Paul Weller News!

As Paul Weller celebrates his 50th birthday, John Reed investigates the secret history of an English icon. Paul Weller’s 50th birthday was on 25 May, not that he’d thank us for reminding him. Rumours suggest it was not exactly something he was celebrating. And yet, as he reached his half century, Weller had much to feel proud about. As his Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brits in 2006 reflected, the once angry young man from Woking is inarguably the most successful British musician to have emerged from the punk wars of the late 70s – whether that be in terms of commercial success, critical acclaim, iconic status or musical influence. Forever restless, Weller is still consumed with ‘the Now’, consistently scornful of nostalgia, preferring to speak enthusiastically about his new double album, 22 Dreams, which just might be the most ambitious and eclectic work of his entire career – his ‘White Album’. Although betraying Weller’s long held love of psychedelia, Motown, Mod-rock and more r...

Paul is scheduled to do a live session on Mark Lamarr's BBC Radio 2 programme called, "Gods Jukebox" July 5, 2008.

From The Irish Independent * Your new release, 22 Dreams, is a double album. That seems out of step with the vogue for downloading today. I come from a time when people used to make double albums and there was nothing wrong with it. I like the fact that it's an antidote to the ridiculous download culture happening now. What would happen if something like The White Album or What's Going On were released today? Would either album have the sort of impact it had at the time or would its power be diluted because of something like iTunes? * Was it always going to be a double album? Yes. I wanted to give people a big body of work and something that they can really get their teeth into. There are a lot of musical styles happening in this album that I haven't done before. It's a really f***ing indulgent album and I love the fact that I didn't hold back this time. I wanted to get off the touring treadmill I'd been on for a few years. It felt a little bit too easy and I li...

Light Nights - From "Suggs In The City" Have You Made Up Your Mind - IndigO2 Sea Spray - The Rehearsal Sessions Invisible - Jools Holland For more great videos, check out our recommended YouTube channel, G's WellerLive .

Tickets for Paul's two night stand at the historic Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, September 2&3, will go on sale this Friday June 27 at 10am PDT. You can purchase them via Live Nation .

There is a multi-page interview with Paul in the July issue of the US magazine called, SPIN . A Few Quotes: "I've considered retiring after almost every record I've made lately. This one is different." "Nostalgia has become a whole industry in itself at the moment, and I don't like it. You can never recapture what has gone." "I thought The Style Council were amazing. We had some great singles; in fact, alongside The Smiths, we were one of the great singles bands of the era." "I can't sit here and say I was born cool, because that just sounds wanky. But, I guess it's just the way I am." "I always like my clothes, even before I could properly afford them. Clothes are how I choose to express myself. I never dress for woman. I only ever dress for me."

From The Post Chronicle Paul Weller would prefer to scrabble around for cash as the leader of a pubband rather than reform The Jam - because a reunion with former bandmates Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton would not be dignified. The British mod icon has angrily mocked Buckler and Foxton's The Jam spin-off group From The Jam and he insists nothing would make him consider a reunion. Weller, who has been involved in bitter royalties battles with his former A Town Called Malice bandmates, tells America's Spin magazine , "That (reunion) will never happen, I can promise you. "It would be totally and utterly pointless. Even if I was impoverished - and thank God I'm not - I'd go off and do something else, playing pubs and clubs instead. "It would be important, I think, to maintain some sort of dignity. The Jam was a great statement at the time, and many of our records still stand up today, but it's over, it's the past, and that's where it should stay....

Here's a few pictures and the set list for Paul's concert Saturday, 21 June 2008 at KOKO in London for XFM Radio. From XFM.co.uk It's been said that you should never trust a band that doesn't sweat. That being the case, the amount of faith handed over to Paul Weller at KoKo is colossal and somewhat justified. Dipping - and indeed, dripping - liberally into his new album, '22 Dreams', the Queen Mum of Britpop, Gawd bless 'im, is still burning with a passion that belies his years. 'Echoes Round The Sun' is a psychedelic delight while 'Push It Along' merely confirms the Modfather's continued ability to belt them out with the best of 'em. Nothing though, compares to the feverish response that greets a frenzied 'Eton Rifles' that sees Weller reclaim it from those who recently misappropriated it. Cappuccinos all round, then! Courtesy of Pete aka The Eton Rifle Peacock Suit was not played.

Paul Weller, Glasvegas, Sam Sparro for intimate London shows! Paul Weller, Glasvegas, The Pretenders, Does It Offend You Yeah? and Sam Sparro are among the acts set to play this year's iTunes festival at London's KOKO. Elliot Minor, Kids In Glass Houses and Annie are the other new acts set to play shows announced today (June 17). Glasvegas will be supporting Paul Weller at his headline show on July 2 . The Scottish band appear on the cover of the new issue of NME, on UK newsstand tomorrow (June 18). Each headline band will play a gig at the venue, which will be recorded and then made available to buy from Apple's iTunes website. All the tickets for the shows are free, and can be won at iTuneslive.co.uk .

