John Weller Tribute...From HeavySoulBrutha-Dave B.

One thing you always knew while standing in the crowd at a Paul Weller concert was the very moment you saw Papa John, as our little group would affectionately call him, appear at the side of the stage to take his customary viewing spot that the show was about to begin. It became a game amongst my tight knit group of friends that I have been attending Paul Weller concerts with since we first saw Paul live back in 1991. It always seemed like the first of us to say, "Fellas, Papa John" and point out the silver haired patriarch was the winner of some prize of respect only known to us.

I was lucky enough to meet Papa John in New York City way back in November of 1992. Paul had performed a blistering little set at Tower Records earlier that day and was doing a gig at Irving Plaza. On this particular trip our normal crew of four was limited to my brother Mike and myself as the various commitments from the other members, Ryan and Dave K., kept them from attending. Mike and I arrived at the venue really early, might have been the first two through the door even, and as I entered the hall I noticed Papa John standing on the other side of the room. First off, I was genuinely quite excited to see him as I didn't spot him at Tower Records earlier. Secondly, I was a bit sad that my friend Ryan couldn't make the show as he is the member of the group that does all the talking and is the most personable cat I know, this would have been his moment. But, it was up to me and after a short conversation and bit of encouragement from Mike I nervously headed over to introduce myself to the big fella. "Um, hello...Mr. Weller. My name is Dave," is probably what I said. Papa John extended his hand and put the other on my shoulder and said, "Nice to meet you Dave."

Now the next few moments were a blur accompanied by some jumbled sentences from me. I told him how much I loved the Tower gig and how excited my brother and I were to see the show tonight. I politely asked him if he could get Paul to sign my Into Tomorrow single and he said sure. He grabbed it, went backstage and returned a few moments later with said signed item. I was of course beaming. Now, here's the crazy part, he then asked if my brother and I wanted a drink and said, "I've got something I want to ask you guys." We looked at each other, then back at Papa John and said, "Yes, sir!" A few moments later we were sharing a beer with JOHN FUCKING WELLER! It was one of those surreal moments that while you are smack dab in the middle of it you're excited for sure, but it also feels like it's exactly what is supposed to be happening at that very moment.

Here's where one can really see the connection that John had with the fans. He started to talk about Paul "breaking" America. He wanted to know what sort of suggestions my brother and I had to make this happen. What?!?! He was just chatting to us and posing these questions like we were his good mates sort of like, come on let's all put our heads together and figure this thing out. Of course, we did our best to offer up suggestions like constant touring, TV and Radio appearances, loads of promotion, etc. I mean we took it damn seriously. He told us that his ultimate dream for Paul was to sell out Madison Square Garden. "That's what I want for my son." And in that moment I felt like I could be honest with him and said, sure that would be amazing but not a lot of people except for die-hards even know who Paul is. But, he was having none of that. "It can be done. We can do it. I know my son can do it!" Complete confidence. And even though I wished and hoped that Paul could break through here, I knew it was going to be hard. But, you know how fathers are. They always dream for big things for their kids. John Weller had no doubt that he could make the dream of the Garden, whether Paul was dreaming it or not, a reality for the Weller family.

John then asked us if we wanted to meet Dee (C. Lee) and again as if we were still in this crazy dream, we looked at each other and back at John with resounding, "YES, SIR'S!" He brought the lovely Dee out, told her about our convo, posed for pics with us, a nice round of thank you's, and the meeting with Snr. Mr. Weller was over. Like the big Weller nerd that I am, I placed the beer can that John bought me in my shoulder bag and it remains in my collection to this day.

Sadly, as you all know, Papa John passed away with the Madison Square Garden dream never realised. I have no doubt he was proud to see Paul reach the heights of stardom as a solo artist that completely surpassed The Jam and The Style Council combined. But, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he was always working behind the scenes to get his son that sell-out MSG show.

To me, there's no better example of a father looking out for his kid. Paul has called his dad his best mate. Now that, more than anything else, is THE true testament of the legacy of Papa John.

RIP and thank you kind sir for the drink...

Peace and SOUL,
Dave...
Richmond, Virginia
USA

More John Weller Fan Tributes...Funeral, Donation, Gift Info...

