Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Weller (of The Jam and Style Council) was recently interviewed in the June issue of MOJO magazine to celebrate his impending 50th birthday and the release of his latest album, and had some things to say when asked about The Smiths:
"I'd never really got them before, but when I saw them live I thought, "fucking hell!" When they hit hit the stage it made me think of the Jam days; there was an explosion when they hit the boards...but I never listened to any of their records to tell you the truth. I liked a couple of singles, but I was never a fan. I'm certainly not a fan of Morrisey's solo stuff. It's a weird thing, because he's a bit of a fan of mine [Moz covered the Jam's "That's Entertainment" in 1991]. But it's not reciprocated. It bugs me, I don't want to diss him in print, but he's a quintessential Englishman but lives in LA."
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Wow.. (Score:0)
Who cares?
Not me.
(User #14655 Info)
Why on earth is the fact that he lives in LA.. (Score:0)
It's like people have got nothing else to slag him off for.
And they call Morrissey the little Englander.
Weller pisses me off. (Score:1)
Secondly, Weller should have faced the firing squad for that video, "Long Hot Summer." If you have any doubts, search for it on youtube. He's begging to be serviced. Yuck.
Next, I should face the firing squad for purchasing the disc "Modernism: A New Decade."
Furthermore, Weller should be boiled in oil for a group known as "Slam Slam." Google it.
Also, Weller has the worst hair in Brit-pop history.
Lastly, Weller needs to shed a few pounds. He should lay off the chips with cream. Urgh.
Who the hell does Weller think he is? The Cappucino Kid? Give me a break.
-Ken.
(User #3940 Info)
Let's face it (Score:0)
I spit on the jam (Score:0)
Pot Kettle Black (Score:0)
well this is not that odd (Score:1)
club going and partying, gossipping artist, so
lots of artist never even spoke to Morrissey,
or hear via via stories
but I thought it was well known that Paul's not
a fan of Morrissey
(User #220 Info)
Morrissey & Weller are both geniuses, so f**k (Score:0)
I, like most of you am a Morrissey-obsessed fan, but you are all insane putting down Paul Weller.
He like most, did troubling videos in the late 80s/post 80s, but just like Morrissey, he is a treasure to England and a treasure to music.
Saying he's done nothing relevant... How about a number 1 double-album in the UK at 50 years old?
That seems relevant. He's still influencing new music (in his current form, not just as The Jam) like The Rifles, The Enemy, etc.
People that are only stuck on The Jam are the same people that are only stuck on The Smiths...complete morons only obsessed with 80s.
Both of these gentleman have very valid solo careers, and are far more mature and have personalized their music far more than anything done in The Smiths or The Jam.
The only people that write off their solo careers are people that usually don't even pick up the records or are so stuck in their belief of what Weller and Morrissey should be, they can't get around the fact that they're not.
Also, he never put Moz down.
In English culture, there is an irony to being an English cultural icon and living in LA. Its quite the antithesis. And to us that holds a different weight.
So to all you haters...He is doing the same thing in his career Morrissey is doing. Working in the music scene with newer, younger artists either on tour or in the studio, putting out chart-topping records, and touring and making fans happy.
So as a lover of Morrissey, and a lover of Weller, stop being wankers when anyone says anything other than complete praise of the man we've all grown to love.
Cheers!
wellery (Score:0)
Weller ignored Marr and treated him like a nobody.
So MrMarr made a few phone calls and took his band -The Smiths- to the next red wedge event and blew weller and everybody else to bits.
It was a sweet day.
Weller (Score:1)
Those little black plastic seven inch singles that were so precious... and I think this may be the first time Weller has actually acknowlegded that The Smiths singles were great!
(User #13062 Info)
Hanging on to a memory (Score:0)
Weller (Score:0)
If you can't appreciate either then you're a sad, misinformed cretin.
Take a leaf out of Weller's book (Score:0)
It's all clear now.. (Score:0)
Pot meet kettle. (Score:1)
Morrissey's solo career has been fairly ridiculous since Southpaw Grammar. It was his obvious "jumping the shark" moment.
