King of the Mods, Paul Weller

[martin]

Todd brought up the Style Council boxset on the "What's Playing" section... I have it, and it's pretty amazing. The booklet itself is worth it. You can also see why the last SC LP was rejected, though! They were getting a little too self-indulgent toward the end. Maybe the first side of the Orange album is where it ends...

The Jam boxset is better.

Also, did anyone else have tickets to the Paul Weller shows in Frisco, NYC, or LA? What's up with the cancellations? Paul-weller.com said it was lack of funding. Does he not have a US label now?

And another Weller-related question, vespa.com says that LA and Frisco were going to have Vespa authorized dealers this summer! Any word on that?

[Todd Inoue]

A friend lent me the Style Council boxset and it brought back a flood of warm memories. I was a pretty compulsive collector of TSC stuff. I was contemplating unloading my TSC collection on Ebay but now I think I'll keep it.

I feel you on the unreleased album. Towards the end of their career, I pretty much lost interest. Can you blame me? Much of it due to the Cost of Loving and Confessions albums. Did you ever see JerUSAlem video? It was so wack! Weller's ego was way out of control. And the music suffered.

I've stayed away from the solo stuff. The last time I took a chance on Weller, it was Heavy Soul and that was it. I drew the line, never to cross it again. So it didn't surprise me to hear his solo tour was canceled. He's not playing oldies in concert anymore. He's making records for his built in audience, which is a shame. I hate nostalgia tours but if Weller wants to do one, I'd pay big money to see it.

On the up, "Speaks Like A Child," "Whole Point" and "Long Hot Summer" had the head nodding again. TSC should have left the rap songs ALONE.

t.

[Todd Inoue]

From Billboard:

Rape allegations!

From Billboard: http://www.billboard.com/daily/2000/1023_03.asp


Paul Weller, founder of influential U.K. bands the Jam and the Style Council, was arrested over the weekend on charges of rape, according to U.K. press reports. Weller, who was questioned by officials in Surrey and released on police bail, was implicated in an alleged 1996 sexual assault in the town of Farnham.

When contacted, Weller's U.K. spokesperson
confirmed news accounts of the arrest, but had no
further comment.

The artist's most recent solo album, "Heliocentric," was
released in April in the U.K. by Independiente, where it
debuted at No. 2. The set has not yet been released in
the U.S., where Weller is currently without a label.

t.

[martin]

I saw Paul in 1991 or so at the Variety Arts Center in L.A. It was his first solo gig in the U.S., and he was trying to get interest for an American label...

The show was pretty amazing. His solo LP with "Into Tomorrow" and "Uh Huh Oh Yeah" is quite good. Yes, he did a few Jam and Style Council songs. The lineup of scooters on Figueroa was worth the $$ alone.

I like some of his later stuff as well. Start with "Changing Man"... Like the first Jets to Brazil record, it takes time to grow on you, but when it does, it's worth it.

What's up with the mod umbrellas for sale on his site, though!

[Todd Inoue]

I was there for one of the dates. He did like seven shows that week. I got there super early and heard a bit of the soundcheck. He did "Carnation," "That's Entertainment," "Man in a Corner Shop," "Headstart for Happiness." I dropped a ton on merch. I remember those scoots on Figueroa.

Did you go to the LA Greek Theater show a year later? He did the Neil Young cover "Ohio" and cut all the Jam/TSC songs. The t-shirt was tight--a soccer jersey style with the #10 on the back.

The Variety Arts show was liberating for me. It was memorable to commune with other fans in the pre-Internet days.

t.

[martin]

Rape charges? I'm so bummed out.

I heard something like that happened to the Promise Ring--hence the new guitar player. This was apparently started at some alt-hardcore group that had a challenge to start the best punk rock rumor. Another was the OPIV were nazis...

So uncool... But we'll see what happens. It's still alleged at this point?

[Edited by martin on 10-26-2000 at 08:51 AM]

if you dig paul weller, you might dig uptown sinclair (members of sense field, cobra verde, sons of elvis, chuck mosley's vanduls ugenst alliderasy). download songs at http://www.popwire.com. hot rock action.

This is the first I have heard this of this rape charge. That's seriously distressing.

I saw Paul Weller in 91 or so, and the show I saw was actually really lame... and I'm a huge Jam fan. Maybe it was an off night.

Uptown Sinclair is really good, by the way.

[Todd Inoue]

All charges dropped.

Funny how it made the big media chains, like Billboard, Sonicnet, MTV, et al. People still care about what Weller does, or are just enamored with scandal.