So sorry to hear about your dad. Keep him close in your memories.
-Allison, Andrew, Daniel & Gregory
New York City

I think Paul said it all in reference to his dad in the beautiful song 'Where 'er Ye Go.
I can imagine that the song is more meaningful than ever to Paul now.
I've only ever heard very nice things said about John Weller so I can imagine how hard it will be for his family to get over their sad loss.
He was a very supportive father who gave his family everything, and that alone holds high respect for the man in my opinion.
May you always shine on.
B P Slade
Reading Berkshire.

Dear Paul,
Hi from Jean Lannen and Chris Snider, old fans from Michigan that now live in San Francisco. We've had talked with you many times, along with your father at shows....(including your Birthday show back in Ann Arbor Michigan, along time ago).....your Father was sooooo very cool, and made a huge impression and inspiration to us! I'm so sorry for you loss....but, actually - he still exists in us all, and is still playing cards and swearing up in there, above it all, or in it all - around us!!!

Paul, you are the rock of alternative and punk music. Please, never forget it....and keep us filled with the fuel!!!!! We love you!! Hope to see you again in San Francisco...and I hope to take more photo's of you...i know it's been awhile.....
smiles, jeanie and chris....

Sleep well ‘Papa John Weller’ – my thoughts are with Paul and his family.
Janet x
Maidenhead UK

Please accept our condolences for Paul and his family, from Catalonia.
Àlex
Magic Pop
www.magicpop.cat

Please pass on my sympathy to Paul and his family at this time. Great man.
David Delaney

Just to let you know Paul,my thoughts are with you.
X Caz X Lancs

If Paul Weller is The Modfather then John was The Godfather! I never met him but he had a profound affect on my life. I hope he’s up there having a rum & coke with the likes of Marriott & Moon and telling that they were ‘ok’ but he was the “manager of the best bands in the fuckin world!”
RIP Big Man.
From Diz

Years of beautiful memories, Sprayed with a million tears, Wishing God could have spared you,If just for a few more years. We love you, we miss you and we are proud that Paul will keep your dream and vision alive. Sincere condolences to the entire Weller family circle.
From Martin, Donna & Ross in Bangor Co Down, Northern Ireland.

I first saw Paul live in 1993, in a tiny club in Providence, RI. I was 24 at the time, and had waited 11 years before finally having an opportunity to see him perform in person – it was so worth the wait! I remember briefly meeting John, and his kindness to a young, giddy fan like me – another fan posted a comment about John on Paul’s site this week – it rings true for me as well – John made so many fans feel like they were the only one in the world… may he rest in peace.
Cheryl Wilson

So sad to hear the news about John. A true diamond geezer who always called a spade a spade. Condolences to Paul and the rest of the family.
Leploo

Really sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts go out to Paul Weller and his family.
God Bless.
Glenn Daniels

it was with great sympathy to hear of John Weller's passing been a fan of Paul's made you feel like you new the man,the bond between the two always seemed to be second to none.God bless John....
Paul R.
Dublin

I never met John Weller - but I was in the same room as him on several occasions - and on all occasions he was introducing The Jam on stage in his own inimitable way. Most memorably at Deeside Leisure Centre almost 30 years ago - when I was in the middle (not intentionally) of a pitched battle. John strode on stage and bellowed 'if you dont stop fighting then the f*ckin band aren't coming on'. Peace was restored and another night of magic unfolded.

I've followed Paul Weller since those days - the highs and lows - and the magic still keeps going on - with recent concerts for me over the last couple of years including Amsterdam (where I finally met Paul briefly and got my picture taken with him), Madrid, Belfast, Dublin, Cork and New York.

The only time I really saw an insight into John the man was via the documentary on the BBC last year. John was interviewed briefly, but you could feel the pride he had not only in Paul's achievements but the rest of the family. He came across as a decent, down-to-earth family man who will no doubt be missed by all that knew him.

People who know me ask me why a 43-year-old man still travels far and wide to follow Paul Weller? It's assumed it's an obsession but it's not. There are many, many of us - and I do it for the music. I will never forget New York, Amsterdam or Madrid and cannot put into words the pleasure I've had over the years at concerts and through the albums etc.

