On this episode of my Paul Weller Fan Podcast, first broadcast in January 2021, I am joined by Pat Gilbert – Journalist, author, broadcaster, one-time MOJO editor and a man who has Paul Weller on speed dial…
Over the past 30 years, Pat’s career has taken him on an oft surreal journey, spiriting him from Paul McCartney’s secret hideaway in Long Island to Island label boss Chris Blackwell’s retreat at Golden Eye in Jamaica; from a spot on Sex Pistol Steve Jones’ LA radio show and a visit to Dubai with Paul Weller, to an animal rights protest with Chrissie Hynde in Central Park and a visit to Pentonville Prison in the company of Billy Bragg.
He’s been guided around Soho’s pubs by Suggs, given physio by The Who’s Roger Daltrey, been on tour with Oasis and read poetry by John Cooper-Clarke. Johnny Marr confided in him the secret of playing The Headmaster Ritual.
The Clash’s Joe Strummer once gave him a lift home, while Mick Jones joined Pat’s group Night Of Treason on-stage to perform I Fought The Law.
He’s shaken Smokey Robinson’s hand, and written the standard biography of The Clash, “Passion Is A Fashion”, as well as liner notes on the box set books for The Jam, The Clash and the Sex Pistols.
Pat has a deep routed love of The Jam with stories of many meetings with Paul and exclusive interviews.
“Absolutely massive fan. I think out of all the musicians who’ve had an influence on me, on my musical tastes and also me as a person, I think Paul would be the biggest one. The Jam and The Clash I think, were the ones that set me on my way.”
Pat first saw The Jam on 24th May 1979, at Portsmouth Guild Hall… “It was a day before Paul Weller’s 21st birthday and the crowd was singing “Happy Birthday to you”. It was the last night of the tour as well. And, I mean, I was, God, I would have been thirteen. And I mean, it was terrifying. It was absolutely terrifying…”
This episode, broadcast on 19th January 2021, also featured a sneak preview on 2021’s upcoming new album – Fat Pop Volume 1…
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EP09 – Pat Gilbert – Mojo Collectors Series "Your mojo will have no effect…" – Paul Weller Fan Podcast
Mojo – The Collectors Series – December 2019
On the podcast, we discussed the two volumes of the MOJO Collectors’ Series on Paul Weller that were published in December 2019, with Pat bringing together the finest writing on Paul Weller.
MOJO The Collectors’ Series: PAUL WELLER Modern Classics 1958-1990
Featuring insightful stories and classic interviews, and illustrated with dozens of rare and iconic photographs, this deluxe 132-page magazine charts Weller’s eventful journey from his days as a fiery teenager fronting New Wave sensations The Jam in the late ’70s, to his dramatic reinvention as a blue-eyed soul boy in The Style Council in the 1980s.
The in-depth features include an account of Paul’s struggle in 1978 to overcome writer’s block and create his first masterpiece, The Jam’s All Mod Cons album; the story of how he sensationally split The Jam at the peak of their fame to pursue his love for soul, jazz and political activism; and the salutary tale of how The Style Council’s bid to make ever more daring music in the ’80s eventually led to their downfall.
MOJO The Collectors’ Series: PAUL WELLER Modern Classics 1991-2019 is full of moreinsightful features and classic interviews, plus dozens of rare and iconic photographs. This second deluxe 132-page magazine focuses on Paul Weller’s mercurial solo years, beginning with his return to playing small venues when the record industry turned its back on him in the early ’90s, to his hard-fought comeback in the Britpop years which saw him top the charts again with the peerless albums Wild Wood, Stanley Road and Heavy Soul, and then beyond to his present phase as restless, 60-something musical adventurer.
The in-depth features include an account of Paul’s bold decision to strap on a guitar again in 1991 and try to re-establish himself as a successful rock musician, to a fascinating fly-on-the-wall report of his Japan ’94 tour and several boozy encounters with the singer in the early 2000s when he was coming to terms with middle-age and his second experience of fame. The magazine ends with the highly personal interview he gave to MOJO in 2019…
Mojo – Weller Essentials – December 2022
This one came after our podcast chat, published at the end of 2022, with Pat curating a special spanning the whole career to date…
Written by MOJO’s team of experts, Paul Weller Essentials tells you everything you need to know to piece together your ultimate Jam, Style Council and solo years collection. As well as reappraisals of every studio LP, we profile non-album tracks and the bevy of live recordings, box sets and rarities compilations that have appeared down the years. Plus we recommend the best Weller literature with which to line your shelves.
This one came after our podcast chat, published at the end of 2022, with Pat curating a special spanning the whole career to date…
Written by MOJO’s team of experts, Paul Weller Essentials tells you everything you need to know to piece together your ultimate Jam, Style Council and solo years collection. As well as reappraisals of every studio LP, we profile non-album tracks and the bevy of live recordings, box sets and rarities compilations that have appeared down the years. Plus we recommend the best Weller literature with which to line your shelves.
The Tragedy of Dirk Munro…
In 2020 Pat released the critically acclaimed ‘The Tragedy Of Dirk Munro’ LP, which received 4-star reviews in Record Collector, Vive Le Rock, MOJO and Shindig! magazines and radio play on Gary Crowley’s BBC London Radio show, Soho Radio and numerous internet radio stations.
Made with Mike Williamson – this is a concept album of folk rock, psych, orchestral pop, chanson, loungecore and spoken-word – screaming out to be taken to the West End stage.
Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash
Pat Gilbert’s definitive biography of the Clash – universally acclaimed as a great book when first published in 2004 – was reissued in 2009 – for the 30th anniversary of the band’s classic London Calling album, with a stunning new cover.
For the book Pat talked to everyone, in over 70 interviews with the key participants – roadies, producers, friends and fans – and above all the band members themselves, including Joe Strummer before his death, to be able to give the first real insight into what went on behind the scenes during the Clash’s ten-year career.
You can buy the book here
St Etienne – What Are You Doing Today, Mervyn Day?
A little known fact… Pat appears as Man In Diner in St. Etienne’s film What Are You Doing Today, Mervyn Day?, an elegiac look at Stratford’s fascinating industrial history before the area was bulldozed to create the Olympic Park…
BBC Documentaries
In 2006, Pat produced the BBC World Service documentary Armies For Hire (presented by Peter Snow), about modern-day mercenaries (find part 1 here and part 2 here), and in 2012 was nominated for a Sony Award for his BBC Radio 2 documentary Before I Get Old: The Story Of Pete Townshend.
Currently unavailable on iPlayer, I managed to find part 1 on YouTube.
Please do share if you have copy of the whole series though.
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