MovieChat Forums > Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2009) Discussion > Open letter from Patrick Pink

Open letter from Patrick Pink

posted 12 years ago by arjunkaul
8 replies | jump to latest

I don't know who is correct but thought should share this anyway.
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To Simon Jordan and Nick Moran,
I am writing this letter to tell you how disgusted I am with your movie Telstar.
For the past 42 years, people have worked very hard to keep Joe's name and
reputation in the public consciousness and I feel you have undone all that hard
work in 120 minutes.
I am extremely upset by the way you have chosen to portray my character. The
fact that you both lied to me barefaced is inexcusable. On the day of filming,
you assured me there would be "no pyjama scenes" (since you knew this had
bothered me in the play) and lo and behold, there was a pajama scene and more. I
do not take kindly to your insuations that I had a sexual relationship with Joe
Meek. To me he was my employer and my friend only. I have stated this
unequivocally many times and in many ways. Contrary to what you may believe,
homosexual men are capable of forming platonic friendships. This is not
'artistic license' this is character assassination. To you, the Joe Meek story
is a cash cow. To me, Joe Meek is my life and I relive what happened every day
of my life. What you have done has made it worse for me. The way you have
portrayed me is beyond hurtful, it is unforgiveble.It looks like I have given
you my blessing to distort the truth the way you have. If I had known how you
were going to portray me, I would not have consented to appear in the film.
The film implies that I was plying Joe with drugs. This never happened.
I never went on holiday with Joe, in fact I never had a British passport until
1967. You know as well as I know, the person who appeared in the beach film
footage with Joe was Andy Cavell. It was Terry O'Neil who went to Spain with Joe
in 1965, if my memory serves me correct. I don't believe that you portraying me
as Joe's lover had any point whatsoever. We get it, Joe was gay--so why couldn't
you have showed him cavorting with any other guy-- (preferably a nameless person
so no one would get hurt) why did it have to be me? This cheapens the
relationship I had with Joe. He was like a father figure to me, a mentor, how
could you portray it like this?
I was upset with the scene of my character holding a gun to Heinz's head. This
implied that I knew the gun was there when Joe was acting manically. This also
means I could have 'stopped him' if I wanted to. As I have said many times, I
did not know of the gun's existence. If I had, maybe history would have been
very different.
As for the final scene, you have bastarized history. Not only were you content
to destroy the character of the only person who was true to Joe and had to
witness two deaths that day, you had to sink to a new level with that final kiss
which (thank god) true music historians knew never happened.
Joe Meek was a wonderful person, capable of extraordinary kindnesses. You got
his character totally wrong. He appears to be a bastard from beginning to end.
Unfortunately, history will now quote your film as the benchmark for Joe Meek.
In my opinion you have destroyed the reputation of one of music history's most
gifted record producers.
These are just a few of my gripes. I could go on and on but I am quite content
to leave it at that for now. I demand a public apology. I know a lot of people
have been hurt by this film, but it is up to them to speak for themselves. I'm
very sorry that Joe Meek can't.

Signed,

Patrick Pink (AKA ) Robbie Duke.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/joemeek/message/5888
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[–] mangos47 12 years ago

Thanks for sharing this. It is always good to hear what the real people have to say about the film.

"My will is strong but my won't is weak"

[–] arjunkaul 12 years ago

My pleasure.

I've watched a lot videos on youtube.

John Repsch did a series of great interviews some of which are on youtube.

This film is basically a scene by scene remake of BBC's Arena: The Strange Story of Joe Meek. Excellent moving documentary.

That documentary is based on 'The Legendary Joe Meek" by John Repsch.

[–] E-Kartoffel 11 years ago

This film is basically a scene by scene remake of BBC's Arena: The Strange Story of Joe Meek

Just laughable claim, wow

[–] Goatlips 10 years ago

Signed,

Patrick Pink (AKA, Robbie Duke)

I don't understand the AKA. Joe Meek was AKA Robert Duke and some of his writing credits were attributed to this pseudonym.

Anyway, regarding the letter. I thought Patrick came across as the best, most trustworthy, person in the whole film! I didn't even notice the 'pyjamas scenes'.
The relationship did come across as a father/son type partnership - I didn't notice any sexual desires until Meek went deranged at the end. Patrick knowing of the gun in the film was not a big deal either, as it was only a couple of decades after the war and guns were more commonplace back then - only in the '80s would a gun seem concerning.
Also, there's a scene where Patrick tells him not to take drugs, so he's not pushing drugs on him.
This Patrick Pink, if the letter really is from him, seems paranoid about his own reputation, when no one is actually interested in his story.
Obviously if Meek wasn't the psychotic tyrant he was portrayed as, then that is pretty disgusting...although he did shoot an old woman and himself, when he should've known the court case for the Telstar rights was in session.

[–] mcfaddensflats 9 years ago

Meek did indeed use that name for song credits.

I saw "The Strange story of Joe Meek" years ago and I think (from memory) Heinz Burt said Meek came on to him, but Heinz, being straight, wanted none of it - and an angry Meek threatened to ruin him in the business. I've also seen somewhere that Heinz, being no singer, but looking cute, was voice dubbed by someone else on his records for Meek - not an unknown practice in the music biz. One wonders why they never did it with Fabian in the US?

[–] MovieMinx67 8 years ago

I agree with most of what you say, except I found the Patrick character as one of the most interesting. Otherwise, you're spot on.

[–] MovieMinx67 8 years ago

Dear Mr. Pink,
I just saw Telstar for the first time. I must say, I never presumed a sexual relationship between you and Mr. Meek. I found it more nephew/uncle. I thought nothing of that awkward kiss at the end. I thought it was Mr. Meek's way of saying something like, "Goodbye, cruel world." I believe that Mr. Meek was a wonderful and misunderstood person, as many geniuses are. The movie emphasized his eccentric behavior at the beginning, I think, for comedic purposes. I never dreamed anyone could have charged you with any crime whatsoever. I was shocked to read that they presumed you had killed anyone, especially in light of the trauma you must have experienced that day. That's just ludicrous. I am very sorry for all that you witnessed that day. I found your character quite sincere and sympathetic. I am sorry you feel the men who made the film skewed the truth. For me, the movie left me wanting to know more about Mr. Meek. I hope that you are well.
Sincerely,
Debi H.

[–] csos 7 years ago

MovieMinx67 I agree completely with what you say.