Born on 25 May: Paul Weller, very British indeed
Paul Weller, born in 1958 in Worling, Surrey, is 66 today, but he is still brimming with projects.
Paul Weller formed his first band, The Jam, with his childhood friends Bruce Foxton on bass and Rick Buckler on drums during the mod movement's short-lived renaissance in the 1960s. Buckler is still continuing the legacy of the energetic trio with From The Jam.
Their 1977 album "This Is The Modern World" set Weller and his bandmates apart from other British bands of the time, such as The Clash and The Stranglers. Their lyrics were often politically engaged, but so was their appearance. They appeared on stage in dark suits, usually with a black tie over a white shirt.
In just four years, they left behind memories of wild concerts and hits like "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", "Pretty Green", "A Bomb In Wardour Street" and "Town Called Malice", to name a few.
Back in 1980, the album "Sound Affects" pointed to the more soulful nature of Weller's later career with the (much?) underrated The Style Council, formed with Mick Talbot (responsible for the distinctive keyboard sound) and his then-girlfriend D.C. Lee (on backing vocals). This group never achieved the same success as The Jam.
After a period of reflection in the early 1990s, Weller embarked on a solo career. The least we can say is that his love for black music never waned. Nor has the quality of his songwriting. In this respect, the 1995 album "Stanley Road" is a gem. There are more albums for music lovers to discover, though. Unlike most artists of his generation, Weller continues to compose and record new albums: some 15 so far under his own name. He is now celebrating his birthday with the release of the album '66'.
Still better than a cake with 66 candles on it!
Picture: Paul Weller in concert with The Style Council at the Werchter Festival (Belgium) in July 1985 (© Etienne Tordoir)
