Paul Weller on SOLO CAREER & 'FAT POP' - “I Don’t Know If I Like The Stuff I Made Back Then…” 

Paul Weller, Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton each have the incredibly rare mix of originality, musicality and power. The jam was a 1 in a million.

following this man since my early teens... 56 now...love how he's evolved as a songwriter and musician

Along with the Jam members this man told me what was happening in the world at a time when music was the news

As a devotee to Weller. From the Jam to Fat Pop(actually, his Suggs duet and Whoosh ep) I actually went back to see what I listen to the most out of his discography. His 1992 self titled solo album is the album I listen to by far. I know Wild Wood gets most of the attention, but his Weller album just works for me. From start to finish it’s a pleasure I never get tired of listening to. Wild Wood is in second place. Heliocentric is the album I find least interesting along with A Kind Revolution. I like the more upbeat aggressive and soulful Weller. Just my vibe. Play me Sunflower anytime and I’ll be a happy chappy. Bless you, Paul Weller. You are a gift to us all.

Paul is so chilled, love his honesty, and Fat Pop is an incredible album!

You don't see him that often, but he's an icon somehow. His voice, his style, there's no comparison.

Paul seems like a great guy.

He's always at ease with Absolute Radio, good interview.

Simply a pleasure to listen to such an incredibly talented person who is both unpretentious and authentic.

Great guy really honest and down to earth pauls music is forever evolving through this amazing catalogue of music. Its refreshing to still have artists like this to keep what i call imo real music going. Looking forward to seeing you live in the near future. Respect

I love his music in the 2000s. Illumination is bright, alive, refreshing and As Is Now is a multifaceted trip though powerful melodies and powerful songs.

Met him in London. Had a good 10 minute chat. Nice guy. Great songwriter. Love The Jam.

Yes, great in Jam, newer stuff over the years proves his versatility. Such a talent to listen to.

Just to answere to the titles....I loved all the music you made and I thank you for give me a great time in my young age

Nice interview. Paul seems in a good place. Well rested and bitting the bit to stut his stuff! Thank goodness for real talent, Inspiration and aspiration by anyone at such a developed stage in any career on earth!

I preferred his stuff in the 00’s to the 10’s. But I think he felt more creative in the 10’s as he was trying new sounds & styles

‘Strange Museum’ on his first solo album is an absolute masterpiece

Ive been a fan since I was 13, I loved his past music, way better than recent stuff

I admire his honesty that some of his music is better than others. I can take or leave some of his stuff but for me the top 3 would be wildwood, Paul Weller and Stanley Road. That said, I wouldn't want all his albums to be clones of those and like the fact that he is constantly innovating and not standing still on his musical jorney. Long may he continue!

Wasn't mad on Sonic Kicks but every album since has been astonishing with in my opinion Saturns Pattern, On Sunset & Fat Pop up there with his very very best work & i honestly don't know how the mn does it when heroes of Paul's like Pete Townsend hasn't written a decent song since 1978!! What a legend.

Dude is such a legend.

Stanley Road is in my top 5 albums of all time.

Broken stones and a few others ;) personal all time favourite songs

Saw him at the Palladium in London. Good stuff

He's so wise and mellow now 😌

Lovely interview. ❤

a lifelong fan of pauls music i had you do something for the music of my moms funeral .

My hero always and forever💕

Best album to date lyrically instrumentally classic top man

Paul Weller is a legend been a big fan for a long time he is one of my idols

He's good all the way through; can't wait to see him in Bath........

Listened to Fat Pop 3 times today, Paul at his best x

what a lovely guy

One love and divine blessings brother Paul too concious for them bro ❤

Wishing Paul, the missus & kids all the best ❤️ with LoVe , from 🇺🇸

I really need to listen to Fat Pop, but still enjoying On Sunset. Mirror Ball and the title track are sublime. The guy's been so prolific recently, can't catch up!

The first 3 solo albums are gold .But he does a brilliant interview . Does come over very shy thou .

I love Paul Weller

Lot of respect for Paul still being here and doing what he does. Doesn't need to have a blueprint and just go with the flow.

I am not a complete PW fan - prefer prog & classic rock - but Wild Wood is a masterpiece.

LOVE ALL THE JAM. LOVE FIRST HALF OF THE STYLE COUNCIL. BUT REALLY DONT LIKE THE SOLO STUFF. ❤

It sure payed the bills🤩

Great interview and great interviewee

Just a genius.

Town called malice, what a song !

Top geezer!..✊😎

England, I love you. The only country on earth where to talk about pop music is still just about that, the music.

Who's the lass? I don't listen to Absolute much, but that was really well done. I was really impressed with a young guy interviewing Nicky Wire on here too.

Looking forward to his Filmore show in San Francisco.

such a nice guy too, paul

God bless him. A fine man. xxx

I love Illuminations..nice mix of intimate and rockers.

I like the way he mellowed out

First 5 albums were masterpieces.

Paul has done some great stuff. Like Graham Parker, he is greatly ignored in the US. I do not think he is too British to be accepted and understood by American audiences but maybe he is not easy to slot in some musical category (means nothing to me) . The only small problem I see in some of his songs is the volume of his voice is a tad low and sometimes the overall production is slightly low and murky. Now I often like murky and distortion (love the Replacements) but I sort of want a clearer sound from Paul. But still I would rank him in my top 75 all-time greats artists. My fav songs are Town called Malice, Eton rifles, My Everchanging moods, That's Entertainment. Always hearing a pretty good song I've never heard before..

