B.Boy was there again!
Another huge thanks to "nodoubties", original uploader
2010/08/31
Weller and Janice Long. (Bax' courtesy)
Janice Long
31/08/2010
Latest episode on BBC iPlayer
Janice Long31/08/2010
Janice is joined by Paul Weller for an in-depth interview and exclusive acoustic session.
BBC Radio 2, broadcast on 31 Aug 2010
2010/08/29
Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy (thanx to Mighty Mike). Dedicated to Andy at our Last Standing Shop!
Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy perform the title track from Mavis' upcoming album 'You Are Not Alone,' in stores September 14th. Jeff wrote it and produced the LP. (Mike Again)
2010/08/28
2010/08/27
Eli "Paperboy" Reed meets The victory Travelers (gospel) cognac blues passions festival.
Thanx to Smallface69! (probably a TRUE fan, Mac...)
Eli Paperboy Reed and the true loves meets The victory Travelers (gospel) in july 2010 at the cognac blues passions festival 2010.
Dedicated to John Hellier.
Eli Paperboy Reed and the true loves meets The victory Travelers (gospel) in july 2010 at the cognac blues passions festival 2010.
Dedicated to John Hellier.
Weller in the Guardian "I have the right to be an artist"... (Thanx to Bax and Christine)
It was the 2007 Glastonbury festival, and Paul Weller was pondering three decades of success. He felt restless, dissatisfied with much of his output in the first decade of the new century. He was still touring his album of two years earlier, As Is Now, which he liked but which hadn't found the wide audience he wanted. For the first time since Polydor refused to release the Style Council's house music album in 1989, Weller questioned his own relevance. Where once people had hailed his guitar classicism as the inspiration behind Britpop, they now called his music "Dadrock". He was nearly 50. Worse, he hadn't written a song in two years.
"I felt creatively empty," he says. "I realised I couldn't take the 'Weller sound' or whatever you wanna call it any further." Nor was he happy with the traditional cliche of the musician with the dwindling audience: that he was making music for himself. "I never believed those artists who say they make music for themselves. In that case stay in yer fuckin' bedroom then," he says. So he did something he'd done before, notably when he split up the Jam at their peak in 1982: he "cleared the decks", changing his entire way of working. He compares his periodic realignments to the Beatles' decision to break up, "leaving all those fabulous albums and saving us from 35 years of shit where they aren't as good as they used to be". This time, instead of writing songs on guitar, he started improvising ideas around producer/co-writer Simon Dine's looped grooves. He ditched nearly all his regular musicians, and brought in new collaborators, including ELO's Bev Bevan and My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields.
Three years on, his decision seems vindicated. Thirty-three years after releasing his first album, Weller is on the kind of creative roll that most artists experience just once in their career. 2008's 22 Dreams reached No 1 and garnered wide plaudits, and this year's Wake Up the Nation, his 10th solo album, is even better. It contains his most political songs in years, since the days he was labelled "spokesman for a generation".
"It wasn't intended to be political, it was a cultural call," he insists. "But I was singing stream of consciousness, and suddenly you've got lines about 'those fuckers in the castle'."
After picking up a lot of awards lately – an Ivor Novello, an NME Godlike Genius and two Brits (for outstanding contribution and best British male) – Weller has scored a Mercury nomination for Wake Up the Nation, his first since 1994's Wild Wood was pipped to the prize by M People's Elegant Slumming. Weller is grateful for the recognition, but has mixed feelings. "Once you're past 30 and haven't died of consumption, they start awarding these things for staying alive."
But does it feel to him as if he's enjoying a dramatic revival of his fortunes?
"I do feel like I'm on a creative roll," he admits. "I've had a real urge to write. There's things inside me waiting to blow up. With these two albums, it's felt like the songs were flying out of me." He says they were coming so fast there wasn't even really time to get together his regular band: "I wasn't intending to make a record, but from me going into the studio and laying down ideas, we suddenly had an album," he says of that first rush of material for 22 Dreams. Nevertheless, he didn't pick up the phone to call the men who'd been playing with him for years, not even Steve White, the drummer who'd been with Weller since rehearsing for the Style Council as a 17-year-old in 1983. "We didn't talk really about it," admits Weller, suggesting, bizarrely, that the musicians might even have been glad of the break. "Cos it's fast and furious, touring," he shrugs. "I can't speak for them, but they must've been thinking it would be nice to have time with their families."
