Paul Weller Fan Podcast

My guest on this episode is John Harris - author, journalist and Paul Weller Super-fan! John was a key part of the music press in 90s - working at Sounds, Melody Maker, NME & Q Magazine before being named editor of Select. As a freelance writer John has written about music, politics and a wide variety of oher subjects for publications such as Rolling Stone, Mojo, The Independent, and New Statesmen...

Neil Sheasby (AKA Brother Sheas) from  Stone Foundation  joins me for Episode 44. Sheas formed the British Modern Soul Group with Neil Jones back in 1997 (check out episode 26 for my chat with 'Jonesy'). Putting an English spin on a strong Stax influence, the seven piece outfit from the Midlands are leaders in the British modern soul scene. We hear all about Neil's love of The Jam, The Style Counc...

My guest this week is the fabulous musician, turned award-winning author, Daniel Rachel. He wrote his first book, Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters after spending his twenties as the lead-singer in Rachels Basement. The book featured interviews with the likes of Paul Weller, Jimmy Page, Robin Gibb, Ray Davies, Annie Lennox, Noel Gallager and many more. His 2017 Book Wall...

My very special guest on this episode is Rick Buckler - drummer for The Jam! Described as 'the big beat behind all of those great songs' and 'the perfect drummer for the perfect bands', Rick tells his story from the early days learning the instrument, to meeting Paul, Steve Brookes and Bruce Foxton at Sheerwater School in Woking. We hear about the early days playing 50s and 60s favourites around S...

On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast , Photographer Martyn Goddard  takes us through his Jam archives. For avid consumers of Jam vinyl in the late seventies and early eighties, Martyn Goddard’s photographs need little introduction. His images appear on the cover of their first album, In The City , and their fifth, Sound Affects . His photos were also used on the front covers of a fl...

My latest guest is described perfectly by @BritpopMemories as 'Probably the best bass player of his generation' - Damon Minchella. As a founding member of Ocean Colour Scene for 14 years, Damon toured the world, scoring five top five albums and 15 top 20 singles (they even supported Paul at my first live Weller experience in 1992!) From 1994-2006, he doubled up as a member of Paul Weller’s band -...

In this episode, I chat to former Polydor Art Director, Bill Smith. Not only did Bill create that famous spray-paint The Jam logo that lives on today but he also created the covers for 5 of their albums and 16 of their singles! Across five decades, Bill Smith Studio has worked with more than 200 bands and artists, creating hundreds of album covers, singles bags, and CD covers. You may not know it,...

2021 finally sees the reemergence of British folk’s most enigmatic lost son - and I can't quite believe that the mighty Matt Deighton is joining me on the podcast! You may recognize Matt Deighton from his time fronting Acid Jazz heroes Mother Earth or as Paul Weller’s guitarist in the late 90’s when he joined the band for the Heavy Soul Tour. And my goodness me - he has some fabulous stories to sh...

Celebrate the release of Fat Pop (Volume 1) from Paul Weller with some lovely fans! Including The Magic Mod (Ben Taylor), Trevor Neal (Trevor & Simon), Broadcaster Peter Gordon (PG) Plus Super-Fans, Tony Christmas, Aarjen Schilt, Peter Nagle, Sandy Mackinnon, Jordan Cartmell, Dan Spackman and David Gordon. All recorded over lunchtime on Friday 14th May 2021 - Fat Pop Day! Find podcast show notes a...

My Guest on this episode is Alex Borg AKA  The Stereo Typist   This podcast is published on the eve of the release of Paul Weller's 16th Solo album - Fat Pop (Volume 1) so who better to chat to than the man who created the wonderful album cover artwork! We hear how it all came about, stories of meetings at Black Barn / Paul Weller HQ along with Alex's love of vinyl, graphic design, bright colours,...

Mick's Up! My Guest is The Style Council Legend - Mick Talbot - keyboardist, songwriter, singer, composer and record producer. On 1st March 1983, Paul Weller officially pulled the wraps off his new project, to be called  The Style Council . Following the split of The Jam, Paul had re-signed to Polydor as a solo artist, and soon recruited former Merton Parkas, Dexy's Midnight Runners and Bureau key...

On this episode I'm joined by PR Guru, Polly Birkbeck (the lady who looks after press for the main man - Mr Paul Weller!) Polly started her career as A&R assistant in the early 90s at Food Records (label for Blur, Jesus Jones, Diesel Park West and others) before heading over to Savage & Best PR where she was Head of Press working with the likes of Pulp, Suede, Elastica and Menswear during the craz...

In this episode, I chat with Paul Francis - bass player with The Paul Weller Movement in 1990. In 1989, Paul Weller found himself without a band and recording deal for the first time since he was 18. After taking time off for most of 1990, he returned to the road in Nov / Dec, touring as "The Paul Weller Movement" with drummer Steve White, Max Beesley (now Hollywood star!), Crispin Taylor, Jacko P...

