My guest this week is the fabulous musician, turned award-winning author, Daniel Rachel.

He wrote his first book, Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters after spending his twenties as the lead-singer in Rachels Basement. The book featured interviews with the likes of Paul Weller, Jimmy Page, Robin Gibb, Ray Davies, Annie Lennox, Noel Gallager and many more.

His 2017 Book Walls Come Tumbling Down: the music and politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge - which won the Penderyn Music Book prize - charts the pivotal period between 1976 and 1992 that saw politics and pop music come together for the first time in Britain's musical history; musicians and their fans suddenly became instigators of social change, and 'the political persuasion of musicians was as important as the songs they sang'.

The follow up in 2019 Don't Look Back in Anger: The rise and Fall of Cool Britannia was an Evening Standard and Metro Book of the Year.

Daniel and I dig in to these incredible historical documents to talk about some key periods in the career of Paul Weller with stories of Red Wedge from the 1980s and Cool Britannia and his return to the top of the charts in the 1990s.

You can buy these brilliant books and support independent bookshops here https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/danielrachel or head to Waterstones or Amazon. 

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My very special guest on this episode is Rick Buckler - drummer for The Jam!

Described as 'the big beat behind all of those great songs' and 'the perfect drummer for the perfect bands', Rick tells his story from the early days learning the instrument, to meeting Paul, Steve Brookes and Bruce Foxton at Sheerwater School in Woking.

We hear about the early days playing 50s and 60s favourites around Surrey to finding their own voice through a blend of rock, punk, mod and new wave, to signing with Polydor through to those incredible singles, albums, live performances and the personal triumphs - and ultimately how it all came to an end in 1982.

A man proud of the legacy and music that endures to this day.

You can also find out more by reading Rick's story in the book - That's Entertainment: My Life in The Jam- written with Ian Snowball - available here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thats-Entertainment-My-Life-Jam/dp/1783057947/

** If you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review and tell your friends! Plus if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee via the link below (£3)

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On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, Photographer Martyn Goddard takes us through his Jam archives.

For avid consumers of Jam vinyl in the late seventies and early eighties, Martyn Goddard’s photographs need little introduction. His images appear on the cover of their first album, In The City, and their fifth, Sound Affects.

His photos were also used on the front covers of a flurry of picture sleeve singles from 1977 to 1979: In The City, All Around The World, The Modern World, News of The World, David Watts/ ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, and finally Strange Town.

We dive into his personal recollections, and his shoot journals, where he recorded the dates of his studio sessions - and hear a bunch of memories from working with The Jam.

Find out more on Jam Sessions - Photographs by Martyn Goddard - his limited edition book with SnapGalleries.com here...

After a period assisting acclaimed photographer Gered Mankowitz, Martyn became a regular face on the New Wave music scene of the seventies and early eighties. This was an era of LP picture discs with serious budgets requiring creative photography. Photographing acts such as Blondie, The Jam, The Cure, Sham 69, Ian Dury, and Toyah lead to commissions from Queen and Elton John’s Rocket Records in the rock mainstream.

While working for the Sunday Telegraph Magazine, You and Sunday Times Magazine in the 1980’s he shot portraits and features with recording acts such as Genesis, U2, Jethro Tull, UB40 and Wham, progressing to portraits of great writers, artists, actors and politicians.

A period of working with Wham in the late 1980’s, including their groundbreaking tour of China, closed a chapter of life within the music business.

Martyn went on to work for Car magazine, creating new techniques of automotive and travel photography.

In recognition of his work, Martyn became a Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photography in 1987.

** If you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review and tell your friends! Plus if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee via the link below (£3)

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My latest guest is described perfectly by @BritpopMemories as 'Probably the best bass player of his generation' - Damon Minchella.

As a founding member of Ocean Colour Scene for 14 years, Damon toured the world, scoring five top five albums and 15 top 20 singles (they even supported Paul at my first live Weller experience in 1992!)

From 1994-2006, he doubled up as a member of Paul Weller’s band - playing on hit albums - Heliocentric, Illumination, Studio 150 and As Is Now, along with plenty of Live LPs and DVDs.

Post Weller-Band, he has continued to work with Drummer, Steve White in three bands - Trio Valore (with Justin Shearn / Seamus Beaghen) Players (with Mick Talbot)  and The Family Silver (with Matt Deighton).

At the same time his place as one of the UK’s most talented bassists has seen him in much in demand - playing live or in the studio with such rock ’n’ roll greats as Richard Ashcroft, Paul McCartney, The Who, Jimmy Page, Dr John, Paolo Nutini and Amy Winehouse.

You can find out more about Minchella & Manning here - https://www.minchellamanning.com/

** If you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review and tell your friends! Plus if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee via the link below (£3)

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In this episode, I chat to former Polydor Art Director, Bill Smith.

Not only did Bill create that famous spray-paint The Jam logo that lives on today but he also created the covers for 5 of their albums and 16 of their singles!

