Paul Weller facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Paul Weller
Paul Weller performing in Belgium, 2009
Background information
Birth name	John William Weller
Born	(1958-05-25) 25 May 1958 (age 67) Woking, England
Genres	New wave punk rock mod revival blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano bass Hammond organ
Years active	1972 (1972)–present

John William Weller (born 25 May 1958), known as Paul Weller, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He became famous in the late 1970s with the rock band the Jam. After the Jam broke up in 1982, he explored different music styles with the Style Council (1983–1989). Later, he started a successful solo career, releasing his first solo album in 1992.

Paul Weller is highly respected in music, especially in England, because his songs often talk about English society and everyday life. Many of his early songs with the Jam were about working class experiences. He was a key figure in the 1970s and 1980s mod revival movement, earning him the nickname the Modfather. He also influenced popular bands like Oasis. Weller has won four Brit Awards, including Best British Male three times, and a special award in 2006 for his amazing contribution to music.

Early Life and Music Beginnings (1958–1975)
The Jam: Rise to Fame (1976–1982)
The Style Council: New Sounds (1983–1989)
Solo Career: The Modfather Continues (1990–Present)
Musical Influences
Personal Life
Political Views and Activism
Recognition and Influence
Discography
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Music Beginnings (1958–1975)

Paul Weller was born on 25 May 1958, in Woking, Surrey, England. His parents called him Paul, even though his birth name was John William.

His love for music started early with bands like the Beatles, the Who, and Small Faces. By age eleven, music was a huge part of his life, and he began playing the guitar. Seeing Status Quo in concert in 1972 made him sure he wanted to be a musician.

In 1972, he formed the first version of the band that would become the Jam. He played bass guitar with his friends Steve Brookes and Dave Waller. Paul's father helped them by booking shows at local clubs. Later, Rick Buckler joined on drums, and Bruce Foxton replaced Dave Waller. The band started to become known in their area, playing cover songs and some of Paul's own music. In 1976, Steve Brookes left, and Paul became the main guitarist.

Around 1974, Paul became very interested in the 1960s mod culture, especially after hearing "My Generation" by the Who. He started riding a Lambretta scooter, styling his hair like Steve Marriott, and listening to 1960s soul and R&B music. Because of him, the Jam began wearing cool mohair suits on stage and playing Rickenbacker guitars, just like the Who and the Beatles. Paul has always stayed true to the mod style, once saying, "I'll always be a mod. You can bury me a mod."

The Jam: Rise to Fame (1976–1982)

The Jam became popular around the same time as other punk rock bands like the Clash and Sex Pistols. The Clash were big fans and even invited the Jam to open for them on their 1977 tour.

Paul Weller (left) performing with the Jam in Newcastle, 1982

The Jam's first single, "In the City", entered the UK Top 40 in May 1977. While all their later singles made it into the Top 40, they really broke through with the political song "The Eton Rifles", which reached No. 3 in November 1979. Their mix of Paul's sharp lyrics and catchy pop tunes grew more popular, leading to their first number one single, "Going Underground", in March 1980.

The Jam made history by being the first band since the Beatles to perform both sides of the same single ("Town Called Malice" and "Precious") on Top of the Pops. They also had two songs, "That's Entertainment" and "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?", become hits in the UK charts even though they weren't officially released as singles there. People bought them as imports from Germany and the Netherlands, showing how popular the band was. The Jam still holds the record for the best-selling import-only singles in the UK.

As the band's fame grew, Paul Weller felt he wanted to try new musical styles, like more soulful and melodic sounds with different instruments. So, in 1982, he announced that the Jam would break up at the end of the year. This surprised the other band members, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, who felt the band still had a lot to offer. However, Paul was determined to move on. Their last single, "Beat Surrender", became their fourth UK number one hit. Their final concerts at Wembley Arena sold out quickly, and their very last show was on 11 December 1982.

The Style Council: New Sounds (1983–1989)

In early 1983, Paul Weller started a new group called the Style Council with keyboard player Mick Talbot. They were joined by drummer Steve White and singer Dee C. Lee, who later became Paul's wife.

With the Style Council, Paul was free to explore many different types of music. He experimented with pop, jazz, soul, R&B, house music, and folk-style ballads. The band helped kick off a jazz/pop revival, inspiring groups like Sade. Members of Everything but the Girl also sang and played guitar on their 1984 song "Paris Match".

Many of the Style Council's early songs did well in the charts. Paul also found success in North America for the first time, with "My Ever Changing Moods" and "You're the Best Thing" entering the US charts. In Australia, they were even more successful than the Jam, reaching number one in 1984 with "Shout to the Top".

Paul Weller took part in the 1984 Band Aid charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and performed at Live Aid in 1985 at Wembley Stadium.

