with him in producing this book I have taken over its publication and we are working hard towards a date. As soon as that is available I will let you know.
NEW TRIUMPHS ALBUM AVAILABLE
THE TRIUMPHS – MEEK AND WILD
CD 24 Tracks with 12-page booklet
1. Meeksville 2. Telstar 3. Runaway 4. Husky Team 5. North Wind 6. Eye Of The Storm 7. Wild Wind 8. M25 9. Green Jeans 10. All Shook Up 11. Wipeout 12. Here Come The Good Times 13. He’ll Only Hurt You 14. Loneliness 15. Sunday Date 16. Dreaming Of You 17. Heart Of A Teenage Girl 18. Teardrops Fall Like Rain 19. Big Jim 20. The Coalman’s Lament 21. Night Of The Vampire 22. Jack The Ripper 23. Little Sister (Live) 24. Have I The Right (Live) This is The Triumphs’ tribute to the work of famed record producer Joe Meek. Joe recorded many styles of music and ‘Meek and Wild’ offers a ‘jukebox’ full of great sounds, both vocal (15 tracks) and instrumental.(9 tracks).
In addition to popular chart toppers like Telstar and Have I The Right, the spotlight also falls on rarities such as Ray Dexter’s The Coalman’s Lament and, from the Tea Chest tapes, Geoff Goddard’s Here Come The Good Times. There are five original tracks, all inspired by the work of Joe Meek.
The Triumphs (Rob Bradford, Trev Faull, Ken Ledran and Ray Liffen) have as their special guest Dave Kaye, who recorded with Joe Meek. One of Dave’s tracks is He’ll Only Hurt You, a powerful ballad which he recorded with Joe, but which was never released at that time. Now you can hear it in a brand new arrangement with Dave backed by The Triumphs.
The album’s 12-page booklet includes descriptions of all the tracks and pictures of the band with many of the original Joe Meek artists that they have had the privilege of working with, including Clem Cattini, Dave Kaye, Malcolm Lenny (The Packabeats), Ray Dexter, Bobby Rio and Danny Rivers.
UK £9.99 including postage and packing Europe £12.50 including postage and packing Americas, Africa, Asia £13.50 including postage and packing Australia, New Zealand £13.80 including postage and packing
Go to The Triumphs web site to purchase securely through 
Now also available on-line at Bim Bam Records and Leo’s Den
Other methods of payment:
Pay by cheque (drawn on UK bank) made payable to ‘R. Liffen’ and sent to 24 Dalmeny Road, Carshalton, SM5 4PP U.K Pay manually Paypal to rayliffen@compuserve.com
The album is also available as a digital download at many outlets including
I Tunes UK I Tunes US Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Google Play and also Spotify
ROBB HUXLEY’S BOOK
320 pages and many photos
Buy now from Amazon UK £10.99 – in stock and with free delivery http://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-Here-Often-Meeksville-Connection/dp/1512369241/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
or buy from Amazon.com (USA) for $14.99 plus delivery http://tinyurl.com/oybj8jv
Or order in your local Waterstones (extra charges and delivery delay)
+++
The highs and lows of a Joe Meek recording and touring band are vividly detailed. R0bb was in Robb Gayle & The Whirlwinds/The Saxons/The Tornados
BACK ISSUES OF OUR NEWSLETTERS
All our Newsletters are still available as back issues and they have now been reduced to 10p (plus postage) – the same price as digital copies. Special rates available if you buy in bulk. There is a lot of information in these – specially the early ones edited by John Repsch and he used to answer letters in these too. Contact us if you are interested in back issues.