Ernie McKone is a UK-based bass player, producer and tutor whose speciality is jazz, funk, Latin and soul. With so many connections to Paul Weller and the likes of Mick Talbot, Steve White, Carleen Anderson, Jacko Peake and Matt Deighton over the past 30 plus years - there are some great stories to dig into.In 1997, Ernie joined the Paul Weller live band - taking over from Yolanda Charles - and he toured Europe and the UK for a couple of years around the release of the album Heavy Soul.The Victoria Park gig of 1998 has been captured on film (YouTube link below) and the audio was released as a limited edition bonus Live Classics CD with Paul's first solo greatest hits - Modern Classics.More recently Ernie has remixed one of the many stand out tracks from the Paul Weller album Fat Pop - with October 2021 seeing the release of Glad Times (Soul Steppers) - Remixed by Boogie Back. He also did a stonking version of Stone Foundation's Deeper Love (which featured Paul on vocals) with a Late Night Jazz Funk Mix.

You can find more info in my show notes at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/episode-91-ernie-mckone

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Ernie’s track record also includes work with Sister Sledge, Galliano, Incognito, PUSH, Seal, Leon Ware, Reuben Wilson, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marlena Shaw, Urban Species, Reel People and Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band.Ernie also runs Boogie Back Records - an underground label that releases jazz funk and street soul. Artists who have appeared on the label include Omar, The Valentine Brothers, Vivienne McKone (his sister who also played keys with The Style Council for a time), Max Beesley, Mica Paris and more...Ernie played with Galliano in the early nineties - performing on the brilliant albums In Pursuit of the 13th Note, A Joyful Noise unto the Creator and The Plot Thickens.In 1993, he played bass on the Talbot & White album - United States of Mind.

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Barrie Cadogan is not only one of the most talented and well-respected guitarists around, having played with Primal Scream, Johnny Marr, The The, Steve Mason, Texas and, of course, Paul Weller - he also fronts his own band - Little Barrie.

A classic British power trio in the lineage of Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Barrie started off as a solo guise for Barrie, using the nickname given to him aged 14 by a mate’s dad in Nottingham. 

The band first supported Paul Weller in 2002 - with gigs including the Birmingham NEC and Hyde Park's Route of Kings. He's played on 22 Dreams, Wake Up The Nation and True Meanings whilst also joining the Weller live line up on numerous occasions for gigs and radio sessions.

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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Steve ‘Tufty’ Carver is my very special guest on this episode - recorded in front of a live audience at London's Cockpit Theatre.Woking born and bred, Steve has been friends with Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton, and Rick Buckler for over 45 years.

Known to everyone as Tufty - he calls himself ‘a friend, fan and eventually a "roadie" with The Jam’, and shares plenty of stories - from watching his mates going from playing gigs in Woking to Wembley, to the World.

To quote Tufty "I will never every say that is was nothing really. It was everything. Life changing moments!"

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at London's Cockpit Theatre, my guest is the Legendary broadcaster, TV presenter, journalist, A&R man, promoter and DJ - Gary Crowley.We dig in to his love of The Jam as a teenager to the creation of his own fanzine, interviews with Paul and Mick for The Style Council to Capital, GLR & XFM studio sessions and plenty of stories from his 40 year long radio & TV career.

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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Hear my exclusive chat with musician Andy Crofts from the Paul Weller Band just hours ahead of their support slot with Madness at London's Royal Albert Hall and days before they head out on tour across England & Scotland.We also chat about the beautiful abstract painting that he has created, in light of the crisis in Ukraine, and the auction to raise money for War Child.Entitled, The Resistance, the piece is painted on a 1.5m x 1m framed canvas using acrylic and draws on the Ukrainian flag as inspiration.Growing up as an only child in Northampton, Andy was drawn into his own imagination and has also been painting and creating art his whole life. Now, the musician has set up an online auction for ‘The Resistance’ and is encouraging art lovers who connect with the piece to throw their support behind it.All proceeds will go to War Child’s work with children affected by recent events in Ukraine.

Find out more at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/warchild-auction

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With Paul Weller and his band heading out on their latest tour in a matter of days, it's a real delight to be joined by one of the current line up - singer-songwriter, musician & keys player for PW - Tom Van Heel.

Tom's entry into the crew is one of my favourite stories yet - what a magical experience he's had so far. We chat Saturns Pattern through to Fat Pop - live in the U.K., Europe, USA, Canada and Australia…

Find out more with links to songs and videos that Tom has played on - including his own band - Higher Peaks on my website www.paulwellerfanpodcast.com

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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Episode 86 hears from legendary booking agent Martin Hopewell - a man who was a key part of the Weller set up for 28 years from The Jam in 1977 to The Style Council to Weller solo - right through to Studio 150.

