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And finally, a tribute to one of the greats in inspired-madness-cum-genius-cum-all-round-tragic eccentric, Joe Meek, record producer extraordinaire.

His greatest opus was The Tornados' (pictured above) 1962 hit Telstar, the first hit by a British group to reach no. 1 in the US Hot 100.

He also worked with Lonnie Donegan, John Leyton, Heinz Burt, The Honeycombs and Mike Berry, besides producing film music including a 1963 pop music film starring Heinz, David Hemmings and Steve Marriott, and featuring Gene Vincent and Kenny Ball, among others.

He enjoyed short-lived success, and dragged down by debt and depression on 3 February 1967, he murdered his landlady with a shotgun owned by Heinz Burt, before turning it on himself. He was just 37 and died eight years to the day after his hero, Buddy Holly.

All very mysterious and worthy of the recent film, Telstar.

But his innovations in recording were far-reaching. He pioneered multiple over-dubbing, close miking, direct input of bass guitars, compressors, effects like echo and reverb on both instruments and voices, sampling and processing recordings through his home-made electronic devices.

He looked for the perfect sound for every record. Ignoring the traditions, he used everything on the three floors of his home/studio at 304 Holloway Road, London (including the echo in the bathroom) and freely distorted and manipulated sound to get the right sonic signature.

He trod the paths that later electro/electronic techno-musicians of the 80s and beyond rushed down.

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