Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

In this conversation, John Reed – music journalist, a former Research Editor of Record Collector magazine, Director of Catalogue at Cherry Red, and author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods – takes us on a journey through the many stages of Weller’s remarkable career. Growing up entrenched in the Mod revival and drawn into TheContinue reading “John Reed – Author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods”

In this conversation, Jun Sato – International A&R at Pony Canyon, Japan – shares the remarkable story of how he helped get Paul Weller’s solo career off the ground when everyone else had written him off. In the early 1990s, as the UK industry dismissed Weller as an ‘80s has-been, Jun trusted his own taste,Continue reading “Jun Sato – International A&R, Pony Canyon Inc., Japan (1990–2002)”

In this conversation for my book, Richard Ogden – former Head of International Marketing and later Managing Director at Polydor Records – shares the inside track on the extraordinary career of Paul Weller from a label perspective. Already immersed in the music industry when The Jam exploded in 1977, Richard’s role took off in theContinue reading “Richard Ogden – Polydor – Head of International Marketing + Managing Director”

In this conversation for my book, John Lewis – respected music journalist and critic – shares a fan’s journey that became a professional one. He recalls being a teenager during The Jam’s “imperial phase,” with a mod next-door neighbour and a copy of Snap! on repeat, and traces his path to writing in-depth features, retrospectives, and Q&AsContinue reading “John Lewis – Arts critic, Journalist, Editor and Musician”

In this episode, recorded for my book, Jim Cook shares his inside perspective from his years as Head of A&R at Polydor Records (1975-1984) during one of British music’s most exciting eras. As the man who signed The Jam and oversaw their rise, Jim reflects on the real-life stories behind the deals, the challenges ofContinue reading “Jim Cook – Head of A&R at Polydor (1975-1984)”

In this episode, Erica Echenberg, one of the pioneering female photographers of the UK punk explosion, joins the podcast to share vivid memories from the very heart of late ‘70s London. Starting in 1976, Erica was everywhere – camera in hand at legendary venues like the Roxy and the Nashville, capturing the wild energy ofContinue reading “Punks, Bands, and The Jam: The Iconic Photography of Erica Echenberg”

Craig McLean joins the podcast to share his reflections on interviewing Paul Weller across several pivotal moments in his solo career. With bylines for The Face, The Word, The Observer, and The Telegraph, Craig has had rare, in-depth access to Weller – riding tour buses, joining late-night escapades, and catching candid conversations that reveal theContinue reading “On the Road and Off the Record: Craig McLean’s Candid Encounters with Paul Weller”

This podcast episode is living proof that sometimes your teenage music heroes really do come full circle. Richard Engler grew up in Manchester, a diehard Jam fan who could recite Paul Weller’s lyrics and remember the row and seat number of his first gig. Fast forward a couple of decades, and Richard found himself workingContinue reading “Richard Engler – Marketing Director at V2 Records”

Scottish musician, singer & songwriter, Jamie Telford joins the podcast to take us behind the scenes of The Jam’s frenetic final days. Brought in on keyboards for their last year of shows and the farewell single ‘Beat Surrender,’ Jamie experienced firsthand the thrill of playing with one of the UK’s biggest bands just as internalContinue reading “Last Orders with The Jam: Jamie Telford’s Inside Story”

In this special episode, we explore Paul Weller’s personal take on modernism. If you’ve followed this podcast from the beginning, you’ll know it started back in 2020 with one simple ambition: to interview Paul Weller. That ambition became Desperately Seeking Paul, and after 180 episodes, we finally reached that goal. What began as fandom grewContinue reading “Detail Magazine – Guest Editor, Paul Weller … the full story from Claire Mahoney.”

In this episode, Miles Leonard – a respected record executive, tastemaker, and lifelong music fan – shares rare insight into his years at the helm of Parlophone Records and his close working relationship with Paul Weller during the mid-2010s. Miles was Director of A&R between April 1995 and May 2003, before stepping up to chairmanContinue reading “Miles Leonard – Former Chairman, Parlophone Records / Warner Music”

In this episode, Sean O’Hagan – a songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose career has quietly woven its way through some of the most adventurous corners of pop and indie music. Born to Irish parents in England and raised in Cork, Sean first made his mark as half of the acclaimed duo Microdisney, whose blend of sharpContinue reading “Sean O’Hagan – The High Llamas, String Arranger on Paul Weller’s Sonik Kicks”

In this episode, I’m joined by Roger Pilling, who offers an intimate window into Paul Weller’s formative years- sharing memories from their early friendship at Sheerwater School right through to the pivotal moments that would define Paul Weller’s life and career. As one of Paul’s earliest confidants, before The Jam and the limelight, Roger’s perspectiveContinue reading “Roger Pilling – Paul Weller’s School Friend”

In this episode, recording and mixing engineer Joeri Saal shares a behind-the-scenes perspective on working with Paul Weller during the creation of the Studio 150 and As Is Now albums – capturing the collaborative Amsterdam sessions and the transition to mixing Weller’s original material. Click your preferred podcast platform to listen… From Studio Tech to Trusted Collaborator: Joeri joinedContinue reading “Joeri Saal – Recording Engineer and Producer, Studio 150 (Amsterdam)”

In this episode, Dutch jazz icon Benjamin Herman shares how his lifelong journey in music – and his creative outlook as a musician and bandleader – was profoundly shaped by working with Paul Weller. From contributing horns and arrangements on Weller’s Studio 150 and As Is Now albums to joining his touring band, Benjamin describes how these collaborations andContinue reading “Benjamin Herman – Jazz Saxophonist, Composer and Bandleader talks Studio 150 and As is Now…”

In this episode, recorded for my book, Paul Lester -now editor of Record Collector and longtime music journalist – reflects on his career, his encounters with Paul Weller, and the makings of his celebrated Uncut Magazine cover story, ‘Paul Weller: Up Close and Personal – Last Man Standing‘ (December 1998). Discovering Music & Writing: PaulContinue reading “Paul Lester – Editor of Record Collector … Uncut, Melody Maker”

In this episode, Acid Jazz records co-owner, Dean Rudland shares his lifelong musical journey and personal relationship with the world of Paul Weller. From being pulled into music by The Beatles and The Jam, through finding his own identity in Mod, to eventually working with and around the Weller orbit, Dean gives an insider’s perspectiveContinue reading “Dean Rudland – Acid Jazz Records”

In this episode, music writer Chas De Whalley recalls discovering The Jam after a last-minute tip-off that led him to see them at the Nashville Rooms and review them for Sounds magazine. He reflects on the charged early gigs, their breakthrough shows at the The Roxy, and the fast-moving record deal with Polydor Records. ChasContinue reading “Chas De Whalley – Stories of The Jam for Sounds Magazine…”

In this episode, I’m joined by acclaimed live film director Matt Askem, a creative force behind some of the most iconic concert films of the last 25 years. From capturing the raw intensity of Paul Weller on stage to working with global superstars like Adele, U2, Muse and Take That, Matt has spent decades translatingContinue reading “Matt Askem, Live Music Director – Hyde Park, Braehead, Studio 150, As Is Now…”