Stop dreamin of the quiet life cuz it's the one you'll never know!

The Jam is classic and edgy. The Style Council my personal fave.

we are the mods and forever will be

If you have seen him live then you no how he can make the hairs on your neck stand up

music is vital to us but the Modfather is the fucking king

Never noticed how similar Liam Gallagher is to this guy. Wouldn't be surprised if he models his most recent interviewee persona on Paul.

Paul’s comment. Didn’t like the stuff I wrote back then! Some of Jams best music.Going underground ,Eton rifles etc etc .good Stuff Mr Weller.

💕

As Is Now is a classic PW album from that period

Why does Paul have a Ladies Hair Cut? Seen The Jam on the last tour in 1982. Had ALL the records. Seen him Solo in 1993. These days I think Style Council was his Best work.

The Jam were amazing. weller on his own not so much.

the jam all day

The style council did it for me.

Mod for it 😜

Get The Jam Back Together

Ah the singer fro. The jam early mtv

Huh? “It’s really nice to put a face to the music”

He said a lot of the stuff bck then, not all the stuff he didn't like. And that was in the 2000's!

Ha hah, turnabout is fair play: I have absolutely no idea who this interviewer is, I'm sure she's very good if she's been behind that mic for 20 years, so my view is "hey pretty nice of you to finally get around to Paul". I've been following Paul since the jam, and unlike the fashionable thing to say, I adored his Style Council work especially when it was played live in huge concerts. The man is a beast playing live! it's astonishing how many times he's reinvented himself. I have to be honest, this person didn't really demonstrate any specific knowledge of Paul and his career, moreso mostly generalities like "music during covid", "music in the noughties" and when she referred to album Sunset it was only by way of "when i was checking the logs". I always find such wisdom in Paul's interviews as others have stated. He's never lost his working class roots and life sensibility. I love that his father was his manager for so long. (Is he still??). Even here in this intervew where there's very little being offered by the person with all her shiny gear, other than fairly paint by numbers typical questions, Paul had his usual close focus on what was being asked, and completely original as always answers. I liked a lot of the Sunset album; Fat Pop was fascinating to listen to as it was being slowly rolled out, but the only song I really enjoy in my playlists is Glad Times. And watching Paul & band performing that live was so moving! I have to go back and watch which keyboards he used; he still likes to play Mellotron but i'm going to guess it was a Fender Rhodes.

SOULJAH ROCKER

Nobody does it better than Paul Weller 😎👍

Paul Weller - Style Icon, musical genius, political pygmy.

DO SOME SYMPHONIC METAL PAUL WELLER !!!

I used to love Paul Weller BUT I'm tired of waiting for this man to grow up. He still f'ing sounds like a 13 year old school boy with no internal growth, even though he's been lucky enough to travel the best places in the world, work with the best musicians and music legends, his conversations lack any form of depth, passion or wisdom - little has changed in 50 years and I don't know if he's trying to stay relevant to the working classes but he hangs and lives around the Kings Road and Maida Vale - super posh areas, so why is this 'I haven't changed' façade necessary - its ingenuine. He's done so much drink and drugs that his voice is weakened, physique is that of a 90 year old man and so is his looks and skin (and he used to be one of the most beautiful men of his generation) and on top of that - like things could not get any worse - Jimmy Saville seems to be some sort of style icon now

Many people here keep saying after The Jam all or most he did was crap . He was not even 20 at the time , he was growing as a person and musician . Was great sure , now came the 80's and that kind of mellow punk rock was dying . He is a great singer , songwriter and very low profile man . .

Great song writer. From 1977 onwards, music has changed and he's adapted to it all. The Jam we always be the best thing for me as it was in my teenage years. Not sure the title of this interview is justified, it seems to point out that he didnt like the early years and that is total rubbish.

Love Ian Poulter

I loved the Jam not do much the style council probably too political and big sound. In saying that I like long hot summer. The new music I'm liking.

Love the Jimmy Savile look.

I have so much admiration for this man, love all career so far but he is doesn't give anything in interviews.. he just can't be bothered... fair enough though, as long as he keeps making music :-)

She says, 'its nice to put a face to the music'. Has she never seen him before???

Gotta admit left him in 82 - never meant anything anymore to me - ì remembechr thinking on hearing peacock suit and

A breath of fresh air compared to someone thick and dull, but over confident, like say Noel Gallagher.

If he had not have left the Jam he would be doing self-tribute shows like the Stones in casinos worldwide

Great interview. No sensational questions . Just a relaxed and respectful chat .

frank bruno

Nothing can touch all mod cons

What’s going on ?silverstone had 160 thousand people crammed together in stands?but you can’t have gigs?WTF

Ehm what should not go back to normal?

Lovely to see that Paul still has that political awareness after all these years

I liked heliocentric and saturns pattern, but I find the stuff in between, not bad as such, but forgettable. He is right at the end when he says we need music.

What does he mean, not go back to normal?

KRAKEN MOTTO if you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough it will be believed

Doc from Back to The Future made music too?

Jimmy saville ?