In December 1984, Paul created his own charity group called the Council Collective. They made a song called "Soul Deep" to raise money for striking miners and the family of David Wilkie, a taxi driver who was killed. Even with its political message, the song was played on the radio and performed on Top of the Pops.

As the 1980s continued, the Style Council's popularity in the UK began to slow down. In 1989, their record company refused to release their last album, Modernism: A New Decade, which had a house music influence. After this, Paul announced that the Style Council had split up. The album was finally released years later in 1998.

Solo Career: The Modfather Continues (1990–Present)

Early Solo Success (1990–1995)

In 1989, Paul Weller found himself without a band or a record deal for the first time in many years. After taking a break in 1990, he started touring again as "The Paul Weller Movement" with his long-time drummer Steve White. He played in small clubs, performing old songs from the Jam and Style Council, along with new material. His first solo single, "Into Tomorrow", reached No. 36 in the UK charts in May 1991. His next single, "Uh Huh Oh Yeh", reached No. 18 in August 1992, followed by his first solo album, Paul Weller, which reached No. 8 in September that year.

Encouraged by the success of his first solo album, Paul went back to the studio in 1993. He recorded most of his next album, Wild Wood, very quickly. This album was a big success and included the hit singles "Sunflower" and "Wild Wood". His first live solo album, Live Wood, came out in 1994 and reached No. 13 in the UK.

Paul's third solo album, Stanley Road (1995), brought him back to the top of the British charts for the first time in ten years. It became his best-selling album ever. The album was named after the street in Woking where he grew up and returned to a more guitar-focused sound. The main single, "The Changingman", was a big hit, reaching No. 7. Another single, the ballad "You Do Something to Me", also reached the Top 10.

Paul Weller became closely linked with the new Britpop music scene. Noel Gallagher from Oasis played guitar on a song from Stanley Road. Paul also played guitar on Oasis's hit song "Champagne Supernova".

The Modfather Years (1996–2007)

Weller performing in the early 2000s

Heavy Soul, released in 1997, was a more raw and simple album compared to the huge-selling Stanley Road. Its first single, "Peacock Suit", reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1996, and the album itself reached No. 2. His "Best Of" albums from the Jam and the Style Council also charted well, and in 1998, his own solo hits collection, Modern Classics, reached No. 7.

In 2000, he released his fifth solo album, Heliocentric, which debuted at No. 2 in the UK. On his acoustic tour, Days of Speed, Paul played songs from his solo career, the Jam, and the Style Council. This led to another successful live album of the same name, which reached No. 3 in October 2001.

Paul Weller released the No. 1 album Illumination in September 2002. It was helped by the Top 10 single "It's Written in the Stars". He also sang on a song called "I'll Walk Right On" for the band Noonday Underground.

In 2004, Paul released Studio 150, an album of cover songs, which reached No. 2 in the UK. It included songs by Bob Dylan, Gil Scott-Heron, and Rose Royce.

His eighth solo album, As Is Now (2005), featured the singles "From the Floorboards Up", "Come On/Let's Go", and "Here's the Good News". The album was well-received and reached No. 4, though some critics felt he wasn't changing his musical style much.

At the Brit Awards on 14 February 2006, Paul Weller received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. He accepted the award in person and performed four songs, including the Jam's classic "Town Called Malice". A double live album, Catch-Flame!, was released in June that year, featuring songs from all parts of his career. A compilation album, Hit Parade, released in late 2006, brought together singles from the Jam, the Style Council, and his solo work. Paul Weller was offered a special honor (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2006 but politely declined it for personal reasons.

Continued Success (2008–Present)

Weller and band performing in Cardiff, 2008

The double album 22 Dreams was released on 2 June 2008. For this album, Paul changed his band members, keeping only guitarist Steve Cradock. This album showed Paul moving in a more experimental direction, mixing jazz, folk, tango, and pop-soul.

In 2009, Paul Weller won the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist, which caused some talk because many bets were placed on him to win. On 24 February 2010, he received the Godlike Genius Award at the NME Awards. His tenth album, Wake Up the Nation, was released in April and was praised by critics. It was also nominated for the Mercury Prize. This album was special because it was his first time working with Jam bassist Bruce Foxton again in 28 years. In May 2010, Paul Weller received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award for his songwriting.

On 19 March 2012, Paul Weller released his eleventh album, Sonik Kicks, which went straight to number 1 in the UK Albums Chart. He also provided vocals for the Moons' 2012 single "Something Soon". In December 2012, Paul headlined a charity concert for Crisis, where he performed with other artists like Emeli Sandé. In 2013, he played drums on stage with Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher for a special charity concert.

Weller performing at the Leeds Arena in 2015

In 2015, Paul Weller toured the West Coast of the US to promote his album Saturns Pattern. In January 2017, he made a small appearance in the TV series Sherlock. In March 2019, a live album and video called Other Aspects, Live at the Royal Festival Hall was released, featuring a performance with an orchestra.

