Joe Meek weekend is a top hit (From Ledbury Reporter)

Joe Meek weekend is a top hit

2:10pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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A LARGE audience at Newent Community School certainly hadn’t forgotten John Leyton, the 1960s star of hits including Johnny Remember Me.

Mr Leyton, now aged 69, was the star attraction of the town’s Joe Meek Celebration Weekend, because his most famous hit was produced by Newent’s most famous son.

Now a Joe Meek celebration looks set to become an annual feature on the town’s calendar.

Peter Street of the Newent Initiative, which organised the event, said; “It was out of this world.

“John Leyton, while on stage, seemed as young as ever and an audience of over 200 people were spell-bound.

“He sang very well indeed, and the Rapiers who backed him are as good as The Shadows, in my opinion.”

Some of the audience had travelled from as far afield as Holland for the concert.

In between songs, Mr Leyton talked about his memories of Joe Meek, and also of other famous people he had known, including Frank Sinatra and Adam Faith.

Another big attraction was a display of vintage cars in Newent town centre on the Saturday morning.

Many of the vehicles dates from the Sixties, the era of Telstar and Joe Meek’s ground-breaking innovations in music recording and production.

Mr Street said: “It’s put Newent on the map.”

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