John Reed - Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods

Writing this book has felt rather like a long and eventful journey sometimes enlightening, sometimes harrowing, sometimes fascinating. Without the help of very many people, the project would have been considerably more difficult and far less enjoyable.

First, I must first express my undying gratitude to my long-suffering colleagues at Record Collector magazine. As a fellow fan, Pat Gilbert has perhaps been the most supportive and the many hours we have spent chatting long into the nights about every conceivable aspect of Wellers life and times and taste in button-down shirts cannot be underestimated. Andy Davis also deserves a medal because, unlike Pat, he has over the years regarded Wellers dress sense as an abomination and found his songs at best passable. As polar opposites in terms of their viewpoints, they helped knock this book into shape with the attention to detail of a micro-surgeon and the patience of a saint. My good editor, Peter Doggett, also cast an eye over the final draft -and left it refreshingly free of red ink, which bolstered my confidence no end. Thanks also to another colleague, Mark Paytress, who got waylaid by a house move but still managed to cast an eye over the early chapters.

A long-time Weller fan, Steve Keegan, read through the early chapters and allowed me access to his unpublished diary of The Jams live appearances. Hopefully, one day his book may come to fruition. As part of the groundwork for this book, I made several trips to Woking. While Wellers home town may not be the most exciting place on earth, it was where I met some of Pauls oldest friends, whose stories have stuck with me throughout the project. Steve Baker, especially, has the memory of an elephant and offered me the comfort of his living room, as well as a lift to and from Woking station. Steve and Pete Carver were also very helpful and, together with other acquaintances like Tony Pilot, they painted a vivid picture of Paul Weller in the days when he was scarcely out of short trousers.

So too did his elders, such as Arthur Hunte, Status Quos Rick Parfitt and, most of all, Pauls old music teacher at school, John Avery thanks especially to John for giving up a couple of hours of his time on a Saturday morning. And I am indebted to the towns historian, Iain Wakeford, committed Weller fan Colin Bird and l0cc fan David Wells for showing me around the sights and sounds of Woking, such as they are.

During the course of my research, I have lost count of the number of people I have spoken to. Of those who consented to be interviewed, Polydor A&R man Dennis Munday gave up more time than anyone else Dennis not only shared two afternoons, in and out of the pub, chatting about his recollections of working with Paul since the late Seventies, but he also opened several doors for me and passed on some key phone numbers. Dennis is the prime mover behind Pauls back catalogue and has not only kept me posted on new compilations but drafted me in to write some sleeve-notes and I was very pleased to oblige. Thanks also to The Jams original drummer Neil Harris, who was very patient after our first interview was scotched by a technical hitch. His replacement was Rick Buckler, of course, who extended his hospitality to the point that we now have an extra mouth to feed a cat by the name of Mo. Rick offered a unique insight into the atmosphere within the band, but sadly, bassist Bruce Foxton wasnt able to help for personal reasons.

Many thanks also to the following people for agreeing to be interviewed: Danny Baker, who I accosted in a pub, Peter Anderson, who also supplied some of the photos, Billy Bragg, who sent me Robin Denselows book, Ted Carroll, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, Ady Croasdell, Debsey, Tony Fletcher, John Franklin, Martin Hopewell, Dave Liddle, Glen Matlock, Chris Parry, Mark Perry, Terry Rawlings, Tony Rounce, Dean Rudland, Rudis Brian Young, Terry Slater, Bill Smith, Jimmy Telford, John Tobler, Pete Wilson and Tracie Young.

During the course of researching articles for Record Collector, I also had an opportunity to speak not only to Paul Weller but also to Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl and all of Ocean Colour Scene.

I should also explain the absence of interview material with some of the key players. Because there may be an official biography at some point, many of the musicians who have worked more recently with Paul for example, Mick Talbot, and the other members of The Style Council, his wife Dee C. Lee and his current drummer Steve White werent forthcoming. However, that hasnt stopped the relevant section of the book from representing the most detailed and objective study of that bands six-year life. Neither were his parents available as his manager, Pauls father has given him a sense of continuity and support which few other performers can claim to have enjoyed in such a volatile industry, and John Weller tells me that he is thinking about writing his own version of events some day. Nor, after some deliberation, would Pauls younger sister Nikki agree to be interviewed. As for Weller himself, he is as reluctant as ever to dwell on the past and declined to co-operate in the making of this book, although I thank him for the courtesy he has shown to me in the past.

Other small but perfectly formed cogs in the treadmill of this book include Neil Allen (Start!), Mark Captain Oi! Brennan, Johnny Chandler, David L. Clark, Dave Clarke, Dave Edwards, Pippa Hall at Go! Discs, Mark Hodkinson, Alan and Deborah Holl, Dizzy Holmes at Detour Records, David Lodge (Boys About Town), George Marshall (S.T. Publishing), Andrew McGibbon, Bob Morris, Iain Munn (Whole Point), Lorne Murdoch, Mr Reed (no relation) and Mr Ledger of Bishop David Brown School, Mark Ridlington (Groovin), Liam Sawyer, Mark Smith, Pete Smith (for videos), Simon Smith, Jackie Thurling, Tina at Solid Bond, Adrian TVell, Les at Woking Council and Andy Wyness (Weller Is Back!). I must also thank Omnibus editor, Chris Charlesworth, for calling me after a chance meeting at Helter Skelter Books, and picture editor Nikki Lloyd they have both been very patient.

Friends and family tended to be neglected while I was knee-deep in news cuttings or catching the train from Waterloo to Woking. Mum and dad smile about it they still remember when Id save up to buy the latest Jam single with money earnt in the local supermarket: Havent you got enough records, already? Never. Thanks also to brother Keith, the jazz head. A few friends were especially supportive: Mark Edwards, for early encouragement; Dilys Henry; Piers Butler and Co. for a superb snow-boarding break when I really should have been writing; John OLeary and Tom Kane for the occasional word to the politically wise; Trotski for his atrocious taste; Toms cousin Jack Kane for being, well, Jack Kane; Calvin and Maxine; and I mustnt forget Andy Moss for those Weller-styled days at college, especially our