Paul Weller Fan Podcast

In this episode, Paul Dowling - director of marketing at Go! Discs in the early ‘90s - tells the story of how he helped Paul Weller find a new home and a fresh start after The Style Council and Polydor rejected him.A teenage Jam fan who witnessed the band’s energy first-hand, Paul started work in an indie record shop job before moving in marketing within the record industry and then landing at Go! Discs just as the label was building on it's reputation for artist-friendly culture and creative risk-taking.Paul takes us inside the DIY campaign for 'Into Tomorrow' - Weller’s first solo single - explaining how a tight team of trusted industry figures and Weller’s own clear vision turned an independent release into a Top 40 hit, and led directly to a new label deal in the UK.He describes hearing those early demos, smoking spliffs with Andy McDonald, and realising just how wild, raw, and ready Weller was for his comeback. Drawing on his unique perspective, Paul reflects on the label’s role in supporting Weller’s creative freedom, the transition through Wild Wood and toward Britpop’s peak, and the sheer thrill - and surprise - of working with an artist who had provided the “soundtrack of my life.”He offers candid observations on Go! Discs’ staff, its culture of collaboration and love of music, and the shared social and political energy that ran through both the label and the acts it signed. Paul also describes the magic of that era: small teams, big nights out, and a sense that, somehow, the stars had aligned for Weller’s reinvention.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, his love of British blue-eyed soul, and a very special demo cassette that landed on his desk. He quickly negotiated a three-album deal with John Weller and gave Paul the artistic freedom to launch a new chapter.Jun reflects on what it meant to sign a living legend at a crossroads, championing Paul Weller at a time when old fans in Japan were still fiercely loyal but the industry wanted “Style Council 2.0.” Determined to support Weller’s vision, he battled conservatism inside Pony Canyon, orchestrated secret club gigs to “start from the underground again,” and staged meet-and-greets that deepened the Weller-Japan love affair. Working closely with John Weller, Jun experienced both the tough negotiations and the genuine warmth of the Weller family. He oversaw the Japanese release of Paul Weller months ahead of its UK debut, watched it rocket to the top of the charts, and then promoted Wild Wood and Stanley Road as Weller’s comeback exploded into an artistic and commercial triumph.Looking back on his unique A&R role, Jun shares memories of trust, creative freedom, and a personal connection that only grew as Paul’s career flourished. He describes the enduring backstage camaraderie, the Mod culture’s roots in Japan, and why he feels pride every time Weller thanks him publicly for believing in “chapter three.” Today, as Weller continues to innovate, Sato remains inspired - grateful for a musical journey and friendship that both changed their lives.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I talk to composer and arranger John Mealing, whose work helped define The Style Council’s orchestral and cinematic edge. John shares how he first connected with Paul Weller, starting with 'Shout To The Top', and goes deep into the making of Our Favourite Shop, The Cost of Loving and Confessions of a Pop Group - including strings, horns, live performances and studio experiments.Along the way, John reflects on his jazz roots, his unlikely journey into arranging, and a parallel career creating some of British television’s most memorable theme tunes. He also offers a warm, revealing portrait of Paul Weller as a collaborator - meticulous, open-eared, and deeply committed to the music - and explains why, decades on, The Style Council’s boldest work is finally getting its due.Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.