From Our Friends At Zani...

It is with great sadness that we heard the news that John Weller, manager of Paul Weller and The Jam has died.

Anybody who was lucky enough ever to see The Jam live will know that his bellowing introduction to the band - ‘LET’S HEAR FOR THE BEST FUCKING BAND IN THE WORLD – THE JAM!’ was a vital part of the live ritual.

As we all know from hindsight The Jam went on to become the most enduring band that came out of British Punk scene. With a string of hit singles and albums, John Weller made this happen, making sure that Polydor never forgot that The Jam was their greatest asset.

Stories of the sacrifices that John made are legion within the lore of The Jam. He maintained his job on a building site while negotiating the record deal – rushing to a payphone in his tea break to call back Polydor and land that deal.

John Weller was not yer typical Svengali manager, there was no bullshit, no scheming, no nonsense. He just did what was right for the band. His personality was stamped all over what The Jam did, even the showbiz parties were different. It is fondness we recall the final Solid Bond studios parties where celebs rubbed shoulders with the aunties and uncles from Woking.

The music world has lost a unique character. So - ‘LET’S HEAR FOR THE BEST FUCKING ROCK’N’ROLL MANAGER IN THE WORLD – JOHN WELLER!’

© Words – Paolo Sedazzari/ ZANI

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John Weller Obituary From The Independent...

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…

Paul Weller's Son, Natt Gives A Candid Taxi Interview

Where else to meet the musician son of the agelessly groovy Modfather but at London’s trendy Met Bar? And there’s more than a hint of moody Mod style about the Japanese parka that Paul Weller’s eldest child Natt has slung over his Vivienne Westwood top.

Yet there all similarity ends, for singer-guitarist Natt has inherited the exotic beauty of his mother – former Wham! and Style Council backing singer Dee C Lee – rather than the famously angular features of his father.

‘Everybody always goes, “Luckily he took after his mum…”’ laughs Natt, whose mother is from France and St Lucia and whose great-great grandma was Japanese. Hence Natt’s fascination for Japan, where he moved in 2006 for a year to learn the language.

To pay for his studies, he modelled and deejayed, ‘I felt like an outsized monster,’ confides Natt, 21, a 6ft 1in beanpole. He returned a fan of Japan’s popular culture – from manga cartoons to punk-goth music – and with a different spelling to his name, which now features two ‘…

Paul Weller Makes Guest Appearance At Blues Fest In London With Ronnie Wood!

Paul Weller joined Ronnie Wood and Friends at the Royal Albert Hall for Blues Fest! Along with Mick Taylor, Paul and Ronnie paid tribute to Mississippi's Jimmy Reed with a performance of the Blues classic, "Shame, Shame, Shame."

Paul Weller News!

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