Paul Weller Fan Podcast

In this episode, Paul Dowling - director of marketing at Go! Discs in the early ‘90s - tells the story of how he helped Paul Weller find a new home and a fresh start after The Style Council and Polydor rejected him.A teenage Jam fan who witnessed the band’s energy first-hand, Paul started work in an indie record shop job before moving in marketing within the record industry and then landing at Go! Discs just as the label was building on it's reputation for artist-friendly culture and creative risk-taking.Paul takes us inside the DIY campaign for 'Into Tomorrow' - Weller’s first solo single - explaining how a tight team of trusted industry figures and Weller’s own clear vision turned an independent release into a Top 40 hit, and led directly to a new label deal in the UK.He describes hearing those early demos, smoking spliffs with Andy McDonald, and realising just how wild, raw, and ready Weller was for his comeback. Drawing on his unique perspective, Paul reflects on the label’s role in supporting Weller’s creative freedom, the transition through Wild Wood and toward Britpop’s peak, and the sheer thrill - and surprise - of working with an artist who had provided the “soundtrack of my life.”He offers candid observations on Go! Discs’ staff, its culture of collaboration and love of music, and the shared social and political energy that ran through both the label and the acts it signed. Paul also describes the magic of that era: small teams, big nights out, and a sense that, somehow, the stars had aligned for Weller’s reinvention.

In this conversation, John Reed - music journalist, a former Research Editor of Record Collector magazine, Director of Catalogue at Cherry Red, and author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods - takes us on a journey through the many stages of Weller’s remarkable career. Growing up entrenched in the Mod revival and drawn into The Jam’s world as a teenager, John became the “kid at school who liked The Jam,” long before he would ever dig deep into his music as a writer.John shares stories from his early days as a fan (his first Jam shows in Brighton, his coming of age as a mod, and surviving the territorial world of Harrington jacket colours), to building a career in music journalism and becoming a trusted member of the Weller story’s inner circle. We hear his unique perspective on the trio dynamic of The Jam, his view on Bruce and Rick’s underrated contributions, and why Weller’s break-up of the band was both brave and necessary.As a journalist and Record Collector writer, John’s work bridges the worlds of the fan and the chronicler - penning features, sleeve notes, and, ultimately, a much-loved biography. He shares what went into writing My Ever Changing Moods (often by chance: “I just made it up” - the pitch, not the research!), the responsibility of telling the story for fans, and how he balanced candidness with sensitivity. From interviewing Paul Weller during pivotal moments in the ’90s and 2000s, to discussing album sequencing, adversity, and his restless creativity, John brings the experience of both a listener and an expert.His reflections move through Weller’s post-Jam doubts, The Style Council’s misunderstood experiments, the energy of “comeback” records like As Is Now and 22 Dreams, and a decades-long relationship balancing proximity, critique, and admiration. John also shares personal memories: a surreal night with Weller and Ocean Colour Scene, phone calls from “Paul Weller, ya c—t,” and thoughts on what would make the ultimate Weller companion release.

In this conversation, Jun Sato - International A&R at Pony Canyon, Japan - shares the remarkable story of how he helped get Paul Weller’s solo career off the ground when everyone else had written him off. In the early 1990s, as the UK industry dismissed Weller as an ‘80s has-been, Jun trusted his own taste, his love of British blue-eyed soul, and a very special demo cassette that landed on his desk. He quickly negotiated a three-album deal with John Weller and gave Paul the artistic freedom to launch a new chapter.Jun reflects on what it meant to sign a living legend at a crossroads, championing Paul Weller at a time when old fans in Japan were still fiercely loyal but the industry wanted “Style Council 2.0.” Determined to support Weller’s vision, he battled conservatism inside Pony Canyon, orchestrated secret club gigs to “start from the underground again,” and staged meet-and-greets that deepened the Weller-Japan love affair. Working closely with John Weller, Jun experienced both the tough negotiations and the genuine warmth of the Weller family. He oversaw the Japanese release of Paul Weller months ahead of its UK debut, watched it rocket to the top of the charts, and then promoted Wild Wood and Stanley Road as Weller’s comeback exploded into an artistic and commercial triumph.Looking back on his unique A&R role, Jun shares memories of trust, creative freedom, and a personal connection that only grew as Paul’s career flourished. He describes the enduring backstage camaraderie, the Mod culture’s roots in Japan, and why he feels pride every time Weller thanks him publicly for believing in “chapter three.” Today, as Weller continues to innovate, Sato remains inspired - grateful for a musical journey and friendship that both changed their lives.