My life to date would have been so much poorer without it - so if anything - god bless the man who brought Paul into the world and encouraged him to be the man he is.

Thanks John and condolences to the Weller family.
Brian Flanagan
Liverpool

I feel very sorry to hear of the death of John Weller. I suppose he was not only father and manager, but also idol, trustful friend and the one to rely on for Paul.
I can remember a Paul Weller concert in 1990 at the Docks in Hamburg, when no one was allowed to take any cameras to the stage, except the press. A friend of mine wanted to take fotos as well, but she had to leave her camera at the entrance. Then we saw John Weller and did talk to him about it. And he made it possible that we went home after the concert with a lot of great pw fotos and an interview.
Beatrix
(Hannover, Germany)

No John No Jam
R.I.P Weller Snr
In our dreams
Andy Massey

Where do u start, great man, fantastic man, living legend, what an influence, and what a father figure.
RIP big man
Charlie Hanson

From The Paul Weller Website..

John Weller
27th Apr 2009

We have received lots of request for information regarding the funeral of
John Weller and how you can pay your respects. The Wellers are touched
with the level of support from you at this time.

The Funeral of John Weller will be on Tuesday 5th May in Woking, anyone
wanting to send cards or flowers please send to:

LODGE BROS FUNERAL HOME, WEST BYFLEET,
SURREY, KT14 6LG
(By 12 noon on the 5th May)

OR DONATIONS TO : ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY,
CENTRAL OFFICE,
DEV
ON HOUSE, 58 ST KATHARINES WAY,
LON
DON, E1W 1JX
(PLEASE INCLUDE A NOTE DONATING IN MEMORY OF
MR JOHN WELLER)

ONLINE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT
WWW.ALZHEIMERS.ORG/DONATE

If you want to send any emails to the family please contact
nicky@paulweller.com

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 went round to the label’s bank in Oxford Street and gave wads of £10 notes to Weller senior. He had been a successful boxer in his youth and proved single-minded when negotiating deals.

In 2001, when the industry bible Music Week compiled a supplement paying tribute to his father on his 70th birthday, Paul commented: “He is 100 per cent behind me. And once you have got that kind of support behind you, you are half-way there, in a way. You have still got to be creative and come up with good tunes but it helps so much when you’ve got someone like that fighting your corner.”

John Weller was born in Brighton in 1931 and grew up in various parts of Southern England, including Chichester, where he took up boxing at secondary school. He fought as a welterweight and, according to his son, won most of his 200 bouts. He left school at 14 and worked as a trainee journalist on the Chichester Observer. In 1949, he was called up for National Service and seemed to have found his métier. He became a physical training instructor and won the armed forces boxing championship.

He later moved to Woking, where he worked in a factory and met Ann Craddock. The couple married in March 1957 and, the following May, had their first child, named John William Weller, though the child became known as Paul. The Wellers also had a daughter, Nicola, in 1962.

The family lived in a modest Victorian house on Stanley Road, a location later immortalised on Paul’s 1995 charttopping solo album of that name. Ann worked part-time, first as a cleaner and then as a secretary, while John put in shifts on building sites during the day and drove a cab in the evening. The couple indulged Paul’s love of music and obsessions with The Beatles, The Small Faces and The Kinks.

John bought his son his first proper guitar when he was 12 and Paul later taught his friend, Steve Brookes. In 1972, the teenagers played at their school, Sheerwater Secondary, and a lunch-time gig at a local pub organised by John. Named The Jam, after Paul’s sister surmised that it was a logical choice following on from Marmalade and Bread, they won a talent contest in Woking in 1973. For a while, Paul switched to a second-hand Hofner bass purchased by his understanding parents, but handed it to Bruce Foxton when he joined the line-up, which also comprised drummer Rick Buckler.

John did not bat an eyelid when his son left school in summer 1974 with two CSEs – English and Music – but, since the group were only making £15 each per week from gigs, he insisted Paul work on building sites with him.