Fame. Ain't it a bitch?

[martin]

Were there any comments? Was the alleged victim on crack? A stalker? Or was she beat down by scooter-riding militia?

Maybe it's news because Weller always seemed so righteous with his righteous walls-come-tumbling-down lyrics and the Cappucino Kid's liner note manifestos. People like to see the high-and-mighty fall, don't they?

I just like to see people try.

[Margin Walker]

*2 Year BUMP*

For anyone that's into Paul Weller, the guy's got a live, acoustic album out now ("Days Of Speed" on Epic/Independente) and a new album in the fall ("Illumination").

This may be grounds to have my Music Snob card revoked, but, um, well, er.... (clears throat)
I never liked The Jam.*

'S true. I had "The Gift" and borrowed "Setting Sons" from the library and, well, they both didn't really interest me. At all. I admit that I've avoided The Style Council and his solo albums because those 2 albums seemed so flat to me. I'm willing to give Mr. "Rebellion into money" a 2nd chance. Any suggestions?

* I never really cared for The Undertones either. (shrugs)

[Margin Walker]

Oh yeah, official site: http://www.paulweller.com

[martin]

Days of Speed is okay. Much better is Live at the BBC. Too bad there are some bleeps on it.

[nikel]

Originally posted by Margin Walker
This may be grounds to have my Music Snob card revoked, but, um, well, er.... (clears throat)
I never liked The Jam.*
mw, please hand over your card. *holding up scissors* :P
thanks for the info and link.

have you listened to all mod cons yet, or for something rougher, this is the modern world? i don't like style council as much, and like a cliched contrarian snob, i prefer the jam's ealier stuff.

[/dev/null]

I kinda lost interest during the later Jam phase...

Then I bought the first Style Council ablum and the solo album with "Uh-huh, Oh Yeah" on it. They were OK.

Is there any other really good stuff I'm missing out on?

[martin]

Got the Complete Jam DVD... It's pretty hot. Not only does it have all the videos that were on Video Snap!, it also has loads of stuff from TV shows. The live TV bits are great (although you can't play them "all"), as is Bruce Foxton's ever-evolving mullet. Check out the low-fi effects! But everything is stylish and cool, as you'd expect. There are also extra things like pics, memorabilia, etc. caught up for you. Too bad there isn't commentary by the band like on the Beastie Boys Criterion thingy, but it's a pretty great deal with two discs capturing their early and later career.

Certain indie record shops are giving away a Lonsdale Jam shirt with DVD purchases, but I found out about that too late!

[frogbelly]

Martin,
Are the videos actual videos or concert footage stuff?
I was thinking about getting this. My old lady just picked up the first two Jam records on one cd but I think I would like to get that box set of singles and such.

[martin]

The videos are actual music videos--like something you'd see on MTV if it were cooler. So you get Paul Weller looking bummed out at the outdoor cafe in "The Bitterest Pill," all of them running around in "Absolute Beginners," and the white gloves playing the keyboard in "Town Called Malice." (I could be wrong about any of those...)

The TV parts are mostly live--some lip sync--off Euro TV. The Marc Bolan Show one is pretty funny, with the glammed out T Rex singer introducing them...

[frogbelly]

Cool. I need to get this. I wish Rude Boy w/ The Clash would come out on DVD.

[martin]

Are you suggesting the dismissal of charges against Weller was not convincing? Just wondering.

[captain beeheart]

I don't know the truth or otherwise of that case, but there are other stories.

[KING]

Originally posted by martin
you get Paul Weller looking bummed out at the outdoor cafe in "The Bitterest Pill,"


Thats one of the funniest music videos ever made. Weller's acting is scary and Bruce and the other clown (who's name escapes me at the moment) look like their usual stupid selves. Reminds me of whams "last christmas" video but 10X sillier.

[captain beeheart]

Sorry I hadn't read the full thread before posting. Anyway, to change the subject back to music...

The Jam were always a bit patchy, but even at the end they were capable of genius like Beat Surrender. Your best bet is trying to track down a copy of the UK singles compilation 'START', especially if you can find the limited edition version that comes with a 7" single of them doing Curtis Mayfield's 'Move On Up' live.

Oh and try and find a Paul Weller track called Kronos (Brendan Lynch Dub) - the most truly insane bit of big beat dub rock action, as cained by the Chemical Brothers back in the day.

[martin]

The drummer is Rick Buckler!

