Paul's concert in San Francisco has been relocated to the Ballroom at the Regency Center.
For thirty years, John Weller managed the career of his son Paul, through the salad days and success of The Jam in the Seventies and early Eighties, the ups and downs of The Style Council and Paul’s re-emergence as a solo artist in the Nineties. Theirs was a unique father-son relationship in the music industry, built on John’s unwavering belief in Paul’s talent and shared values like hard work and pragmatism.
John could be blunt, and once refused to have lunch in a record company’s executive dining room, remarking to the managing director: “I didn’t come here to eat, I came to do business.” But his bark was worse than his bite.
John’s success was all the more remarkable since he started in his forties after years working in factories, on building sites and driving a taxi. When The Jam signed to Polydor in February 1977, for a £6,000 advance and a six per cent royalty rate, John admitted he didn’t have a bank account and asked for cash instead of a cheque. A&R man Chris Parry duly we…
John could be blunt, and once refused to have lunch in a record company’s executive dining room, remarking to the managing director: “I didn’t come here to eat, I came to do business.” But his bark was worse than his bite.
John’s success was all the more remarkable since he started in his forties after years working in factories, on building sites and driving a taxi. When The Jam signed to Polydor in February 1977, for a £6,000 advance and a six per cent royalty rate, John admitted he didn’t have a bank account and asked for cash instead of a cheque. A&R man Chris Parry duly we…
Paul and the band were very good last night; I particularly liked the songs from 22 dreams. But the sound mix was not up to usual standard. It seemed that Paul was aware the of this; at many points in the show, he seemed agitated.
ReplyDeleteI was at the show and had a great time. Loved the set list (although would have preferred switching out one of the slow 22 dreams songs for either peacock suit or sigh going places). the band was rockin and Paul was havin' it! Yes - do remember wondering if he was displeased with sound a couple times. I think they turned his mic down too low right before the show.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the band many times both in the UK and US, to be honest I thought there was no connection with the crowd this time. The last show at the Fillmore was great.
ReplyDelete