John financed several demos – “Takin’ My Love”, “Makin’ My Way Back Home” and other Paul originals – sent cassettes out, bought and borrowed equipment and drove the group to engagements throughout 1975 as his son embraced Dr Feelgood’s energetic brand of R&B and revived the Mod look and the sound of Motown, Stax, Northern Soul and the early Who.

“He was vital in terms of encouraging us to keep on doing it,” Paul recalls. “And, more importantly, he was vital in getting us gigs and motivating us to play live. There were loads of times when we could have split up but he always pulled us back together again.”

Brookes left but becoming a threepiece and seeing the Sex Pistols in July 1976, and supporting them in Dunstable in October, seemed to concentrate The Jam’s minds and give them a punk rock edge. However, even if he excelled at talking promoters into booking The Jam at London venues like the Nashville Rooms and the Hope & Anchor, John was not in the same league as the Pistols’ svengali Malcolm McLaren or the Clash impresario Bernie Rhodes when it came to selling his son’s group to the majors, though a great gig at the Marquee helped convince Chris Parry. Indeed, Parry was so impressed with “In The City”, The Jam’s yet to be released debut single, that he picked up an option for four albums in as many years and upped their royalty rate to 13 per cent. He also introduced John to an accountant and to a music business lawyer, helping assuage some of his concerns.

“At the time, he was a bit worried,” Paul said. “I think he thought that, because he had no experience of the record business, he might have held us back, so he wasn’t even sure if he was going to proceed with it. We said no way, we’ve come this far together, we’re staying together. From then on, he just learned as he went along.”

In May 1977, “In The City” made the Top 40 and The Jam became the first “punk” band to appear on Top Of The Pops, though their Rickenbacker guitars and sharp suits owed just as much to the Sixties. Their first album, also called In The City, reached the Top 20 and, despite a slight hiccup with This Is The Modern World, their rushed second album six months later, they became the British group with the biggest domestic following of their generation. The Clash and The Police had a greater impact internationally but The Jam’s espousal of the Mod image and attitude in turn brought about a full Mod revival in the UK.

By 1982, Paul was struggling with his status as the spokesman of his generation and feeling his bandmates couldn’t make the transition to a more expansive, soulful style, broke up The Jam at the height of their fame.

“He was gutted, mortified,” said Paul of his father’s reaction. “He thought I was barmy. Like any good manager, he was saying there’s lots more money to be made here, boys. But it wasn’t right for me. I think it took 15 years for him to get over it.”

John invested as much time and energy in making the Style Council, his son’s next project, successful. He probably gave Paul too much of a free reign, allowing him to launch his own imprint, Respond, though the label scored a Top Ten hit with Tracie’s “The House That Jack Built” in 1983, the year the Style Council’s blissful “Long Hot Summer” went Top Three.

They bought the old Philips recording facility in London’s Marble Arch, which became known as Solid Bond Studios, but, like Respond, it became a financial liability and was sold in 1990.

The previous year, Polydor had rejected the fifth full-length Style Council studio album, the house-influenced Modernism: A New Decade, and John fought Paul’s corner, lifting head of Polydor David Munns out of his chair during a particularly fractious meeting and telling him: “You don’t talk about my son like that.”

But Paul was without a deal, and father and son released “Into Tomorrow” on their own Freedom High label in 1991, and self-financed Paul’s first solo album. John touted the tapes around and refused to take some of the paltry deals on offer. Andy McDonald of Go! Discs stepped in and the Paul Weller album reached the Top Ten in 1992, inaugurating a purple patch which has continued until now, taking in three No 1 albums and three Brit Awards for Paul, now an elder statesman of rock in the Eric Clapton, Van Morrison or Steve Winwood vein.

“It’s all been a gamble, but it’s certainly paid off,” John said. Even after major surgery in 1994 he was a constant, hands-on, silver-quiffed presence on tour. “He has the constitution of a rhino,” Paul said in 2001. “He loves the buzz, the roar of the crowd. He loves being on the road, he loves gigs. That is quite rare in most managers. Most managers sit behind a desk and collect the cheques. He doesn’t.”

John relished helping his son reach the top for the third time, then took a back seat in 2004. He liked to play cards. He loved Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. But most of all, he loved his family and believed his son was one of the greats. Theirs was a solid bond.