That seems comically disingenuous: who really welcomes an open-ended layoff from their regular employer? But when Weller's creative urges strike, nothing else enters his mind except the need to get down to it. Driven by a working-class work ethic – "You only get what you work at, and rightly so. You can't sit around and expect people to give you shit" – he has an almost pathological need to keep proving himself. When we last met, in 2000, he said that if he wasn't creating he felt "dead inside. Worthless." That attitude has enabled Weller to remain relevant where most of his punk peers, as he puts it, "are all on the nostalgia circuit".
Still, reinventing himself and shedding people who've been at his side for years must require utter ruthlessness. "I prefer 'selfishness'," he replies. "But what are you supposed to do? Go through the motions? Or be seen as ruthless and try to expand and do something different? People are happy doing their greatest hits fuckin' pantomime tour, and people lap it up as well. But that's not enough for me. I have a right to be an artist." He explains that when he was a child, he believed artists were either rich or had been to college, but then realised "anyone can do it if they put their mind to it. Obviously you've got to be willing to move on and upset people along the way."
Which raises the question: which is more important to him, his music or his personal relationships? He ponders this for an eternity – aware that an honest answer involves "hurting other people. But if I'm really honest, outside of my kids, it would be music."
His frankness is brutal, but at 52, Weller is painfully aware that his creative time is not infinite, and he has been further driven by his father's death last year. John Weller bought Paul his first guitar, and was his manager from the days of the Jam onwards. Wake Up the Nation's beautifully defiant song Trees was inspired by Weller seeing his "best friend" withering away in a respite home. "It's fuckin' horrible to see, and there's absolutely nothing you can do. It sounds strange, but I was happier when he went, because in my mind he'd moved on." If Weller's creative instincts have been heightened by grief, the grieving process is not apparent in the songs. "I wouldn't put that on people. Grief's bad enough without a whole fuckin' album about it."
Weller's need to make new music has coincided with other upheavals. With hindsight, he has realised 22 Dreams documents his 2008 split from his partner of 13 years, the mother of two of his five children; and his falling in love with Hannah Andrews, 28 years his junior, to whom he is now engaged. Mid-life crisis, or true love?
"Splitting up was fuckin' hard as well," he sighs. "But at the end of the day I've fallen in love with someone else." He compares the situation to when he resisted his father's advice and split the Jam. "You can't live a lie. You have to follow your heart."
The sensitivity in his songs emerges very occasionally elsewhere. When Weller met Jam bassist Bruce Foxton by chance in the toilet at a Who gig in 2006, 24 years without contact ("my fault") melted in hugs and words. Two years later, when Weller's father and Foxton's wife, Pat, were dying, Weller called her – "It wasn't difficult, she was a lovely lady" – and reopened lines of communication that led to the bassist joining the cast of Wake Up the Nation. "We just started speaking, and I suppose it was that thing musicians do: 'Why don't we do some playing?', which was nice," smiles Weller. "We've played together since and it was fun, it wasn't heavy at all. Beyond that? I don't know." But there won't be a Jam reunion. Weller is amused that drummer Rick Buckler – with whom he never got on – has apparently left From the Jam, the Jam tribute band he formed with Foxton. "They could reform," sniggers Weller, sharply. "Which would be interesting, conceptually."
There are other echoes of Weller's past. Before the interview, we were politely told Weller isn't keen to talk about politics, the establishment, or any of that stuff. But he brings the subjects up himself.
"Our guitarist Steve Cradock was 41 yesterday, and someone bought him a 1969 DVD which went through the year. Man landing on the moon and all that. And it had the investiture of the Prince of Wales. How fuckin' ridiculous that whole scene and system is. How fuckin' anachronistic and absurd. Especially as he's not even fuckin' Welsh! It's such an insult to the Welsh people. I can't believe it's the modern age and it's still here." Moments later, he's erupting about X Factor-induced apathy ("Millions of people watching a third-rate vocalist seem great amongst a sea of mediocrity. You enlarge that to society and it's quite worrying, really") and the state of British democracy ("You've got a million people marching against the Iraq war and the next day they start the bombing"). With Weller in this mood, even the recession becomes little more than a deception: "It's a way of diverting people's attention from what's really going on. Not that people aren't being hit by it – but how much are they spending in the Gulf war? Fuckin' millions! And they're asking the poor people to tighten their belts. We were watching the newsreels from 1969 and nothing's changed." No wonder Weller turned down a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list in 2006.
"Comical!" he laughs. "I'm not the sort of person who would expect something like that. It's not as if the dear old Queen chooses 'em herself. And even if she did, I'm not fuckin 'aving it."
The storm subsides, and Weller is already moving on, enthusing about young bands – he admires Wild Beasts, and Erland and the Carnival – and the new tracks he's already laid down since Wake Up the Nation. He remains governed by the mod philosophy that has sustained him since he was a child. "It's not about going round looking like Austin Powers. It's about being able to take in Stockhausen and the latest soul release and everything, adapt and make it yours."
