Born on May 25: Paul Weller (The Jam), British through and through

He was born in 1958 in Woking, Surrey, England and is still bursting with musical projects.

It was in the short-lived revival of the 60s "mod" movement that he founded his first band, The Jam, a trio formed with his childhood friends Bruce Foxton on bass and Rick Buckler on drums. Before leaving us in 2025, the latter quietly helped keep the energetic trio’s legacy alive with From The Jam.

From 1977 with the album "This Is The Modern World", Weller and his bandmates set themselves apart from other popular English groups like The Clash and The Stranglers. Not just through the politically engaged themes addressed in their choruses, but also through their appearance. On stage, they would play in dark suits, most often wearing a slim black tie over a white shirt. In just four years, they would become known for their frenzied gigs and powerful anthems such as "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", "Pretty Green", "A Bomb In Wardour Street", and "Town Called Malice", their biggest hit.

In 1980, the album "Sound Affects" pointed to the more soul direction Paul Weller’s career would take with the much underrated The Style Council, formed with Mick Talbot (responsible for the group’s distinctive keyboard sound) and his then-partner D.C. Lee (on backing vocals). This band would never reach the same level of success as The Jam. After a period of reflection, Weller finally launched a solo career. If nothing else, it’s clear that his love for black music hasn’t faded—nor has the quality of his songwriting. In this regard, the album "Stanley Road" (1995) is a real gem. Unlike most artists of his generation, he continues to compose and record new albums: about fifteen in his own name to date. After releasing "66" on his birthday in 2024, he has just added another single to his repertoire. "Lawdy Rowla" and "Pinball", two upbeat tracks that give pride of place to the horns section.

Insatiable Paul Weller!

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Paul Weller with The Style Council on stage at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (Belgium) in April 1983