By:Pierre Perrone

John Weller, pop manager: born Brighton 28 November 1931; married Ann Craddock 1957 (one son, one daughter); died 22 April 2009.

From The Independant

John Weller Tribute...From: Joe Nelis

John Weller ,

As much as Paul Weller is on record as being sited as the driving force behind The Jam, there was in fact another

Weller with as much impact, drive and passion as the afore mentioned,

John Weller was the tireless, determined, resolute, industrious ball of energy deep at the heart of The Jam,

The Style Council and The Paul Weller Movement.

John was there to ensure that all the cogs operated in the right place and always at the right time. He was very

astute and gracious as a father and subtle and shrewd as a manager.

Family was the solid bond for John, the supreme! It was the love of said family which was most indicative to him, and

boy did it show !

There is a great family bond in the Weller camp (how many artists do you see with family pictures on their record

Covers? ) [Stanley Road] and that will grow even stronger as the family draw together at this time.

My heart goes out to the family, not just as a Paul Weller fan but as a John Weller fan, if we all had parents

with the same insight, values and drive as John Weller wouldn’t this world be just that little bit better !

John Weller,

Above The Clouds,…………. without a doubt !

Peace & Love

Joe Nelis

John Weller Tribute...From: Kevin Burgess

Poignant words....

I wanted to say, so many things
But my mouth went dry - and one word & I'd cry.
Slender father, your beauty shines from you
And forever more, I'll be on your side for sure -
A light in your life, that always burns for you
As time passes.... so quickly............................................

My condolences, I am so sorry to hear of your loss, and the passing of the creator of a legend !

My thoughts are with you and your family Paul...

Kindest regards & thoughts,

Kev

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

Steve White On The Passing of John Weller...

It wasn't unexpected to get the news that John Weller had passed away , it was a beautiful sunny morning in fact , but the news still stung even though the anticipation existed .

I finished work today , a day peppered by texts and calls , I missed the call that mattered but made ammends and spoke to the one person I needed to speak to , I raised a glass at dinner and reminisced with my beautiful partner of days of travel and nights of glory that followed , and after a little to much wine the drowsiness lifted and the harsh reality that someone very special had passed hit me , I wanted to say that , with my emotions bubbling very much to the surface , I wanted to remember those decades and shows and nights that we all spent together , indestructible , laughing and making the music of our dreams , wide eyed vagabonds not quite believing .

I remember the day on arriving back from Sydney, John telling me it was all over and he had enough of "this lark" , that was 24 odd years ago , and how many amazing times were to come , I remember the night with a bottle of champange that tasted like heaven ( the proceeds of a card game ) chewing the fat with the big man , " so john " I asked " who's your favourite singer ? " a sip of rum and coke "Paul Weller " I went further " who's is your favourite song writer ? "Paul Weller" , .. " Ok " favourite guitarist ? . "Paul Weller" .. " best drummer ? " " Easy , you Whitey " ... " Best band ? " ... " Well " he paused , " its this fucking band aint it , and then its The Jam "

... Pure pride , pure belief , I remember just a few years back when I first introduced my then new girl to the gang , everyone was on best behaviour , gig time comes and sally gets pride of place next to john a pint sized glass of rum and coke is thrust into her hand without question , the gig began , we sweated and played and sang and created to the best of our abilities as we did every night and sally swore as the final chords died there were tears of pride in his eyes as he turned and said " my boy and your fella , two hundred songs at the drop of a hat , any day of the week " at that moment she also fell under the spell .

As life goes on and people depart this world I strongly , strongly believe that the effect of a passing is a reflection of your own mortality , of your own reflections and life and the unwanted glimpse of a mirror held up to your own future . John is in a better place , and my thoughts are with Ann and Nicky and my brother Paul , wonderful memories stretching back to boy hood for me , I'm not ashamed to indulge either as I remember John , by the way the one question that wasn't answered "Paul Weller " "Steve White " or anything related to the world he adored was ? " Who's the greatest fighter " and with the same pride that all the other questions were answered " easy , Rocky Marciano " , thanks John for leading the way as we made some amazing music .
Whitey x

From WhiteyDrums.com

RIP John Weller...