Across five decades, Bill Smith Studio has worked with more than 200 bands and artists, creating hundreds of album covers, singles bags, and CD covers. You may not know it, but if you bought records over the past forty years, you’ve probably bought a number of theirs.

Bill Smith Studio worked with some of the world’s best photographers, illustrators and painters on covers for, among others, The Jam, The Cure, Kate Bush, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, King Crimson, Eric Clapton, Toyah, Johnny Thunders, Genesis, Queen and Mike Oldfield.

In his new book 'Cover Stories' you’ll find the stories of 70 plus albums including contributions from the bands, the artists, photographers and painters involved. 

Find out more and order your copy here - https://redplanetmusicbooks.com/products/cover-stories

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2021 finally sees the reemergence of British folk’s most enigmatic lost son - and I can't quite believe that the mighty Matt Deighton is joining me on the podcast!

You may recognize Matt Deighton from his time fronting Acid Jazz heroes Mother Earth or as Paul Weller’s guitarist in the late 90’s when he joined the band for the Heavy Soul Tour.

And my goodness me - he has some fabulous stories to share!

For almost two decades, the man they keep calling the natural successor to Nick Drake, Davey Graham and John Martyn has been himself more of a rumour – a murmur among musicians, songwriters and diehard music lovers who proudly display his rare vinyl releases like trophies.

Matt’s is a story of genuinely great musicianship and songwriting; but most of all, of the beauty and fragility of one of Britain’s greatest lost talents and how life around him has sometimes shaped a fate beyond his control; but who has come back with something more beautiful every time the storm abated.

Find out more about Matt Deighton - Overshadowed - the intimate documentary at www.mattdeightonmovie.com and check out his tunes at www.mattdeighton.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

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Celebrate the release of Fat Pop (Volume 1) from Paul Weller with some lovely fans!

Including The Magic Mod (Ben Taylor), Trevor Neal (Trevor & Simon), Broadcaster Peter Gordon (PG)

Plus Super-Fans, Tony Christmas, Aarjen Schilt, Peter Nagle, Sandy Mackinnon, Jordan Cartmell, Dan Spackman and David Gordon.

All recorded over lunchtime on Friday 14th May 2021 - Fat Pop Day!

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My Guest on this episode is Alex Borg AKA The Stereo Typist 

This podcast is published on the eve of the release of Paul Weller's 16th Solo album - Fat Pop (Volume 1) so who better to chat to than the man who created the wonderful album cover artwork!

We hear how it all came about, stories of meetings at Black Barn / Paul Weller HQ along with Alex's love of vinyl, graphic design, bright colours, Pop Art and making music with his band - Moonlight Parade.

Find out more here

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Mick's Up!

My Guest is The Style Council Legend - Mick Talbot - keyboardist, songwriter, singer, composer and record producer.

On 1st March 1983, Paul Weller officially pulled the wraps off his new project, to be called The Style Council.

Following the split of The Jam, Paul had re-signed to Polydor as a solo artist, and soon recruited former Merton Parkas, Dexy's Midnight Runners and Bureau keyboardist, Mick Talbot who remained his soul brother and sounding board for the next seven years.

We talk about performing with The Jam, forming The Style Council and those incredible singles, EPs, albums, videos and live dates including Tokyo, Glastonbury, Live Aid and so much more!

Post-TSC, Mick has worked with Paul on his first 3 solo albums (Paul Weller, Wild Wood and Stanley Road) and more recently for On Sunset (Baptiste, Village & Walkin').

You'll also find Mick's amazing musical skills on albums with former Style Council member Steve White, under the name Talbot/White and The Players (with the addition of former Ocean Colour Scene bassist Damon Minchella), in the jazz/funk band The Players.

He played keyboards in Galliano, on the 1991 Young Disciples album Road to Freedom, and on recent LPs from Stone Foundation and even co-wrote & produced Dexy's 2012 LP One Day I'm Going to Soar

2020 saw him appear on the Monks Road Social album with the likes of Dr Robert, Matt Deighton, Neil Jones and Kathryn Williams.

My thanks to Mick for giving up his time for this very special episode - and for Nicky Weller for helping to arrange it all.

If you enjoyed it then please chuck a few quid to Romney House Cat Rescue - romneyhousecatrescue.org.uk

Oh... and here's Júníus Meyvant that Mick mentions at the end too!!! https://juniusmeyvant.com/

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On this episode I'm joined by PR Guru, Polly Birkbeck (the lady who looks after press for the main man - Mr Paul Weller!)

Polly started her career as A&R assistant in the early 90s at Food Records (label for Blur, Jesus Jones, Diesel Park West and others) before heading over to Savage & Best PR where she was Head of Press working with the likes of Pulp, Suede, Elastica and Menswear during the crazy days of BritPop!

She moved to v2 Records in 2000 and has worked with Paul Weller ever since - including for the past 15 years on her own venture, Complete Control PR

Polly has loads of lovely stories of working with Paul, and even a nice surprise about the Black Barn crew and this little podcast thing!

If you enjoy the podcast and want to support financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee via the link below (£3)

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