Paul Weller Fan Podcast

• Peter Watts - Journalist & Author

  When I started on the extra interviews for my book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire, back in July 2024, Journalist and author, Peter Watts was one of the first people that I chatted to. He has written for Uncut, the Guardian and Sunday Times, and has also written a book about the history of Denmark Street: London’s Street Of Sound. He has done some superb interviews with Paul Weller on many occasions including on tour in the US so it was a real delight to capture his memories.For fans of Paul Weller and those fascinated by the inner workings of music journalism, this episode provides a lovely insight into the connection between journalist and artist. Peter discusses his journey from discovering The Jam and The Style Council as a latecomer in the '90s, to interviewing Paul Weller for major publications like Uncut. With stories that span meeting the band in San Francisco, sitting backstage at legendary venues, and exploring Paul’s ongoing search for artistic independence, Peter reveals the human side of a musical icon who’s far more interested in what's next than what's just been released.We also explore the challenges of modern music writing - how the craft has shifted from acerbic reviews to celebrating artistic achievement, and why Paul Weller’s willingness to share his personal battles and musical passions make him such a compelling subject. Listening to Peter’s stories, you'll get a sense of Paul’s enduring restlessness, his aversion to nostalgia, and the realities of the creative life in an age where albums can peak and then vanish in an instant...Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Stuart Watts - Director Paul Weller Into Tomorrow Documentary (2006)

  On this episode, I chat to Stuart Watts - a producer and director whose credits include acclaimed music documentaries for artists as varied as Paul Weller, Marc Bolan, Andrea Bocelli, Jeff Wayne, and Jeff Beck - along with legendary icons outside of music such as Muhammad Ali and Christopher Reeve.Stuart was the driving force behind Paul Weller: Into Tomorrow, the 2006 documentary that, for the first time, captured Paul’s whole story: from his childhood in Woking through The Jam, The Style Council and his solo years. A lifelong Jam fan himself, Stuart took inspiration from The Kid Stays in the Picture to let Paul narrate his own journey, resulting in a film full of candid reflection, unseen footage, and intimate moments. In this conversation, Stuart lifts the lid on the making of the documentary, working directly with Paul and his family, and the responsibility - and thrill - of telling the story of an artist you’ve idolised your entire life.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Tom Robinson - Musician, Broadcaster & Activist - on Paul Weller, The Jam, Red Wedge and More

  On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I’m joined by someone whose impact on British music and activism can’t be overstated - Tom Robinson.This conversation was originally recorded for my upcoming book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire – The Authorised Oral History, and I’m delighted to share it with you now as a podcast episode.Tom first exploded onto the UK music scene with the Tom Robinson Band in the late ‘70s, breaking new ground as a musician and as an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights, anti-racism and political activism. Hits like “2-4-6-8 Motorway” and “Glad To Be Gay” made him a central figure in the punk and post-punk years - the very years that saw The Jam and Paul Weller coming up in parallel. We dive into those formative years, Tom’s memories of the punk scene, what set Weller and The Jam apart, and later, the Red Wedge tour, where Tom truly got to know Paul as both a bandleader and a person.This is a conversation about music as rebellion, about the importance of remaining grounded, about using a platform for collective good.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ted Kessler - Music Writer & Editor - NME, Q, The New Cue

  In this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Ted Kessler - a music writer who’s lived out the ultimate fan’s journey with Paul Weller.As a London kid, he spent his pocket money on Jam singles and memorised the lyrics before he even owned the records. After moving to Paris, he’d receive the NME a week late, schooling himself on Weller, The Style Council, and British pop by long-distance.Years later, Ted found himself writing for the very paper he once treated as gospel. Over decades at NME and Q, he’s interviewed Paul Weller, reviewed his gigs and albums, and - more than once - found himself on the receiving end of the artist’s forthright opinions, including the infamous “get the train to Woking and try it” challenge after a mixed Stanley Road review.Ted is also the author of the memoir Paper Cuts: How I Destroyed The British Music Press and Other Misdemeanours (which includes a heap of Paul Weller related stories), and To Ease My Troubled Mind: the Authorised Unauthorised Biography of Billy Childish. He also devised and edited My Old Man: Tales Of Our Fathers (which included a contribution from Paul about his dad, John). Ted also co-edits The New Cue, a music newsletter delivered three times a week to subscribers.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Graham Coxon - Blur / Solo Artist / The WAEVE shares stories of influence, creativity and working with Paul Weller

  My guest on this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast is one of the most inventive and distinctive guitarists of his generation - the co-founder and guitarist of Blur, a prolific solo artist, and a musician whose restless creativity has taken him from Britpop to freeform jazz, from noisy riffs to tender melodies.Graham Coxon has collaborated with Paul Weller on some fantastic projects over the years - the sharp-edged 'This Old Town' (2007), the soulful 'Black River' from the 22 Dreams album in 2008 and the swirling 'Dragonfly' from Sonik Kicks being just some examples, along with the gloriously chaotic 'Bankbusted Nuclear Detergent Blues', alongside Weller, Damon Albarn, and the poet Michael Horovitz.From discovering The Jam as a teenager and picking up his sister’s old guitar, to standing on stage years later beside his musical hero - this is the story of admiration, influence, and a shared love of great British songwriting.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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