It's being reported, although from no official source at this point, that Paul Weller's father passed away today. We would like to send out our sincerest condolences to the Weller family.

More Paul Weller At Coachella!

Coachella ‘09: Paul Weller Gets Robbed, Johnny Marr Saves
April 20th, 2009 by: Ben Wener

I could go on endlessly about the excellent yet heartbreaking Paul Weller set no one watched. I just might blather more about it once I get home and have time to properly assess and convey why it was such a meaningful (albeit needlessly stopped) performance, both for artist and audience. (It also might make my annual Kill List, a rundown, in ranked order, of the weekend’s greatest performance. Look for that sometime Tuesday.)

After roughly a half-hour of top-notch rock ‘n’ soul, culminating in some extra-fine space-jamming on “Porcelain Gods,” Weller was informed that he had a measly 15 minutes left. “Just not long enough in the desert,” he sniffed in between expletives.

He had every right to be pissed. There was no reason to quit early: Public Enemy didn’t need an hour to set up, it wouldn’t have harmed My Bloody Valentine any to have Weller carry on, and yet another rumor that No Doubt would turn up for a five-song surprise never came to pass. Let the man play! Imagine how much more fulfilling this set could have been with more morsels served up within another 20 minutes, instead of a flat 50.

Not exactly the right way to treat a Coachella forefather.

But suffice to say -– and I’m talking to you, Mozheads, after you watched your ’80s idol act the diva Friday night –- this is how an English icon soldiers on when faced with a demeaning concert situation. Like Atmosphere says, when life hands you lemonades, you paint that s*** gold, (bleeper-bleeper)!

Had Weller been squeezed onto the main stage, people might have at least taken notice of the old leader of the Jam and the Style Council. Perhaps then he’d have gotten his due around here, maybe via the chanting of “Eton Rifles,” one of the most biting Jam songs, about a different, even refined sort of class struggle than the Third World uprising M.I.A. calls for.

Surely casual ears would have recognized “A Town Called Malice,” although probably only as “that song by that guy who did that other song.” They still would have bounced and wiggled along to its deceptive Motown glee.

Instead, to cap his Sunday show, the now silver-haired Weller, looking Armani casual cool in a black outfit, was left to kick against the pricks in a chugging rendition of his minor MTV hit with help from … well, how nice, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who strummed a bit and shared in on the bop-bop-bop-bop harmonies.

Wait, what? You didn’t catch that killer moment? Oh well — your loss, our gain.

From The OC Register

Paul Weller At Coachella!

Photo Courtesy Of emayoh

Paul was joined onstage by Johnny Marr during Town Called Malice!

Set List:

From The Floorboards Up
All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
Out Of The Sinking
22 Dreams
The Changingman
Eton Rifles
Sea Spray
Porcelain Gods
Wild Wood
A Town Called Malice (with Johhny Marr)
Come On/Let's Go

Courtesy Of Jay

Paul Weller In San Francisco - Set List!

Courtesy Of Ramona

Courtesy Of Craig M.

Paul Weller's NYC Show Has Been Cancelled!

There is an email going around from Ticketmaster that says Paul's show in New York City at The Nokia Theater has been cancelled!

Paul Weller Interview In Seattle Weekly!

Q&A with - Michael Alan Goldberg


Thirty-plus years into your career, what is it about music that still excites you and makes you want to keep on doing it?
Paul Weller: I'm still so much in love with what I do — playing music and not just being a musician but being a fan and just the whole trip really. It's in my blood and it's my whole life and I think that kinda counts for an awful lot as well. I never get bored. If I get bored of my own music, I just go and listen to other people's music for a little bit, do you know what I mean? It's remained a source of wonderment to me.

Is it still intimidating or stressful after all this time to put out an album and to, quite frankly, be judged by the public and by critics?
Yeah I think so. We had so much fun making that record — every day we would try something different and we all thought we were making something really special. But then it still comes time where you've got to let go of it and give it out to people in the world, but that's all part of the magic, really, especially when people respond to it, and how much people have loved this record makes it all worthwhile as well. You never know how people are going to react to it. You can have all the faith in it and love for it.