Paul Weller's fifteenth solo album, On Sunset, was released on 3 July 2020 and became a UK number-one album. This meant he had number-one albums in five different decades, a rare achievement shared with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. His number-one albums include The Gift (with the Jam, 1982), Our Favourite Shop (with the Style Council, 1985), and solo albums like Stanley Road (1995) and Illumination (2002). His sixteenth solo album, Fat Pop (Volume 1), was released in May 2021 and also reached number 1. In December 2021, a live album called An Orchestrated Songbook was released, featuring his songs with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

In October 2022, Paul Weller released Will of the People, an album of B-sides and rare songs. In early 2024, he announced his next album, 66, would be released in May, just before his 66th birthday. This album includes collaborations with many other musicians like Noel Gallagher. He also made his first movie appearance in the historical war drama Blitz in 2024.

Musical Influences

Since he was a boy, Paul Weller has been inspired by many different artists and music styles. Some of his earliest and most lasting influences include the Beatles, the Who, the Small Faces, the Kinks, and soul music from labels like Tamla Motown and Stax.

During the Jam years, he was influenced by early punk bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Later, he became interested in contemporary soul and funk artists like Curtis Mayfield.

Jazz became a big influence on Paul's music during the early Style Council years, and he has been a huge fan ever since. He enjoys jazz artists such as Lee Morgan and John Coltrane.

In the late 1980s, his musical tastes became even wider. The Style Council's later songs were influenced by everything from classical music to American house music.

In the 1990s, Paul's work started to be influenced by artists from the late 1960s and early 1970s, like Van Morrison and Neil Young. He also became a big fan of many Britpop bands that he had influenced, such as Oasis and Blur.

Among his all-time favorite albums are Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, and My Generation by the Who. He also loves songs like the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "Strawberry Fields Forever", and Pharrell Williams' "Happy".

Paul Weller has also shared his favorite music with others by creating playlists and CDs for magazines. In 2009, he put together a collection of 13 "real R&B and soul" songs.

During the Jam and early Style Council years, Paul Weller also included ideas from books and poems in his songs, especially from writers like George Orwell. His favorite film is A Clockwork Orange.

Personal Life

Paul Weller has been married twice. He married Dee C. Lee, the Style Council's backing vocalist, in 1987. They later divorced in 1998 and have a son and a daughter together.

He also has another daughter from a previous relationship.

Paul Weller has two more children with Samantha Stock.

In 2010, Paul married Hannah Andrews, a backing vocalist who toured with his band. They met in New York in 2005. They have twin boys, born in 2012, and a daughter, born in 2017.

On 24 April 2009, Paul's father, John Weller, who had been his manager since the Jam days, passed away at age 77.

Political Views and Activism

Paul Weller has often shared his thoughts on British politics. Early in his career, in a 1977 interview, he jokingly said the Jam would vote for the Conservative Party. He has since clarified it was a joke.

From late 1980, he became very interested in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), often wearing a CND badge and playing at rallies. He also became more vocal about socialist ideas, which focus on fairness and equality for everyone. Between 1982 and 1987, his songs often had political messages.

In late 1984, Paul took part in Band Aid. He then put together his own charity record, "Soul Deep", to support striking miners. The record also helped the family of David Wilkie, a taxi driver. During the 1980s, Paul was also vegetarian and cared about animal rights. He wrote a song called "Bloodsports" to raise money for animal rights activists.

From 1985, Paul was very involved in forming Red Wedge, a group of musicians and actors who wanted to share left-wing ideas. After 1988, he became less vocal about politics, saying in the 1990s that he didn't strongly believe in any particular political party anymore.

In 2015, when a politician mentioned liking one of his songs, Paul Weller commented, "Which bit didn't you get?" showing his songs often have deeper meanings. He also started playing that song live again.

In 2008, Paul said he turned down a special honor (CBE) because he didn't agree with the royal family and the government system.

In the mid-2010s, Paul briefly returned to being more political, openly supporting the Labour Party leader at the time and even playing a concert for him in 2016.

In a 2024 interview, Paul Weller shared his thoughts on the current political situation in Britain, saying he felt the main parties were very similar. He also spoke out against conflicts in the world, saying he couldn't understand why more people weren't upset about what was happening.

Recognition and Influence

In 2007, the BBC called Paul Weller "one of the most respected music writers and performers of the past 30 years." In 2015, a writer for The Daily Telegraph said it was hard to think of any other British solo artist, besides David Bowie, who has had such a varied, long-lasting, and forward-thinking career.

In 2012, Paul Weller was chosen by artist Peter Blake to appear in a new version of his famous artwork—the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. This celebrated important British figures.