Only the sad sacs who imagine that Morrissey is eavesdropping on their comments make any effort to qualify his work since Southpaw Grammar.
The only thing that made YATQ palatable was how bad ROTT was.
From the songs that Morrissey has introduced thus far, the new album looks to be much of the same paint by numbers crap.
(User #20764 Info)
Paul Weller... (Score:0)
Well Well Weller (Score:0)
Settle down ladies... (Score:0)
Sheridan
Style Council ..one of the worst bands ever! (Score:0)
Paul turning 50!? I though he would be turning 60. He looks so old..bags under the eyes and all. The hair never bothered me..but the male breasts he has now are just plain disturbing.
-an American somewhere
Well well well Weller (Score:0)
Congrats on the new album.
hahaha (Score:1)
Ah well, Morrissey. I think you once dissed his solo career in print as well.
(User #778 Info)
weird (Score:0)
Im beginning to doubt if he really wrote the Lyrics to any of the Jam hits at all.Weller is of no significance as a solo artist,Credit where Credit is due the Jam rocked! and even some style council stuff is still enjoyable(although some of weller's vocal recordings through these years were dreadful)since then he met the blues...woooo...and Im sorry but I could'nt name one of his solo Albums or songs,he has become irrelevent and has resorted to cheap mindless guttersnipe to promote his work...sad.
Looks like (Score:0)
The Mozcoats....ahhhh
that quote (Score:1)
recently i read that Weller cant stand Mozz.
whats its matter anyway they both make great tunes.........
(User #1028 Info)
To All of you Weller Haters... (Score:0)
When you're saying stupid shit about him being fat, or his hair, or that his career is insignificant,
or that he was an idiot for breaking up The Jam, you're clearly an uninformed idiot.
1. He's well fit.
2. His hair has always been an icon for many people (like it or not)
3. His career is most successful (still)
4. The Jam has reformed without Weller as Of The Jam playing to shitty little clubs in cities, while Weller sells out solo every night.
(It would be like The Smiths reuniting without Moz)
Maybe you all need to crawl out from the Morrissey hole you've been hiding in and quit living in the heydays,
because there's currently a lot of great English music that isn't Morrissey and/or Morrissey/Smiths cover bands.
For some reason I thought Mozzer's fans were open-minded individuals. Maybe I had more faith in us. What a shame.
Weller Solo... (Score:0)
Paul Weller - (1992) #8 UK
Wild Wood - (1993) #2 UK
Stanley Road - (1995) #1 UK
Heavy Soul - (1997) #2 UK
Heliocentric - (2000) #2 UK
Illumination - (2002) #1 UK
Studio 150 - (2004) #2 UK
As Is Now - (2005) #4 UK
22 Dreams - (2008) #1 UK
Looks like his solo career has been most relevant.
Weller is successful? really? (Score:0)
However, Paul Weller? No one knows who the bloody hell he is in America or even Latin America...or even Canada! The name doesn't even ring a bell. And while yes we all know America is not world, one would hesitate to list Paul Weller as one of the great successful musicians/writers of all time.
-boredatmycomputer
For what its worth.... (Score:1)
However!
In 1995 I read a interview where Weller said he liked Oasis. That was the first time and unless he has stated something recently that I missed, the ONLY TIME that I EVER heard him to be complimentary about ANYONE. So this should come of no suprise or be regarded as any kind of revelation either. The guy hasn't spoke to former bandmates in decades for no reason, look up Bruce Foxton, Mick Talbot or Eick Bickler interviews and you'll see what sort of man he is. Not to mention his ex wife, look up some of her quotes. He's a wanker, a quintessential wanker.
(User #21211 Info)
Weller is nice (Score:0)
Really Weller has his hardcore fan base and Moz has his. Arguably the latter are more diverse in terms of age range but they're both "part of the proud lineage of English bands" that the likes of cultural wankers like Robert Elms/ Paolo Hewitt etc make their careers out of whilst snorting charlie whilst more kids die around the world.