First things first, on this end of year blog for 2022, let’s kick off with a thank you to you lot for listening to my (Number One smash hit!) podcast – Desperately Seeking Paul – The Paul Weller Fan Podcast…
I absolutely love doing the podcast and the blogs on the website – the live shows and all of that stuff – but it always feels a bit weird to be leaving each guest there… in that moment … we get an hour snapshot but I always want more…
I love following their journey post podcast and I always really try to celebrate their new work after our chats – authors and their new books, interviews on radio shows and other podcasts (apparently they do exist?!!), musicians with their new singles, albums and live gigs, photographs from photographers who have been on … you get the gist…
But I wanted to do a little more… So this MixCloud music show is a celebration of some of our favourite podcast guests and what they have been up to in 2022… consider it an end of the year show…
We’ll also hear music from some of the possible future podcast guests too – those on my wishlist who released music in 2022…
Thanks for Listening
It has been another brilliant year for us Weller fans…
A heap of live dates across the U.K. – I was lucky enough to get to Brighton, London and Halifax during 2023.
An incredible exhibition of memories and memorabilia that celebrated The Jam and The Style Council down in Brighton – superbly organised by Nicky Weller and team – and it was an honour to host Q&As with Rick Buckler, Mick Talbot and Steve White.
We had a couple of smashing collaboration-led singles ( Suggs and Monks Road Social ) , a triple LP of rarities, b-sides, remixed and demos with Will of the People… and a bunch of live appearances with other artists and bands ( Steve Pilgrim, Peter Blake gig ).
For the World’s first Paul Weller Fan Podcast, we’ve moved from Episode 76 in January to 126 twelve months later!
And what a journey it has been.
We kicked off the year in style – with a down under chat with the man who signed The Jam to Polydor, Chris Parry.
Our first trip to Black Barn Studios was broadcast as Head Roadie, Roger Nowell joined the podcast.
Our very first live podcast event with Gary Crowley and Steve ‘Tufty’ Carver. An amazing experience and something that we hope to repeat in 2023 if we can make it work.
We’ve heard epic stories of “Making it up as you go along” with The Jam and The Style Council from legendary booking agent, Martin Hopewell, Promoter Tim Parsons and plugger, Nigel “Spanner” Sweeney.
Lovers of The Style Council have been treated to the memories of Honorary Councillors, Helen Turner, Little Jo Ruocco, Guy Barker and Engineer, Jezar.
We’ve had highlights from Respond Records – The Questions’ Paul Barry, Pop Star Tracie Young and “Dolly Mixture” Debsey Wykes.
Red Wedge tales from Billy Bragg, Annajoy David, Junior Giscombe and Rhoda Dakar.
The delightful journalist and producer Tom Doyle talked interviews and remixes.
Solo Adventures with Steve Pilgrim, Tom Van Heel, Max Beesley, Yolanda Charles, Ernie McKone and Little Barrie.
Photographers a plenty, Nicole Nodland ( True Meanings cover ), Jill Furmanovsky, Olly Ball ( Our Favourite Shop cover ) and Gered Mankowitz ( The Modern World cover )
Soul Legend – Omar Lyefook talked about his career from The Style Council beat-boxing to making new music with Paul Weller for Omar’s upcoming new album…
Musical collaborations with P.P. Arnold, Rod Argent, Dot Allison, Eliza Carthy, Danny Thompson, Phil Veacock, David Cracknell and Chris Bangs.
Super fans, Shane Juson and Den Davis shared their memories, collections and heartbreak…
We talked all things with Mod with The Modcast’s, Eddie Pillar, Move on Up Blogger, David Pottinger and Welsh Mod author and Detail Magazine editor, Claire Mahoney.
And of course, how can I forget, The Jam legend Bruce Foxton joined the podcast and we even shared a recording live from Brighton as a Part 2 podcast with Rick Buckler…
What an incredible collection of guests – all sat within the sound archive of the British Museum for every more!.
Thanks for all your support – for listening, buying virtual coffees and merchandise – it’s all massively appreciated.
It’s impossible to pick a favourite episode as I have generally loved them all – every guest has been a delight and so generous with their time – but a very big special shout out to episode 100 – recorded back in the Summer – in the village of Ripley – with Paul’s mum – Ann Weller.
Not sure I’ve laughed so much doing this podcast as in her back garden hearing her stories. A sweet, kind soul who has clearly loved the whole experience.
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