My guest on this episode is the fabulous Chris Difford - singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer - founding member of Squeeze with Glenn Tilbrook. His musical journey has run parallel to Paul Weller - from starting his first band in 1972 - to hitting the big time in 1978 - and a legacy of magnificent songs like Cool for Cats, Up The Junction, Is That Love, Some Fantastic Place - and at t...

This week, we head across the English Channel to the South of France for a chat with  LE SUPERHOMARD AKA Christophe Vaillant. A french musician with a history of mod-styled formations, like the band The Strawberry Smell and Pony Taylor - and a love of the music of Paul Weller! In early 2019, his debut album  Meadow Lane Park   was not only dreamlike and enchanting, but the critics loved it - and i...

Mojo Magazine - Senior Editor, Danny Eccleston talks Paul Weller Edits MOJO! Paul Weller has been a reader since Issue #1 and a MOJO cover star 11 times. Qualifications that make him an ideal MOJO Guest Editor (their sixth). He asked for features on Paul McCartney, The Coral, CSNY, My Bloody Valentine and Funkadelic, gave the lowdown on his new LP, and recommended new bands and buried treasures fo...

Welcome to an episode dedicated to The Jam Scrapbook - a unique project from Blogger Jill Webb from Hull, England and Steve Hinders from Ohio, USA Listen to me play the part of Cilla Black for a very special 'Surprise Surprise' episode of the podcast. Back in the 1980s, inspired by Paul Weller, Jill wrote and edited a music and poetry fanzine called Kindred Spirit .In 2020, her world changed compl...

New York City based singer-songwriter Jeff Slate is not only an internationally recognized recording artist and music journalist... From the discovery of The Jam in the 1970s, to a love of The Style Council and the first moments of Paul Weller Solo to now - Jeff has been there as a super-fan, a collector, master-interviewer and so much more! Jeff has also got his copy of Fat Pop (Volume 1) so stan...

Steve Rapport - Rock  ' n '  Roll Photographer - documented the London music scene of the 1980s with nothing more than a pair of trusty Nikons and a passion for music with heart and soul. Dive in to hear Steve's incredible stories of music photographer, including The Jam and The Style Council from Brixton Fair Deal, to the ICA, a key role in Red Wedge with Paul and Billy Bragg, to photography on T...

Neil Jones from  Stone Foundation  joins me for Episode 26. Neil formed the Midlands-based Soul band with Neil Sheasby in 1997. A band that continue to raise the bar with every release - and a band who have worked so collaboratively with Paul Weller in recent years. 2017's breakthrough LP, Street Rituals was produced by Paul, who also features on all the tracks (piano, guitar & vocal including lea...

Saxophonist & Song-writer, Billy Chapman played with The Style Council alongside his own band, Animal Nightlife. You can hear him on TSC tracks 'Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse', 'Me Ship Came In!' from Café Bleu, along with the single 'With Everything To Lose' and 'Heavens Above' from The Cost of Loving LP. You can also hear him live on Home & Abroad LP, Style Council in Concert and watch on Far...

Grammy nominatted singer, songwriter, producer and trombonist, Ashley Slater joins us on Episode 24 - (6 out of of 7 special Honorary Councillor podcasts) Ashley emigrated to England in 1977, where he joined the regimental band of the Royal Scots - serving in the army for 6 1/2 years - before joining the jazz orchestral collective Loose Tubes.  As an Honorary Councillor, he played on the single ve...

We have a proper exclusive for Episode 23 as my guest is Jaye Ella-Ruth, formally known as Jaye Williamson. Jaye toured the world with The Style Council in 1984, performing as an Honorary Councillor on BBC Sight and Sound In Concert, and the Far East And Far Out Live video.  You can also hear her vocals on the Groovin’ EP and 1998's LP ' The Style Council in Concert '.  You're in for a real treat...

Our Style Council Celebration continues with Kevin Miller Part of Tracie Young's Soul Squad - signed to Paul's Respond Record Label - he was musical director and played bass guitar -  Kevin toured the world supporting TSC. He also played bass on the Groovin' EP - 'You're The Best Thing' , 'Big Boss Groove' and 'Shout to the Top'. Kevin also worked with Spandau Ballet’ (whilst the absent Kemp broth...

Our Style Council Celebration continues with bass player - Anthony Harty Anthony joined The Style Council straight out of school in 1983. As an Honorary Councillor, he went on to tour the World with Paul, Mick and the band until 1985 before going on to work with over 100 bands and artists includingThe Truth, The Specials, The Beat, The Selecter, Badfinger, The Primitives, Gerry & The Pacemakers, H...