From smaller boutique agency Cowbell through to World Service which became part of the mega super agency Primary Talent…

Listen for some amazing stories from the chaos of a punk festival in Paris to life on the road with gigs around the U.K. and Europe - to Japan and Australia - and a massive appreciation of Paul’s incredible work ethic.

We also hear about his huge love and appreciation for the Weller family and special memories of John Weller, Paul's dad and manager who sadly passed away in 2009.

Visit my website for more information at paulwellerfanpodcast.com

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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It was a sheer delight to welcome actor and musician, Max Beesley onto The Paul Weller Fan Podcast.What a talent! - piano, vibes, drums and percussion - song-writing - production - and a successful TV & movie acting career to boot!.

Even though he was just 18 at the time, Max played a key part in those early days of Paul's solo career with The Paul Weller Movement. He performed live as part of the band across the UK and Europe in 1990/91. Surely I'm not the only one who managed to wear out a VHS copy of the Brixton Academy show because I played it so often?!.I've posted a link to that gig below as it's so very special to me - amazing songs and performances all round. Funky as hell too!.It was recorded on 20th April 1991, a whole year before Paul's first solo album was released in Japan (18 months in the UK). The gig features Steve White on drums, Jacko Peake on saxophone and flute, Henry Thomas on bass and Max Beesley on keys and vibes.

Cast your mind back to 6th May 1991. The first solo single… Into Tomorrow was released - and Paul was back!.Recorded at Solid Bond in February, this absolute banger has Weller on vocals, bass, guitars and percussion. Steve White is on drums, Dr. Robert (The Blow Monkeys) on guitar (and BV) with Max on the organ. He also mentions on the podcast about recording Kosmos during that session too.

Next time you are digging in to your Weller albums - check out Wild Wood to hear Max performing extra vocals with Marco Nelson on Has My Fire Really Gone Out? and playing wurlitzer on Moon on Your Pyjamas (a song that Paul wrote for his eldest son, Nat).

As you'll hear during our chat, Max has been working with Paul again in recent years. We hear about a very special collaboration called Song for Sabrina on his own soon-to-be-released solo album - The Groove Spectrum, working with his old Guildhall mate (and previous podcast guest) Omar in Paul's studio for his new LP and even recording some late night grooves with Paul at Black Barn that will hopefully turn up in the future.

As a session musician, Max played, toured or recorded with the likes of Incognito, Jamiroquai, Robbie Williams, Omar, Brand New Heavies, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, The JB's and Zero7.

As an actor, he has starred in many hugely successful TV series - The History of Tom Jones, Bodies, Hotel Babylon, Mad Dogs, Jamestown and The Outsider. In 2022, you'll be able to see Max starring alongside Keeley Hawes in Sky TV sci-fi thriller The Midwich Cuckoos and in Guy Ritchie's new movie Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre with Hugh Grant, Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza and Josh Hartnett.Spoiler alert, you can also see Max on screen during the Paul Weller video On Sunset - with a little cameo appearance at the end on the promo film.

Visit my website for more links on all the things that we talk about at paulwellerfanpodcast.com

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

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On Episode 84 of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I am joined by singer, musician, activist & campaigner, Rhoda Dakar.

We hear how her career began as lead vocalist with all female 2Tone band, The Bodysnatchers in 1979 and kick off the podcast with a great Paul Weller connection through The Jam and Rhoda being banned from seeing them live in concert in the late 70s / early 80s!.

We hear about Red Wedge in the mid-eighties where Rhoda became Chair of the Steering Group, whilst making guest appearances on stage alongside the likes of Paul Weller, Billy Bragg, Dr, Robert, Lorna Gee, Junior Giscombe and The Communards.

Rhoda also reveals all about recording a brilliant EP of songs at Black Barn (PW HQ) in 2017 called The LoTek Four, Vol I.Heck, we even hear another angle on the famous 'Mick Talbot gets left at motorway service station' story!

Find more about Rhoda's music on Bandcamp here and live dates & tickets for Rhoda on tour here

Visit my website for more links on all the things that we talk about at paulwellerfanpodcast.com

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com

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My latest podcast guest is Tracie! AKA Tracie Young.The singer, 80s popstar, TV Presenter & Radio Broadcaster talks about 80s hairdos, The Jam, The Style Council, Respond Records, her solo career, touring and recording with Paul Weller along with the truth behind the second album that lay in the vaults for over 25 years.

Big thanks to Mr Cool's Dream - Iain Munn for his great book for help with the research too.

Visit my website for more links on all the things that we talk about at paulwellerfanpodcast.com

Thanks for listening - make sure that you subscribe / follow and leave a review - and if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee (£3) at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/shop

Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.