The ride may be uncomfortable, but the leading British rock musician of his generation is back on course.
"When I'm dead I wanna leave a body of work, like authors or great painters do," he says, with the intensity of his youth. "I don't wanna get ideas above my station, but why shouldn't this be comparable? Pop music was supposed to be a flash in the pan, but here we are 50 years later and it means something to us, and it always will do. It's incredibly important."
Paul Weller plays Belsonic 2010 tonight in Belfast. Wake Up the Nation is out now on Island. Suburban 100, a book of selected lyrics, is published by Arrow on 2 September.
2010/08/25
Lend us 5 quids...
CONNETT...WAGING WAR ON THE OBVIOUS now available on 208 records at a special price of £5 go on treat yourself...finally a band for the cool, stylish, intelligent people of the world to embrace and call your very own...thanks to the Connett collective for the continuing support...
2010/08/22
10.10.10 Cancellation, John Hellier talks.
- (Yann) So what’s about the convention? Massive success as usual?
John Hellier: The 14th annual Convention was a great success, as they’ve all been. Because of the proposed 10/10/10 show this year’s event was brought forward to mid August and transferred to a smaller venue. The reason being that it was thought that many of the fans that travel to London from afar would (possibly) have opted for just one of the shows and rather than skip the Convention completely this was seen as an alternative plan. Traditionally August is a poor month for gigs as many fans take advantage of the school break to go away on holiday. I needn’t have worried though the new venue, The Garage, was pretty well full.
- So, John, We can’t avoid the subject, there’s an incredible buzz on many mods’ list about the 10.10.10 cancellation. I have to admit the deception is very important, and many fans are very angry, it would have been a true rendez-vous for Small faces fans…So What can you tell us about the cancellation? According to the buzz, Kenney Jones said he wasn’t asked permission, so what?
Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan issued myself, fellow producer Mark Cunningham and promoters CMP with a very nasty legal threat that if we didn’t cancel the event we would be sued in court. After having taken legal advice it turns out this was a bluff. They knew and were consulted with regards plans for the show but permission was not asked as permission does not need to be asked. Those songs are played in pubs and clubs throughout the country every night of the week and as long as a PRS fee is paid all is above board. But it was a bluff serious enough to frighten away the Promoter. We could have ignored the threat and continued but CMP, the guys that were putting the money up for the show, didn’t fancy the fight and told us that they would only proceed with the blessing of the remaining members of the band. We thought we had that up until a few weeks ago! The timing of the cancellation was awful, tickets had been on sale for over two months and of course, all those fans that bought tickets would now have to be refunded but many had also booked flights/hotels etc and may possibly end up losing out financially. The REAL reason for cancellation is not yet known but I have my own thoughts on the matter and have a gut feeling that Mr Harvey Goldsmith is involved somewhere. I may be wrong but isn’t it just possible that they thought the idea was just too good for anybody else to do it. Perhaps when the ridiculous Mick Hucknall and the Faces tour peters out they’ll announce Ogden’s at Wembley Stadium! Only a hunch but if that happened I know a few people that wouldn’t be there.
Have you been disappointed from a personal point of view? I mean everyone knows you’re the flamekeeper of the small faces lantern (including all the people who work with you for the Wapping Wharf issues, like Mick Nutgone taylor as an example.) and they are not very correct with you, do they?
I have worked with those two guys several times before and it’s always problematic. I have no wish to ever work with them again. They would almost certainly say the same of me but I’m still called upon when sleeve notes or some knowledge of the back catalogue is required for a CD set or whatever. I’m disappointed but not surprised and as for Kenney’s children’s charity not wanting anything to do with 10/10/10….. Have you ever heard of any charity that refuses money? Especially a five figure sum. Beggar’s belief! They are musical heroes of mine but you know what they say about meeting and working with ones heroes... don’t you?
- How did you learn you have to cancel? Any phone call, a personal touch? Will you speak to them anymore?
No phone call, no personal touch. It came via an email from Kenney Jones manager to Mark Cunningham. Everything from KJ comes via his manager!
- You were looking for appearances as guest stars? Who was in it?
Guest vocalists were being sought but with a show like that nobody is contracted so it is always best to sell as many tickets as you could without naming names but some that were in the frame were Richard Ashcroft, Suggs, David Essex, Tom from Kasabian, Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe, Sam Brown and of course at one stage, The Faces themselves.
