The North East premiere of the documentary 'Eddie Cochran: Don't Forget Me' will take place at Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema on September 3, 2026, marking the 66th anniversary of the rock and roll star's death. The film, directed by award-winning Geordie filmmaker Kirsty Bell, has already won the Best Director award at the Raindance Film Festival and has been recognised by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
A tribute with family backing
The film is a meticulously researched tribute with the full backing of the Cochran family, which initially was almost impossible to obtain. It combines interviews and archive footage with dramatic reenactments, featuring Jack Harris as Cochran and Frances Barber as his mother Alice.
Kirsty Bell told the Chronicle: "I wanted to find the emotional heartbeat of Eddie's story. This is an artist who lived only until his 21st year yet five songs he wrote have been covered 500 times with Summertime Blues the stand out. It's a phenomenal legacy."
Overcoming initial resistance
The first approach to the family lawyer Sindee Lavin via email produced "a horrendous response" threatening plague and famine. Determined, Kirsty pressed on. A meeting with Sindee was set up in Santa Monica and lasted four hours before a thaw set in. Next it was Seattle to meet the family, including sister Pat and niece Pam.
Eddie was the youngest of five, a clever lad at school, who was very close to his mother. He was getting £250 a week on his British tour and used to phone his mam every night. When he died she moved into his room.
Rock legends pay homage
Rock superstars came out in their numbers to pay homage as Kirsty crisscrossed the globe in search of detail. Alice Cooper was interviewed in Frankfurt, Keith Richards spoke in New York, Sting sang Three Steps To Heaven to his fellow Geordie interviewer, and Ronnie Wood had Eddie Cochran on the jukebox in his house. Others also weighed in: Billy Idol, Suzy Quatro, Roger Daltrey.
Journalist John Gibson, who witnessed Cochran live at the Newcastle Empire in March 1960, also contributed to the film. His article about Newcastle United's three critical games in October 2024, which he compared to Cochran's song Three Steps To Heaven, was seen by Kirsty, who was seeking contact with a fan who had witnessed him live in concert. Gibson became that person, and the following month he was filmed in the living room of Kirsty's father, Arthur McKenzie, a former GB athlete and TV writer. Gibson received a rare pin badge from the original Eddie Cochran fan club as a memento.
Premiere details
A few tickets remain for the North East premiere at the Tyneside Cinema on Thursday, September 3, with proceeds going to the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation to mark its 10th anniversary.
