5 March 2006
WELLER TO PLAY T IN THE PARKA
EXCLUSIVE: Modfather at Balado
By Billy Sloan And Mickey Mcmonagle
PAUL WELLER is threatening to relaunch his amazing 30-year rock career… as a gay disco star.
But don’t panic… I think The Modfather is winding us up.
We can reveal today that Weller is the latest stellar name to sign up for this summer’s sold-out T in the Park.
In 2007, it will be 30 years since he exploded on to the music scene fronting The Jam – before moving on to The Style Council then a successful solo career.
Weller, who won a Brit lifetime achievement award last month, said: „Musically, I always like to think I could do something more challenging.
„Whether I’ve got the actual talent to do that is another matter.
„Moving from The Jam to The Style Council in 1982 seemed so radical at the time. Since then, I’ve gone through all different kinds of music.
„I don’t know if anything would be a real surprise now, unless I did some gay disco… I probably touched on a bit of that in The Style Council.
„I’d like to take my music somewhere else. But, in reality, I1 don’t know where.“
Weller called me to confirm he’s signed up for T in the Park. I can exclusively reveal he’ll headline the Radio One-NME Stage on July 8.
The singer was in top form.
„Why did I win my Brit award? That’s a f****** weird question. Why not? Thirty years is a long time.
„On the night, I enjoyed myself, which surprised me. Normally that stuff ain’t my cup of tea.“
Weller joined a list of previous winners, including his heroes The Who. Paul rates his recent hit album, As Is Now, as one of his finest. He said: „It’s one of the best bits of work I’ve ever done, even coming after all the other stuff with The Jam and The Style Council.
„My music is very much ongoing. It’s still relevant and contemporary.“
Paul was at his prickly best when I asked if he still recognised his youthful self while watching archive footage of The Jam.
„Of course I f***** do. He doesn’t seem like a different person – not one bit. Why should he?
„Have you seen me play recently? It ain’t a million f ****** miles away from The Jam.
„I might not be able to leap into the air any more because the old legs have gone a little bit but the energy and passion is still there.“
Weller’s heroes The Who headline T in the Park. Other veteran acts such as The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are still going strong. Will he be strutting his stuff 20 years from now?
„I was gonna be diplomatic but when I see a 62-year-old Mick Jagger on stage it looks strange to me,“ he admitted.
„But, having said that, I saw The Who last year and Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were electric.“ Weller’s music and style have influenced countless bands, including current chart-toppers The Arctic Monkeys.
He said: „I recognise certain aspects of their music. Like me, they’re writing about their surroundings in a colloquial way.
„Inside In Inside Out by The Kooks is a great pop record and Stars Of CCTV by Hard Fi is good.
„There’s lots of brilliant records around.
„We’re going through another great time.“
He said finally: „I can’t wait for T in the Park. The crowd is always up for it but that’s true of all gigs in Scotland.“
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"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." - George Best --- Dienstags und donnerstags, ab 20 Uhr, samstags ab 20.30 Uhr: Radio StoneFM