Instigated last year to acknowledge a body of work without which the rock and pop music of today would be in a sense inconceivable, the Mojo Outstanding Contribution award honoured the immensity of Joy Division, and was collected by bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris, toilers in the shadow of a legacy that would long ago have overwhelmed lesser men. This year, the award is sponsored by The Cavern, the legendary Liverpool venue that can claim, with some justification, to have made a rather outstanding contribution of its own. The MOJO Outstanding Contribution Award, 2008 goes to... Paul Weller

Here's what we have so far. Some of these have yet to be confirmed. JULY SUNDAY 6 JULY - FESTIVAL MARQUEE, CORK, IRELAND WEDNESDAY 9 JULY - VILLA ARCONATI FESTIVAL, MILAN, ITALY FRIDAY 11 JULY - EXIT FESTIVAL, NOVI SAD, SERBIA WEDNESDAY 16 JULY - AMPHITHEATRE 43, EXPO 2008, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN SUNDAY 13 JULY - CACTUSFESTIVAL, BRUGGE, BELGIUM (Appearance CANCELLED) SATURDAY 26 JULY - OSBORNE HOUSE, EAST COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT AUGUST THURSDAY 7 AUGUST - SHIBUYA AX CLUB, TOKYO, JAPAN SATURDAY 9 AUGUST - SUMMERSONIC FESTIVAL, TOKYO, JAPAN SUNDAY 10 AUGUST - SUMMERSONIC FESTIVAL, OSAKA, JAPAN WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST - CHALLENGE STADIUM, PERTH, AUSTRALIA FRIDAY 15 AUGUST - THE BARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA SATURDAY 16 AUGUST - THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA SUNDAY 17 AUGUST - THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA TUESDAY 19 AUGUST - ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST - ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA THURSDAY 21 AUGUST - ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA SATURDAY 23 AUGUST - ...

From Paul's US label, YepRoc. TU 09.02.08 Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles CA WE 09.03.08 Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles CA TH 09.04.08 The Fillmore San Francisco CA TU 09.09.08 Berklee Performance Center Boston MA WE 09.10.08 Nokia Theatre New York NY TH 09.11.08 Highline Ballroom New York NY SA 09.13.08 9:30 Club Washington DC SU 09.14.08 Trocadero Philadelphia PA TU 09.16.08 House of Blues Chicago IL

Dream Start For New Weller Album! Monday June 9, 2008 By Alan Jones Music Week Leadership of the albums chart changes for the 10th week in a row, with Paul Weller the latest artist through the ever-revolving door, debuting in pole position with his ninth solo studio album (15th, including compilations and live discs), 22 Dreams. It is the third number one solo album for Weller, who turned 50 a couple of weeks ago, following 1995’s Stanley Road, which achieved first-week sales of 62,603; and 2002’s Illumination (54,283). His 2004 covers album Studio 150 was also on schedule to debut at number one but slipped to number two at the last moment, with first week sales of 52,335. His last studio album As Is Now opened at number four in 2003, with sales of 43,094. 22 Dreams scores his second-best first-week tally (after Stanley Road), opening with 58,924 sales. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Paul Discusses His Dreams Track By Track! PAUL ...

Have you Made Up Your Mind/The Changingman Cheers G!

The Mod Couple: Sir Paul Smith interviews Paul Weller Saturday, 7 June 2008 Paul Weller, the best dressed man in rock, has just turned 50. And one of his biggest fans is the fashion designer Sir Paul Smith. Here, as a birthday tribute, we asked one great British original to interview the other about 30 years in the music business, first suits, changing styles, politics and beyond. John Walsh took notes. Resplendent in one of his own-brand charcoal suits, accessorised with multi-coloured buttons and howling crimson socks, Sir Paul Smith is waiting outside the Hammersmith Apollo concert venue in west London to meet one of his heroes. Now 62, six-foot-three and as gainly as an Anglepoise lamp, the great designer, who sells his classic-but-funky suits to 52 countries, consults his notes anxiously. He is not used to interviewing people about their lives. And since his quarry is Paul Weller, the punk-era rock star and passionate throwback to 1960s Mod culture, his anxiety is justified. Welle...

22 Dreams has been released on iTunes today in the USA! It includes the Brendan Lynch Mix of 'Rip The Pages Up' as a bonus track all for only $9.99! Click on the iTunes button to head over to the store.

3rd June 2008 A THOUSAND THINGS - THE LONDON LAUNCH Paul Weller - A Thousand Things Paul Weller’s A Thousand Things celebrated its launch last night at the flagship Paul Smith store in Covent Garden, London. Copies of the limited edition were on display alongside framed photographs from the book, all set to the backdrop of Paul Smith’s handsome clothes. Weller released his new album, ‘22 Dreams’ the same day but, although very busy, both Paul and Sir Paul Smith took the time to sign an Epiphone Casino guitar donated by Gibson that will be auctioned for charity later this year. A Thousand Things proved very popular with the guests, among them Genesis designer Simon Halfon and author Geoff MacCormack whose travels with Bowie from 1973-76 are the subject of his signed limited edition, From Station to Station. Noted photographers such as Lawrence Watson and Pennie Smith mingled with musicians from Hard-Fi and The Kaiser Chiefs, as well as footballer Lee Dixon, and DJs Gary Crowley and Edd...

Paul Weller - 22 Dreams by Rob Mc Namara (May 31st, 2008) RedTrack Music Most artists creative life span may last about five to ten years, sometimes even less. Then eventually they disappear off to return with regurgitated, diluted versions of past glories. Never quite do they reach such heights again. Paul Weller is a different beast altogether. Outlasting all his punk and new wave peers he has continued to be the Changing Man in both song and spirit. His latest long player ‘22 Dreams’, a double, sees him take the risks he has been threatening for a long time now. Recent works such as ‘Illumination’ and ‘As Is Now’ had hinted at a new direction from 1995’s seminal ‘Stanley Road’, his most commercially successful solo album to date, but here the former Jam and Style Council front-man throws in a curve ball or two which will unite and divide his vast support in equal measure. It starts familiarly enough with the folky ‘Night Lights’ and the boogie rock bluster of the title track. Howeve...