![]() ![]() In hindsight it seemed as though all these influences were coming together and a new found confidence was beginning to surface. But it was the latter which was the biggest surprise as it soon became apparent that a balance of soul and rock was being achieved as well the introduction of several other influences such as ‘Acid Jazz’ which, at that time, had been another recently introduced genre. Musically, the gig was a mix of familiar and new and unfamiliar songs. Going back to that 1990 concert though, the Coventry gig itself saw Paul moving back onto lead guitar. ![]() The artwork on the physical CD disc was in the style of the classic pink Island records logo. And that obsession in the record label was very evident when his ‘Heavy Soul’ album was released. Paul, himself, did eventually sign for that very same Island Record label a few years later. In a recent interview he commented that ‘I had no interest whatsoever, but I’m really glad I did it because if I hadn’t I think I would have just kept on sinking’.ĭuring his year or so away from the business Paul had heavily immersed himself in bands from the late 1960s and early 1970s like Traffic and Spooky Tooth along with other Island Records recording artists such as Nick Drake. Initially, it seems as though Weller didn’t want to do the tour but was coaxed back into having a go at it. The musicians that went out with him was made up of long-term drummer and friend Steve White, Henry Thomas on bass, Jaco Peake on sax and flute, Gerrard Pescencer on trumpet and flugel horn and Max Beesley on keyboards. He had visited the city before with both of his previous bands. This had not been Paul’s first visit to Coventry. One of the gigs on this short low key tour was a Thursday evening in November at the ‘Lanch’ or Coventry Polytechnic as it had, by then, been renamed. But all that was all about to change.Īfter a period when it seemed as though Paul had turned his back on the music industry he was coaxed back into the game, by his closest of musical allies, and returned to the road during the tail end of 1990 touring as ‘The Paul Weller Movement’. It seems that, during that period of self-doubt, Weller had simply given up on writing songs and making music. From all accounts he was low in confidence and had decided to take a break away from the music industry. This had been the first time Paul Weller had been in this position since The Jam had signed to Polydor records in 1977. The rejection of that album effectively finished the band. The already completed, and ready to go album, which was titled ‘Modernism: A New Decade’, had taken its influence from the house music scene which had sprung up in the UK around the same time. This then led to his record label, Polydor, rejecting a follow up Style Council album. ‘Confessions of a Pop Group’, his last album with The Style Council, had sold poorly. In 1989 Paul suddenly found himself without a band and without a recording deal. With an interest in the political landscape at that time a lot of his songs were also covering current affairs. ![]() Looking back, each Style Council album seemed to take on a new direction and push new boundaries to the point where I guess Paul became too avant-garde and experimental for his original fan base. They had also incorporated a brass section that had also been evident on the last Jam album. The Style Council were seen as a radical departure from The Jam. To achieve this he formed a new group that he called The Style Council. It seemed as though Paul had suddenly acquired an urge to explore the more soulful, jazz and R ‘n’ B side of his musical influences. ![]() It was huge news that he had kept close to his chest until he announced it during their final tour in 1982. But this has not strictly been the case.Īfter a very successful period, fronting The Jam, Paul Weller shocked and astounded the UK music scene during the early 1980s when he broke up this incredibly popular band, who at that time, had been at the height of their success. On the face of it, it does seem that Paul Weller has had a relatively smooth career, changing direction at will and often making song writing appear effortless. Prior to that, he starred at a large event at Warwick Castle. He recently visited the area and appeared at Warwick Arts Centre. He has consistently written and produced well received music for both his various bands, The Jam and The Style Council, and of course his own golden solo period. Hugely respected singer, lyricist and guitarist Paul Weller, often referred to as The Modfather, has been a well known figure within the UK music scene for almost 40 years. ![]()
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