What's your feeling when a record is recorded and mixed and ready to be released - is it a feeling of satisfaction about a job well done, or is it sometimes a feeling of frustration because there's things you would have liked to change, or maybe a song or idea you were reaching for but never quite got there all the way?
It's hard to answer that because every record is different. With 22 Dreams, I thought it was pretty much as perfect as it could be. There's other albums I've made where I've kinda...we've finished it all and listened back to it and there's been bits I've liked but I've never had a whole, 100% feeling about it. But sometimes it works and you capture what you set out to do, and other times you only get halfway, but you've still gotta cast it out there because that's just where you are at that point in time.

I guess in a way songs are living things anyway that can change and mutate when you go out and play them live.
Well, when you play any song live it always takes on a life of its own anyway. I don't slavishly try to reproduce what we've done on a record, so a song naturally takes on a different life.


Are there certain songs of yours that you've grown to love more as the years have gone by?
I suppose I feel more affinity toward the ones I can remember [laughs]. There's hundreds of them, and there's quite a few I've forgotten.

Did you go into making 22 Dreams with ideas that you'd previously had sitting around, maybe from earlier recording sessions or playing them live or during soundchecks, or did you start completely from scratch?
It was all pretty much from scratch, I had maybe a half a dozen songs arranged before we went into the studio, and then the rest we just made up as we went along.

Really? So a lot of the album was just written in the studio?
Oh yeah. And you know when it's flowing because there's a certain mood within the room, within the studio and the people you're working with are all buzzing as well. I think you know, really. It seemed to come fairly easily, but with 22 Dreams, the more we recorded, the more we wanted to do. It was kind of...there weren't too many preconceived ideas. The only idea I had was that I wanted to make it a double album because I've never made a double album before. We had a big list up on the studio wall of the song titles, and by the end there were 26 or 27 songs. It was like, "Let's just keep on going," really, and we probably could have kept on going if we didn't give ourselves some sort of cut-off time. It was just, the more we made the more we wanted to make. We were sorta sequencing it as we went along as well and I think that helped — we kinda saw what else we needed, what was missing.

Is it generally difficult to transfer the ideas and sounds in your head to tape? Do songs often end up the way you initially envisioned them?
Well, you just never really know, do you know what I mean? You have an idea, and you have a good feeling about something, but until you record it and make it...until you actually do it you never know how it's gonna turn out. Sometimes it turns out even better than you'd imagined, and other times it doesn't work at all. It's the very slow, tenuous nature of making music.

A lot of people dream about becoming a musician and putting out albums and touring the world and all the rest, but few people actually go and do it. What was it that compelled you to take the leap all those years ago from dreaming about it to actually doing it?
I never really considered anything else. There was nothing else I wanted to do in life, and there was nothing else I could do, so there wasn't any other option but to forge ahead and try to make it. And I guess if I hadn't have made it, which is always a possibility, I guess I would've just still played clubs and pubs in Woking, where I come from, or London or wherever. I'd still be making music, I'd just be doing it as a job. But there was never any consideration of doing anything else, from the time I was ten years old it's all I ever thought about was just bein' in a band and trying to make music.

Did you have friends or teachers show you how to play?
Well I had a few guitar lessons, people that showed me the rudiments of the instrument. But then after that I just played along to records, really, and even with writing, as soon as I learned three chords - soon as I learned C, F, and G - I put myself down right there and tried to write songs. So it was kind of like, it felt like a natural thing to do, I never really sat down and considered it too much, that was just the next step. One, learn to play, and two, start writin' your own tunes.

What's it like nowadays when other musicians, especially younger bands and whatnot, come up to you and tell you how much you've influenced them or how much your music has meant to them?
Yeah, that's probably one of the biggest compliments you can get. A lot of young bands, they want to talk about the Jam or the recent stuff. It's pretty amazing, really.

Were you one to say stuff like that to your musical idols when you were younger?
I would've, but I never met the people I really love. I've only ever met the people that influenced me in recent years, really - sometimes they let me into those sort of circles [laughs]. You know, Ray Davies or Paul McCartney or Pete and Roger from the Who. I've only met those people in recent years. I do feel I've earned my stripes along the way, but for me, meeting Macca or Ray Davies, I'm transported back to 1968 and being a ten-year-old kid and in awe of the Beatles and the Kinks. That's how much their music has meant to me, and I wouldn't have picked up a guitar without them so...I still feel like I'm a fan as well.