About Weller's acting, when they were casting the Julien Temple musical, Absolute Beginners--which has David Bowie, Sade, and tons of other people in it--they asked Paul Weller to take the leading role. Wisely, he deferred because he couldn't act. There is one part where the actor lip-syncs "Have You Ever Had It Blue?" (a non-political version of "With Everything to Lose").

[martin]

He's doing an acoustic tour in October. SF, LA, Anaheim, SD, Chicago...

[Thirty Nine]

I like the Jam--In The City, All Mod Cons, Sound Affects--and on top of that they were a trio. I liked "Cafe Bleu" and "My Ever Changing Moods" and had those on wax. I even bought his solo shit, but musically, I don't think I'm even there yet. Spent too much of my fledgling twenty-four years getting the haircut and clothes right! Or just close, cos I ain't close to pimpin' like PW, man.

[Margin Walker]

*bump*

http://www.confessions123.com/

^ A Paul Weller/Style Council/Jam fansite presented by none other than (ex?) Oni Press editor Jamie S. Rich. Mods are way deffer than Teddy Boys, but I still don't like The Jam. But if anybody here does, well, now you got the hook-up.

[shammy718]

my friend has a paul weller shrine in his pad : )

[jsoy]

did i say this guy is now just a tad bit cooler than sting right now?

[captain beeheart]

Originally posted by jsoy
did i say this guy is now just a tad bit cooler than sting right now?

That's not exactly difficult, now, is it?

Any Jam fans should check out a new band out of Northeast England - The Futureheads. They're weird, kind of like the Jam meets hardcore, angular time signatures etc, but still good mod pop.

[martin]

Saw Weller tonight. Incredible. If anywhere near you on this tour go see him. Lots of Jam. Some Style Council. Also a guest appearance by a Charlatan (?)...

[frogbelly]

Me and the Old Lady are going to see Weller this Saturday here in NYC. Glad to hear that his current tour is working out. I saw him last year around this time at an in-store at Tower Records and it was really damn good.
Namedropping: My friend Tony ran a record label with Weller and promises to bring over a Rickenbacker previously owned by The Modfather so I can try it out on my new Vox AC30. Lets!

Martin: I think that may have been Tim Burgess si o no?

[martin]

Yup, it was Burgess. That song was really sweet, apparently a solo song, "We All Need Love." I don't know anything about the Charlatans, but that song was great and I want to buy the record... Is it worth getting?

I purposedly didn't list the songs, but I'm pretty sure you will be blown away by the end of "In The Crowd"...

Post something about the NYC show!

[martin]

How was it?

[frogbelly]

http://static.flickr.com/30/46636874_3b220c6438_o.jpg
Great show! We were on the third "row" and right in front of guitarist Steve Craddock. The songs "Come On/ Lets Go" and "From The Floorboards Up" from the new record sounded great. The studio versions seem a little lackluster production-wise. Not sure why because it's the same crack band.
Once he played "In The Crowd" I could have gone home. That was the highlight for me!
My only problem with the show was a drunk Brit who smashed into everyone and flailed his arms about as he sang every lyric at the top of his llungs. He smacked into my future bride one too many times. I was holding this guy back and yelling at him Ray Nagin-style like I was a pro at this kind of shit. I grabbed him and "escorted" him to the other side of the room. I felt like Rocket From The Crypt who have been known to eject unruly audience members. The dude could have handed me my ass but was just a wee bit too knackered as they say. Well what do you know if the fucker didn't come back only this time with his drunk girlfriend in tow who tried to reason with me. Fuck that! I told her to get the fuck out too and I spent pretty much the rest of the show shouting and dodging this asshole.
Two guys behind me had my back but when push came to shove I would be the one to get hit first. This kind of shit used to happen to me all of the time at Black Flag and Circle Jerks shows and I just rolled with the punches but when somone hits the Old Lady then I must act. No security to be found, just a bunch of people standing around taking this guy's shit. He got the message from me but that didn't stop him. He and his equally saturated "bird" just moved over a few rows and started bothering a different group of people.

[martin]

Did you call that drunk a bloody wanker?

[frogbelly]

No but I did tell him, "Stick it up yer Khyber and take your Twist and Twirl with ya before you get a swift kick in the Royal Alberts!"Originally posted by martin
Did you call that drunk a bloody wanker?

[Margin Walker]

Heads up, Martin: Paul Weller just designed some limited-edition polos for Fred Perry (http://www.fredperry.com/paulweller/).

[martin]

I'm the drawing for one... You?

The live album is great, by the way.

