Tag Archives: paul weller

Preston Weekender: Sunday on the Square – From The Jam / Buzzcocks / Space / Evil Blizzard

‘Hello hooray, what a nice day…’ Forty years to the week from my first live solo sighting of Bruce Foxton – at Guildford Civic Hall on his Touch Sensitive LP tour – the Flag Market in Preston was transformed into … Continue reading

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Celebrating the Sounds of the Street – Introducing Solid Bond in Your Heart: A People’s History of The Jam

‘What’re you trying to say that you haven’t tried to say before?’ Yep, it’s the ‘Time for Truth’. After spending much of 2023 working on Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade, I can reveal a few basic details … Continue reading

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Bass Notes: Life and Times on the Road with Stone Foundation – back in conversation with Neil Sheasby

Neil Sheasby was at home in Atherstone when I caught up with him earlier this week, having a breather between live commitments with Stone Foundation, the Midlands soul band he co-founded with namesake Neil Jones a quarter of a century … Continue reading

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Beyond the stagnant boating lakes of Leisureland – the Wreckless Eric feature/interview

When I told Eric Goulden, the artist best known as Wreckless Eric, where I was calling from, he pondered over the geography until I mentioned it was a few miles south of Preston, Lancashire. “Oh, I know Preston. I’ve had … Continue reading

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Daylight turns to moonlight – the Mick Talbot interview

Mick Talbot was at home when I called, ‘learning stuff, swotting up on homework.’ And four decades after truly making his name with Paul Weller in The Style Council, he tells me he still has ‘various things going on, no … Continue reading

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Treading Gently forward – beyond The Jam with Steve Brookes

When I spoke to Steve Brookes earlier this week, he was at home in Camberley, Surrey, having played Thames Side Brewery in Staines that weekend, this accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter clearly enjoying gigging as much now as five decades ago, … Continue reading

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Looking back on The Jam, 1982 and all that – back in conversation with Rick Buckler

This time 40 years ago, Rick Buckler must have been wondering just what was next, Christmas and New Year behind him, the ultra-successful group that had been his life for the past decade disbanded, his future uncertain. But as the … Continue reading

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First-class return to Holly Head, and beyond – the Kate Rusby interview

After a successful 2022 on the back of her most recent LP, 30: Happy Returns, Kate Rusby is rounding off the year with her latest festive tour, hailed as the start of Christmas for many. The ‘Barnsley Nightingale’ will be entertaining audiences … Continue reading

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Singing for those I know – talking Ocean Colour Scene acoustic side-shows with Simon Fowler

Last time I chatted to Simon Fowler, four years ago, he was walking Cooper, his cockapoo, by the river near his home in Stratford-upon-Avon, not long before heading up to my adopted neck of the woods with Ocean Colour Scene … Continue reading

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Outside status, inside track – celebrating the continuing rise of Stone Foundation, with Neil Sheasby

For a fourth straight album release, Stone Foundation managed to score a top-40 hit last weekend, despite no major label backing, this eight-piece Midlands-based soul band entering the UK charts at No.27 with Outside Looking In, following similar success for … Continue reading

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