In this conversation for my book, Richard Ogden - former Head of International Marketing and later Managing Director at Polydor Records - shares the inside track on the extraordinary career of Paul Weller from a label perspective. Already immersed in the music industry when The Jam exploded in 1977, Richard’s role took off in the early '80s, working directly with Polydor’s most important acts as the sound of British pop was going global. He was the architect behind international campaigns for The Style Council, traveling with the band, advocating for bigger creative ambition, and helping to broker a million-pound contract for Weller after the global success of Our Favourite Shop.Richard recounts the challenges - and occasional frustrations - of trying to make The Style Council a truly international success, working alongside Paul and John Weller, Polydor affiliates, and US label Geffen, while always championing Paul’s right to artistic independence. He reflects on “fandom and friction” - from late-night poker games in Japan, to heated discussions about producers, tour plans, and the difficult moments when the band’s determination to follow their own path clashed with label push for bigger global hits. Richard’s story also covers the aftermath: becoming Managing Director just as contracts were up for renewal, believing in Weller’s “Springsteen-like” importance to Polydor, and sticking by him - even through commercial Risk (“the Orange album”) and shifting politics.Throughout, Richard offers candid industry context on the ever-evolving relationship between artists and their record labels - the fine balance between creative loyalty, business risk, and the pursuit of international acclaim. He’s honest about his wins and losses, why Weller’s music endures, and why artists with true vision should always be backed - no matter where their path leads.

In this conversation for my book, John Lewis - respected music journalist and critic - shares a fan’s journey that became a professional one. He recalls being a teenager during The Jam’s “imperial phase,” with a mod next-door neighbour and a copy of Snap! on repeat, and traces his path to writing in-depth features, retrospectives, and Q&As for Uncut, Time Out, the Metro, and more. Over the years, John has interviewed Paul Weller around a dozen times since 2004, capturing candid reflections on everything from The Jam’s final days to Weller’s experiments with new sounds on 22 Dreams, Sonik Kicks, and beyond.

In this episode, recorded for my book, Jim Cook shares his inside perspective from his years as Head of A&R at Polydor Records (1975-1984) during one of British music’s most exciting eras. As the man who signed The Jam and oversaw their rise, Jim reflects on the real-life stories behind the deals, the challenges of the music business in the punk and new wave era, and what it was like to work alongside one of the sharpest British bands of the time (in fact, change that to all time!)

In this episode, Erica Echenberg, one of the pioneering female photographers of the UK punk explosion, joins the podcast to share vivid memories from the very heart of late ‘70s London. Starting in 1976, Erica was everywhere - camera in hand at legendary venues like the Roxy and the Nashville, capturing the wild energy of acts like The Damned, Generation X, and, crucially, an emerging band called The Jam. Known for going where the action was (often straight to the front, dodging pogoing punks, flying bottles, and chairs), Erica not only photographed the bands, but also spotlighted the fans - punkettes and pogoers who gave the movement its edge and attitude.Erica’s unflinching lens documented both the grit and the style of the scene, forming the visual backbone for fanzines like Sniffin’ Glue, music weeklies, and numerous now-classic books on punk. From her first time seeing The Jam at the Roxy - “three chords, quick songs, and as sharp as they come” - to intimate shoots like the Paul Weller rooftop session at Air Studios and candid gig moments, she reflects on the connection she built with Paul Weller and the band, the creative and physical intensity of capturing these formative moments. We also discuss the crucial role of women (including herself) behind the scenes at a time when female photographers were nearly nonexistent.Erica's work didn’t just document the music, but helped define the scene’s visual language - her images appearing everywhere from fanzines and album covers to tabloids and collector’s editions. Erica offers unique stories of parties, legendary gigs, creative collaborations, and punk’s lasting influence on how music looks as much as how it sounds.

Craig McLean joins the podcast to share his reflections on interviewing Paul Weller across several pivotal moments, offering an insider’s look at a music icon through the eyes of a veteran journalist. With bylines for The Face, The Word, The Observer, and The Telegraph, Craig has had rare, in-depth access to Weller - riding tour buses, joining late-night escapades, and catching candid conversations that reveal the wit, vulnerability, and creative drive behind his public persona. From the Isle of Wight to Black Barn studio, Craig paints a vivid picture of Weller at work and at play, uncovering surprising moments and honest insights into his life, career, and constant artistic restlessness.Through stories that move from the euphoria of the stage to quiet moments of reflection, Craig explores Paul Weller’s shifting outlook on fame, songwriting, family, and the demands of a changing industry. Whether discussing the emotional aftermath of John Weller’s passing, the creative ruts and rediscoveries, or Weller’s relentless support for new artists, this episode offers a rich and revealing portrait of an artist in constant motion.