[Thirty Nine]

The Charlatans, met at Uni amidst "Madchester", bookended by Brothers`Collins, one died in a car crash before Oasis/Knebworth `96. Began as Diet Rite version of Stone Roses, went through your usual English/ Britpop,Gram Parsons, Stones (in their case, "Emotional Rescue"-circa their own "Wonderland" LP), last one was a cod-reggae effort. Tim, the dude who sang with Wellah, put out a very Gram-y solo LP and lives in LA (still?)...

Style Council reissues are coming helluv soon, "Our Favorite Shop", with additional footage of Paul and Mick (Talbot) frolocking in back of some French yacht, with *bonus soul-jazzy background. Allegedly.

Charlies, good band. Kept baggy warm after The Roses and Mondays went down...

[Thirty Nine]

Originally posted by captain beeheart


That's not exactly difficult, now, is it?

Any Jam fans should check out a new band out of Northeast England - The Futureheads. They're weird, kind of like the Jam meets hardcore, angular time signatures etc, but still good mod pop.

Futureheads, they fucking rule. Nevermind they gave Kate Bush a thorough colonic procedure, they`re just dead-weird. "Banquo", man weird shit, second LP was alright, think of the band delving past what the Super Furries might do, Zutons do...

[martin]

http://giantrobot.com/blogs/martin/

[fancyk]

Not to be outdone by Martin's blog:

http://www.thesoundofindie.com/?p=219

-Kevin

[martin]

Admit it. Introducing, Cafe Bleu, Our Favourite Shop, and Live are all pretty good.

[Willie D]

Damn nice shirt, I just can't spare 95 pounds today... :(

[martin]

When I got the email, I didn't even look up the currency exchange. Dumb, but oh well. I probably wouldn't have pulled the trigger had I known the price in U.S. bucks.

I'm gonna wear it to a wedding luncheon next week. Yeah, that'll justify the purchase.

[Willie D]

You'll look like a million bucks!

[Thirty Nine]

Fred just did a collab here in Tokyo with Commes Des Garcons, the solidified the piping on the sleeve and sides, making it look kinda funky... just walked by what looks like a new boutique in Harajuku today...too many fucking people, some type of Marathon plus parade today.

Fred Perry is one of my favorite passions, and the glut of it when it restarted marketing in the earlier part of the decade forced me away, same with Ben Sherman. I still buy them in person on Carnaby Street at Merc, or look for good deadstocks around Japan. The revelation of FP in Japan is that *everybody wears it, unlike back in The States when you *stood out, and once had to track it down.

The last Fred related stuff I got was this solid-linen polo with lime green collar and piping, plus a woman`s terry cloth v-neck sweater I`m still deciding as to who to pass along to. The linen was too heavy, and the cut wasn`t right so it just sits there for now. Got it in Ueno for four and three thousand yen...

[Thirty Nine]

Studio 150`s alright, with Wishing On A Star being the worst to the cover of Hercules being the best. Black Is The Color is worth assessing as a decent song, but at this point all his Lps are slow burners...

[martin]

He was definitely slumming with 150. We don't need straight Carpenters covers...

I think Illumination had some nice cuts. The last studio album was quite good, actually. ("From the Floorboards Up" is on the FP homepage...)

[Thirty Nine]

Yah, the single was return to form, but I think his renaissance, commercially, is kinda over. If he`d fuse all his influences (ie: Jam, Style Council and solo), and grind it through--make it sound more "rock" it might be good. I think he`s still capable of a uncompromising rock and soul LP.

Actually his vocal on that Gene Clark song (Death In Vegas "Scorpio Rising") was fucking *killer...never got into the Byrds, specifically Gene`s talents, until that one. That`s* the last great thing he did.

[Willie D]

Paul Weller seems to suffer from whatever illness Sting has. That is, a desire to make "serious" or complex or african-american music despite being one of the most gifted pop writers on the fucking planet.

[Thirty Nine]

Well, Paul stood by his ideals, always: split The Jam after four straight UK #1s, pulled the plug. Did jazz-soul pop records, putting "Our Favorite Shop" at number one...did The Red Wedge tour with Billy Bragg, Frank Chickens (!) an`all that. Made an unreleased house record, split and went solo. Then, Stanley Road, Weller is "Modfather" by mid 90s and is number one again. He`s been more right than wrong, dresses good enough to teach me and everybody else how to get ready to go outside.

Sting: Tantric sex, new agey--decent solo LP (Ten Summoner`s Tales), enviromental and endorses Jaguars. Loads of money, both of them can sell out, but they`ve got more than enough to afford not to. Contradictory.

[martin]

Anyone get tickets for the three-day stand at Irving Plaza? Advance tickets are totally sold out. General release is tomorrow morning...