- It looks very complicated to work with Mr Jones, Mr McLagan but also with all the people who can make money with Stevie and Ronnie, is it? No news about the Ronnie Lane memorial DVD? It’s something very hard to understand. When there will be no more new material, the lights will go down for sure…
With regards new material: there is a new box set of re-mastered material in the pipeline and Immediate tapes have recently been discovered in America featuring the likes of the band structuring classic numbers such as Tin Soldier. It comes complete with banter and Steve bollocking KJ (although almost certainly Kenney with the extra “e” will want that removed!) Hope they leave that sort of material in though as it’s just the type of thing that fans love. And yes, regardless of our 10/10/10 differences they are still happy to pick my brains for things that they cannot remember. I cannot comment on the Royal Albert Hall DVD yet as the politics surrounding that are very complicated. One bit of hassle at a time eh? There are but two Small Faces…Steve and Ronnie must be ROLLING OVER in their graves eh?
Nick Ward new single: available Monday.
Monday 23rd August - Just Look Around You - the new single taken from forthcoming album Pink Bay.
Available on all major download stores - iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc
Can also text 6234 to 80818 to get it direct to your phone (£1), or direct from www.audiofilerecords.com
Weller in French festival, Musilac...Aix les Bains, July.
Very strange festival for Weller, there was not that much Wellerians in the audience and the man was on the lake shore, very cool and easy with Miss Andrews, incognito, before the gig! According to press, the band has been really good but a bit like an UFO in the festival. He played before ... Mika and the french Renan Luce... A bit like when the Jam opened for Blue Oyster Cult! :) But Weller did the job and was very relaxed according to JC!
Ray Davies, Glasto 2010, Homage to Pete Quaife.
Check also Niels Recommandation:
Those interested in listening to a new lengthy interview with Ray Davies available on the web site of one of the major Danish TV and radio stations, go here and find link "Hør hele interviewet med Ray Davies (22:36)" under the green bar "Lyd og video". Davies is in Denmark and plays his music with a symphony orchestra.
You may also check this clip from the Friday news on Danish TV, which also includes material from the Kinks' visit to Tivoli in Copenhagen in the Sixties, when the audience thrashed the concert hall
2010/08/20
21 st century Mods and Fashion: Nicholson and Walcot, London. The Webstore.
When I've been to Brighton for a Cornwell's gig, I was parked just in front of "Jump The Gun", the mods store in the Mods Mecca. On the World Wide Web you can falso ind completely devoted stores to mods fashion, like Louise Baxter's Nicholson and Walcot webstore. It's absolutely classy, refined and sophisticated. Customers are abit known in this area, Weller, Kevin Rowland, Paolo Hewitt and much more, Steve Ellis, Andy Crofts, check the complete website, it's all too beautiful!
The makers at Nicholson and Walcot are from craft making families and this heritage is put to good use with the products now on offer.
After many years making scarves and bags for family & friends on the Mod/60′s scene, we have used that knowledge and expertise to produce an authentic look. We are pleased to say that word of our range has spread very quickly and demand has grown ever since.
These often teamed up with antique buttons and fabrics collected over the years to produce a unique and self designed range.
Everything made under the name of Nicholson and Walcot is handmade with orders for our bespoke scarves coming in from the likes of Paul Weller, Kevin Rowland, writer Paolo Hewitt and DJ and broadcaster Gary Crowley, along with many others from various scenes.
Follow the link and check the catalogue, order by mail, etc. Enjoy the punters section.
Don't look after the shop, it's available on the internet only.
Don't look after the shop, it's available on the internet only.
2010/08/19
Not so bored with the USA! (Thanx a lot to Scott)
Paul Weller hopes he can one day have a hit in the US, one of the few countries where success has always eluded him.
(BANG) -
Paul Weller wants to have a hit single in the US.
Despite his huge success in Europe, the singer and guitarist -affectionately known as The Modfather in his native UK, where he spearheaded the Mod revival movement of the 70s and 80s - is yet to score a big hit stateside.
Paul, 51, told Spin magazine: "I've been waiting 30 years. When I first went out to the US in 1977, the record company said, 'you won't make it in America unless you tour there for a year.' But there was no way I could leave my home for that long.
"You get from America what you put into it and I just didn't want it badly enough."
The 'Wake Up The Nation' singer has said although he wasn't prepared to take the time to break the US, he has always put everything he has into his career, and sacrificed personal relationships for the sake of his career.
He said: "Right from the start with music, I was like, I'm just going to do this and I don't care about anything else.
"There are certain things you have to give up, even at 13, 14: your Friday and Saturday nights, having a regular girl, lots of things like that."
(C) BANG Media International
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