The Jam, or rather Paul Weller, is a bit of a conundrum. So brilliantly on fire then, and now…what?
I was around at the same time as you, Tony, but just a few years older and a few hundred miles away in Manchester, and I also saw the Jam many times. And they were, without exception, the greatest live band of that time. I was just a bit too young to have seen the Pistols at any of their legendary Manchester gigs, but I saw everyone else, and though Buzzcocks were, and remain, after the Pistols, my greatest love from that period, the Jam were an unbelievably great live band.
But Weller remains a complete mystery to me. I met him and Rick Buckler at an album signing for All Mod Cons in 1978, on the morning of their Apollo gig. I’d wagged it from school because I was going to miss getting an autographed copy of the new album, but was disappointed Bruce Foxton wasn’t present (an altercation the previous night at a post-gig Chinese takeaway in Yorkshire had seen to that!), so I’ve only two out of the three signatories of the Jam on my copy of All Mod Cons.
Buckler was engaging and funny; I asked his opinion of other ‘punk’ drummers, and he laughed about Jet Black, but admired Buzzcocks’ John Maher (who really had to be seen to be believed - and so young), he really was a fan’s delight.
But Weller was monosyllabic, and reluctant to talk about, well, anything. Perhaps I’d just got him on a bad day, which was a shame for me, but I was expecting, perhaps unreasonably and unfairly, for him to be as eloquent and loquacious as he was on record. After all, it’s his lyrics that powered the Jam. He was a disappointment in the flesh, so to speak, but later that same day, as they debuted All Mod Cons at the Apollo, they were incendiary. And Foxton’s bruised and strapped ribs were no hindrance, either, to his usual stage performance.
I saw them many times, right up until their last stop in Manchester, but that Mod Cons gig was the standout. Perhaps Weller couldn’t give too much away that morning, as he gave so much onstage.
I don’t know, but I loved the Jam, and love them still. But Weller has changed too much for me to recognise him still.
Lovely interview from you two, and I look forward to more, Tony!
Hi Mark, thanks for reading and commenting, esp. as I think you are new around here. I have two-three observations
1) I wouldn't hold onto a single recollection with anyone, musician/famous or not, based on a single encounter... especially if that person could be famously mono-syllabic. If you get to read Boy About Town you'll see that was something I had to battle against when I first interviewed him only a few weeks earlier.
2) I hear you about "Weller has changed too much..." As I told Seth when asked, I have no communication. Don't really listen, only if I don't have a choice. That was then, this is now. So much great stuff around to enjoy, musically and otherwise.
3) If you were at the Jam's final Apollo show and you caught the support group, hope you enjoyed us!
Cheers Glenn.... You can still find it for sure, I would just be happy for it to be more widely available and still have someone behind it. Plus, something I did not mention in the interview or intro: audio book!
The Jam, or rather Paul Weller, is a bit of a conundrum. So brilliantly on fire then, and now…what?
I was around at the same time as you, Tony, but just a few years older and a few hundred miles away in Manchester, and I also saw the Jam many times. And they were, without exception, the greatest live band of that time. I was just a bit too young to have seen the Pistols at any of their legendary Manchester gigs, but I saw everyone else, and though Buzzcocks were, and remain, after the Pistols, my greatest love from that period, the Jam were an unbelievably great live band.
But Weller remains a complete mystery to me. I met him and Rick Buckler at an album signing for All Mod Cons in 1978, on the morning of their Apollo gig. I’d wagged it from school because I was going to miss getting an autographed copy of the new album, but was disappointed Bruce Foxton wasn’t present (an altercation the previous night at a post-gig Chinese takeaway in Yorkshire had seen to that!), so I’ve only two out of the three signatories of the Jam on my copy of All Mod Cons.
Buckler was engaging and funny; I asked his opinion of other ‘punk’ drummers, and he laughed about Jet Black, but admired Buzzcocks’ John Maher (who really had to be seen to be believed - and so young), he really was a fan’s delight.
But Weller was monosyllabic, and reluctant to talk about, well, anything. Perhaps I’d just got him on a bad day, which was a shame for me, but I was expecting, perhaps unreasonably and unfairly, for him to be as eloquent and loquacious as he was on record. After all, it’s his lyrics that powered the Jam. He was a disappointment in the flesh, so to speak, but later that same day, as they debuted All Mod Cons at the Apollo, they were incendiary. And Foxton’s bruised and strapped ribs were no hindrance, either, to his usual stage performance.
I saw them many times, right up until their last stop in Manchester, but that Mod Cons gig was the standout. Perhaps Weller couldn’t give too much away that morning, as he gave so much onstage.
I don’t know, but I loved the Jam, and love them still. But Weller has changed too much for me to recognise him still.
Lovely interview from you two, and I look forward to more, Tony!
Thanks!
Hi Mark, thanks for reading and commenting, esp. as I think you are new around here. I have two-three observations
1) I wouldn't hold onto a single recollection with anyone, musician/famous or not, based on a single encounter... especially if that person could be famously mono-syllabic. If you get to read Boy About Town you'll see that was something I had to battle against when I first interviewed him only a few weeks earlier.
2) I hear you about "Weller has changed too much..." As I told Seth when asked, I have no communication. Don't really listen, only if I don't have a choice. That was then, this is now. So much great stuff around to enjoy, musically and otherwise.
3) If you were at the Jam's final Apollo show and you caught the support group, hope you enjoyed us!
Cheers!
Tony
1982? Beat Surrender Tour, I think?
I’m sure we loved your set, Tony!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading that. Lots of insight, food for thought, and astute observations. Thank you Tony and Seth.
Thank you Miranda.
Great read!
Thank you Joe,
Well done. And I hope a publisher does pick up the book. I definitely would pick up a copy.
Cheers Glenn.... You can still find it for sure, I would just be happy for it to be more widely available and still have someone behind it. Plus, something I did not mention in the interview or intro: audio book!
Vey interesting read - thank you both! x
You are welcome, sir!
Great interview, gents! (And yeah, that’s probably my favorite Tony Fletcher book, as well!)
Cheers Dan.