-------


Paul Weller to Play 3 Nights in New York City

The legendary Paul Weller will be bringing his full band over from the UK for three very special and exclusive shows at Irving Plaza in New York, presented by SPIN Magazine in association with Adidas Originals.

For the first time ever Paul Weller will hold a three-night stand in the United States to perform music from his entire 30 year career.

Over the past few years, Weller has sprinkled his set lists with a couple of Jam and Style Council songs. However, with the forthcoming release of his first ever career-spanning box set titled Hit Parade, Weller will focus on each glorious segment of his vast songbook. Each night will feature a selection of songs encompassing his entire career, but will also focus on a specific time period as well. The schedule is as follows:
Jan 29th - An Evening with Paul Weller: Spotlighting The Music of The Jam
Jan 30th - An Evening with Paul Weller: Spotlighting The Music of The Style Council
Jan 31st - An Evening with Paul Weller: Spotlighting His Entire Career
All three shows are being presented by SPIN Magazine in association with Adidas Originals. These shows are exclusive to the US and similar evenings will not be scheduled overseas. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, November 17th and are sure to move fast.

[joetron2030]

I mentioned that to a friend of mine in NYC. He didn't know about it either.

I'd love to see a Jam reunion here in the States. Think that could ever happen?

[FDM]

funny, somebody summed it up by saying that the Jam night will sell out, the Weller career retrospective will have a healthy crowd, and about 8-15 people will be at the Style Council night.

[martin]

Tickets went on sale today for two L.A. shows. Career retrospective including Jam and TSC...

Feb. 3rd and 4th at the Palace.

[joetron2030]

Paul Weller interview over at Pitchfork today:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/141836-interview-paul-weller

[feralmuppet]

He designed another shirt with Fred Perry. This one is a Henley.

[martin]

Nice interview... Whenever he comes through town, I'll show up and pay my respects. Whenever he makes an album, I'll buy it.

But I think I have enough PW shirts. Like one FP polo, two BS button-downs, and four or five tour ones!

[Willie D]

Saw Weller last night. I thought it was pretty terrible besides maybe Come On Lets Go and From the Floorboards Up which were tight. Ended with a meh version of Town Called Malice. The crowd seemed happy enough (the youngest person there was probably 30).

I don't get it. The man wrote dozens of the greatest songs ever and refuses to play them. It was like going to see the Rolling Stones play only songs off Steel Wheels and Bridges to Babylon with maybe an accapela version of Satisfaction thrown in.

Might go see Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler touring as "From the Jam" next weekend. Strangely enough they're playing a venue twice the size as Paul...

[Goner]

Has anyone picked this one up yet?

http://www.paulweller.com/uploaded/08271637110_paul%20weller%20at%20the%20bbc.jpg

[Goner]

PW is playing a few live dates:

04.15.09 The Moore Seattle WA

04.17.09 The Warfield San Francisco CA

04.23.09 Nokia Theater New York NY

[martin]

Has anyone picked this one up yet?

http://www.paulweller.com/uploaded/08271637110_paul%20weller%20at%20the%20bbc.jpg

I got it... If you're a fan, it's definitely worth your while except for two things: (1) the guest vocalists are beyond lame and (2) even the King of the Mods can't make lip-synching on Tops of the Pops cool.

[martin]

PW is playing a few live dates:

04.15.09 The Moore Seattle WA

04.17.09 The Warfield San Francisco CA

04.23.09 Nokia Theater New York NY



The must be scheduled around Coachella... That means L.A. doesn't get a proper show?

[Goner]

I got it... If you're a fan, it's definitely worth your while except for two things: (1) the guest vocalists are beyond lame and (2) even the King of the Mods can't make lip-synching on Tops of the Pops cool.

Is this regarding the DVD? I hadn't seen that one yet. The Beeb stuff I picked up was the 4-CD set of live in-the-studio recordings as well as concert performances captured by the station.

[martin]

Is this regarding the DVD? I hadn't seen that one yet. The Beeb stuff I picked up was the 4-CD set of live in-the-studio recordings as well as concert performances captured by the station.

Yeah, that's DVD I was referring to. The 4-CD is amazing, but you should go for it and get the digital bundle from www.losttunes.com. CD1 has a code so you can get a discount on the over-12 hours of music including nine complete concerts.

[Goner]

OK. Good to know about that, Martin. I'll look into it.

[martin]

Did you download the Cradock solo song with Weller vocals that I posted last night?

http://www.giantrobot.com/blogs/martin