Even if you consider yourself a dyed-in-the wool music nerd, you still may not know the true story behind British musical pioneer Joe Meek (1929-1967).

American filmmakers Howard Berger and Susan Stahman spent five years creating the documentary film A Life in the Death of Joe Meek and their goal was to deliver a story that would resonate with the 'MySpace generation.' The film has only shown in Portland, Ore., Sheffield, England, and Glasgow, Scotland, and Berger believes they've accomplished their goal of giving the late Meek his due as a unique individual driven to create his art his way.

Early interest in all things electronic led the young Meek from a stint in Britain's Royal Air Force as a radio operator to his becoming a well-respected sound engineer in the mid-1950's London pop-music scene. Even at this early stage, Meek had a predilection for avoiding what were considered normal recording and engineering techniques in favour of creating something of value that was, at least to his advanced ears, remarkable. Eventually Meek went independent - at a time when it was inconceivable to do so and imagine any chance of monetary gain or chart success.

What initially drew Berger and Stahman to Meek's story was not only his iconoclasm, but also the sad and tortured yet popular and well-respected man behind the recording genius.

"We had originally planned in the late '90s to make a straight narrative film loosely based around Meek and his world, but after doing more research, we found that this strange, sad horrible story would be better suited to a doc," explains Berger from his Los Angeles home. "I only had to hear a few moments of a song Joe produced for The Charades called Dumb Head to make me want to quit my day job and make this film."

The pair interviewed over 90 individuals that were connected to Meek or his family.

"We went to England a number of times and, through one of Joe's nephews. we finally were able to spend a week with Joe's initially hesitant brother Eric," Berger says. "He hadn't liked most of what had been said about Joe in the past but we convinced him we would treat his brother's history with the utmost respect and he really helped."

You'll have to see the film to get all the grotty details on what "illegal" homosexuality, long days and nights of zealous recording and engineering sessions, spiraling depression and one fatal afternoon with a loaded shotgun brought about.

A Life in the Death of Joe Meek makes its Canadian debut at Cinematheque on May 8 at 9 p.m.