Actor Nick Moran will join a gala event in Newcastle on September 3 to mark the northern premiere of *Don’t Forget Me*, the first fully authorised documentary about rock ’n’ roll pioneer Eddie Cochran. The screening will take place at Tyneside Cinema, an independent venue known for premiering works by noted filmmakers such as Ken Loach and Danny Boyle.
Moran, best known for his role in the 1998 film *Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels*, will appear alongside the documentary’s director Kirsty Bell and rising American singer-songwriter Jack Harris, who portrays Cochran in the film. Bell, originally from Newcastle, will return to her hometown for the occasion, which coincides with the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation. The foundation has supported local causes, including Tyneside Cinema’s Talent Unit, which nurtures emerging filmmakers.
The documentary provides an in-depth look at Cochran’s life and legacy through interviews with prominent musicians such as Keith Richards, Yungblud, Roger Daltrey, Sting, Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, and Suzi Quatro, alongside tributes from Cochran’s bandmates and family members. The film recounts Cochran’s brief yet influential career, which ended at age 21 following a fatal taxi accident in 1960, shortly after he performed in Newcastle during his UK tour.
*Don’t Forget Me* has already premiered in London and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The London premiere was part of the Raindance Film Festival, where Bell earned the Best Director award. Bell described telling Cochran’s story as a “deepest honour,” highlighting the enduring impact of his music across decades and continents.
The gala event will include a question-and-answer session featuring Moran, Bell, Harris, and John Gibson, a ChronicleLive columnist and lifelong Cochran fan who attended the artist’s 1960 Newcastle performance. Moran brings a multifaceted perspective, having acted in films such as *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* and co-written and starred in *Telstar*, a film about record producer Joe Meeks.
Produced by Oscar and BAFTA-winning company Goldfinch Entertainment, the documentary underscores Cochran’s significant influence on rock music, with his songs having been covered over 500 times by artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Led Zeppelin, and T. Rex.
Angie Jenkinson, chief executive of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation, emphasized the connection between Cochran’s talent and the foundation’s mission to support young people with creative passion. Nic Greenan, chief executive of Tyneside Cinema, praised the event as a celebration of film, music, and culture that also acknowledges the role of local support in developing emerging film talent.
General admission tickets for the screening are priced at £17.49, with VIP options available for £45, offering access to a drinks and canapés reception along with a meet-and-greet with the cast and crew.