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.

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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.

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In this episode of the Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I chat to Cat Santos and Sodge Adams, two of the creative minds behind Fifth Column, the pioneering screen-printing collective that helped define the look of Punk and Mod culture in late-1970s London.

Fifth Column started when a group of friends decided to design and print - by hand - punk rock t-shirts for bands like X-Ray Spex, The Clash, The Jam, and The Damned. After creating the artwork on paper and curing the shirts in tumble dryers at a laundrette on Kilburn High Road, they sold them outside London gigs.

From Camden Market and Kings Road to working with Paul Weller, John Weller, Cat and Sodge share memories of printing iconic imagery, climbing drainpipes to get into gigs, and living the chaos and creativity of the era.

As the conversation unfolds, they reflect on how the Punk ethos evolved into political activism through Red Wedge and campaigns like Anti-Apartheid and Coal Not Dole. From surviving a devastating factory fire to designing artwork for All Mod Cons and Setting Sons, Fifth Column’s story is one of resilience, collaboration, and rebellion.

It’s a vivid portrait of DIY innovation - and of how a few friends with screens, ink, and ideas helped shape the visual identity of a generation.

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Jonathan Ross has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting since the late 1980s. From his early days hosting Channel 4’s The Last Resort, he’s gone on to become one of the country’s most recognisable presenters, known for his sharp humour and genuine curiosity. Whether it’s chatting with global superstars on The Jonathan Ross Show, judging the wild antics on The Masked Singer, or sharing his love of film on “Reel Talk” with his daughter Honey, Jonathan’s career has always been about connecting with people and celebrating culture in all its forms.

Yet, for all the celebrity encounters and TV moments, Jonathan is, at heart, a passionate music fan - and Paul Weller’s work has been a constant thread through his life. In this episode, recorded for my book Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire - The Authorised Oral History, Jonathan shares his memories of buying The Jam’s 'In the City' on release day, hitchhiking to see the band as a teenager, and later welcoming Weller onto his TV shows at pivotal moments in his solo career. It’s a conversation about the thrill of punk, the evolution of fandom, and the enduring power of Paul Weller’s music to inspire, challenge, and connect.

Order your copy of the book at geni.us/dancingthroughthefire

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My guest on this episode is Paul Moody - journalist, author, musician (his band is The Studio 68!), and a man whose journey with Paul Weller’s music has spanned decades.

From discovering The Jam as a teenager in North London, to interviewing Paul for the NME during the Stanley Road era, to the DVD interviews for As Is Now and writing sleeve notes for Wake Up the Nation...

We talk about the seismic impact of The Jam, the Style Council and Paul's ability to push boundaries, the creative rebirth of the solo years, and what it’s like to go from being in the crowd to sitting in Paul’s living room.

This is a dive into fandom, music journalism, and the enduring legacy of one of Britain’s greatest songwriters...

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This week on The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I’m joined by Phil Bickley - founder of London menswear store Tonic and co-creator of the Paul Weller clothing label Real Stars Are Rare.

Phil’s story is a fascinating mix of music, fashion, and friendship.

We talk about how his admiration for The Style Council soundtracked his post-rave comedowns in the early ’90s, how Weller first walked into his shop and bought a belt, and how that encounter led to a full-blown creative partnership.

From sketching ideas on scraps of paper to launching a successful menswear brand, Phil shares what it was like working side by side with one of Britain’s most stylish musicians.

We also explore the challenges of balancing creativity with business realities - and the mutual respect that kept their collaboration grounded.

Phil’s insights into Weller’s eye for clothes, his “upside-down triangle” physique, and the shared spirit behind Real Stars Are Rare offer a new perspective on Paul’s lifelong relationship with style and substance.

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In this conversation for my Dancing Through the Fire book, I chat with Pippa Hall, whose time at Go! Discs saw her at the heart of Paul Weller’s solo resurgence.

Pippa offers a fascinating insight into the inner workings of one of the UK’s most beloved record labels, describing the family atmosphere that made the label so special and the excitement of being part of Weller’s creative rebirth in the 1990s.

We hear about the challenges of getting Paul’s music the attention it deserved in the early days, the thrill of hearing Wild Wood for the first time at The Manor, and the unforgettable experience of working on the Help album at Abbey Road.

Pippa also reflects on the changing landscape of the music industry, the ups and downs of label life, and her enduring friendship with Paul.

From dealing with journalists and press controversies to the personal connections that shaped her career, this conversation is packed with anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories that shed new light on a pivotal era for Paul Weller and British music. 

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Singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams returns to the podcast to talk about her brand-new album Mystery Park - a deeply personal and reflective record that includes a beautiful co-write with Paul Weller, 'Gossamer Wings'. Kathryn shares the story of how the song came together, from her initial “cringe” moment of writing at Paul to their eventual collaboration, which also saw Weller add Hammond organ and backing vocals. We also revisit their earlier work together on 'So Quietly' from his 66 Supplement EP, a track that also featured legendary bassist Danny Thompson.

In our wide-ranging chat, Kathryn reflects on family, songwriting, and creativity - whether that’s balancing life on the road with raising teenage sons, painting her own album cover, or uncovering the emotions behind her lyrics. We also talk about her Patreon community, live shows, and the joy of finding connection through art.

Always funny, thoughtful, and generous, Kathryn offers a warm and honest insight into her music and her collaborations with Weller.

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We’re back! Focusing on Paul Weller’s new covers album, Find El Dorado, with special guests sharing their stories and connections to the songs. Plus, exclusive episodes celebrating the release of my book – Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire: The Authorised Oral History, which has just been published!

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Sir Lenny Henry is a British icon.

For decades, he’s been a force in comedy, acting, writing, and activism.

But what’s less discussed is his deep connection to music - and, in particular, his admiration for Paul Weller and The Jam, The Style Council, and Weller’s solo work.

In another real 'pinch me' moment, I caught up with Lenny for my book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire - The Authorised Oral History to explore this musical thread running through his life and career... including a stand out performance joining The Style Council live on TV and performing a song on Our Favourite Shop!

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