What is it that makes a live show especially memorable for you nowadays?
Well I suppose it's that sense of communion between you and the audience, really. When it all clicks and you're all on the same level and you feel united in that feeling of singing and doing and playing.

Is there any way you can put into words the feeling of being up there onstage playing and being into it and creating that sense of communion?
No! [laughs] It's a little bit of magic, really. It's just something that's in the air, it's unquantifiable, really. It's just one of the best feelings - it's a high, it's a very addictive high. But a very healthy one.

From The Seattle Weekly

Change Of Venue For Paul Weller's San Francisco Performance!

Paul's concert in San Francisco has been relocated to the Ballroom at the Regency Center.

Paul Weller Is Scheduled To Perform On The Late Show With David Letterman!

We've been told Paul Weller is scheduled to appear on television in the USA via The Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday April 22.

Late Show Site

Paul Weller Will Perform At The Hop Farm Festival!

Paul Weller will play the Hop Farm Festival in Kent on Sunday July 5, 2009. Check out the web site for more info.

www.hopfarmfestival.com

Paul Weller In Osaka, Japan - Set List!

Courtesy Of Shikoku27

Osaka, Japan
April 8, 2009

Actual Set:
01. Wild Blue Yonder
02. All I Wanna Do(Is Be With You)
03. Out Of The Sinking
04. 22 Dreams
05. The Changingman
06. From the Floorboards Up
07. Have You Made Up Your Mind
08. Sea Spray
09. Porcelain Gods
10. Invisible
11. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
12. One Bright Star
13. 111
14. All On A Misty Morning/Magic Bus
15. Sunshine - Steve Pilgrim
16. Don't Go Changin' - Andy Crofts (The Moons)
17. You Paint Your Picture - Steve Cradock
18. Come Away With Me - Andy Lewis
19. Wild Wood
20. Echoes Round The Sun

21. You Do Something To Me
22. Broken Stones
23. Shout to The Top

24. Eton Rifles

Paul Weller In Nagoya, Japan - Set List!

Nagoya, Japan
April 5, 2009

Wild Blue Yonder
All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
Out Of The Sinking
22 Dreams
The Changingman
From The Floorboards Up
Sea Spray
Porcelain Gods
Invisible
One Bright Star
Empty Ring
111
All On A Misty Morning
Brand New Start
Wild Wood
Echoes Round The Sun
Come on/Let's Go

7+3
Broken Stones
Whirlpool's End

That's Entertainment

Courtesy Of Yasushi

Courtesy Of Christine H.

Paul Weller To Play The MINI United Festival!

Paul is scheduled to play the MINI United Festival in Northamptonshire, Great Britain at the Silverstone Circuit on Saturday 23rd May.

Tickets and information HERE!

Paul Weller In Tokyo, Japan - Set List!

Tokyo, Japan
April 4, 2009

Have You Made Up Your Mind
All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
Out Of The Sinking
22 Dreams
The Changingman
From The Floorboards Up
Wake The Nation
Sea Spray
Push It Along
Porcelain Gods
Let It Be Me
One Bright Star
Empty Ring
You Do Something To Me
111
All On A Misty Morning
The Butterfly Collector
Brand New Start
Wild Wood
Echoes Round The Sun
Come On Let's Go
7 & 3
Broken Stones
Whirlpool's End
A Town Called Malice

Courtesy of Yasushi

Paul Weller In Kawasaki, Japan - Set List!

Kawasaki, Japan
April 3, 2009

Wild Blue Yonder
All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
Out Of The Sinking
22 Dreams
The Changingman
From The Floorboards Up
Wake The Nation
Sea Spray
Porcelain Gods
Invisible
One Bright Star
Empty Ring
111
All On A Misty Morning
The Butterfly Collector
Brand New Start
Wild Wood
Echoes Round The Sun
Come On/Let's Go
Broken Stones
7 & 3
Shout To The Top
Whirlpool's End

Courtesy Of Yasushi