Paul Weller Fan Podcast

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 translating live music into cinematic storytelling.
We dive into the making of Weller’s 2000s concert films, the challenges of filming massive crowds versus intimate venues, and how Matt’s perspective has evolved from fast-cut MTV-era energy to a more timeless visual style. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from Hyde Park, Braehead, Studio 150, and the legendary 100 Club, along with reflections on creativity, collaboration, and what makes artists like Weller so enduring.
It’s a fascinating conversation about music, filmmaking, and the art of capturing performance at its most authentic.
Check out Matt's incredible portfolio here
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In this episode, I’m joined by Roger Armstrong - co-founder of the legendary Rock On record shop and the Chiswick label - to talk about his unique vantage point on Paul Weller’s earliest days.

Long before record deals, Roger knew Paul as a meticulous record buyer, hunting for Motown and soul 45s at his Soho Market stall.

We explore the lost world of seven-inch singles, the importance of B-sides, and how that deep, physical relationship with records helped shape Paul Weller’s musical values from the very beginning.

Roger also shares first-hand memories of the Jam’s formative period, including the legendary Soho Market performance powered off a lightbulb, near-misses around signing the band, and how Polydor ultimately swooped in.

Along the way, he reflects on the explosion of punk, pub rock’s role as a bridge, encounters with Joe Strummer, and why seeing bands before fame mattered most.

A lovely chat about records, scenes, and shared memory - and a reminder that the core of Paul Weller’s musical DNA was set long before the charts ever noticed.
Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com
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A journalist since 1988, Keith Cameron is currently a contributing editor at MOJO, with a career that’s taken him from Sounds and NME to bylines in the Guardian, The Times, Kerrang! and Q.

In this episode, Keith talks about discovering The Jam in the punk era, growing up in the Highlands, and the lengths he went to just to get to gigs - finally seeing The Style Council at university.

He gives an honest glimpse into interviewing Paul Weller, from nerve-racking moments on tour buses to frank discussions about Heavy Soul, along with stories of superfans, music press dramas, and the behind-the-scenes world of MOJO.

Keith also reflects on the changing landscape of music journalism, why our adolescent music memories stick with us, and what makes Paul Weller’s creative drive so enduring.
Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com
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For this special episode, I bring you a conversation with Dee C. Lee - singer, songwriter and essential member of The Style Council.
This chat was recorded in a riverside pub back in January 2025 for my book Paul Weller: Dancing Through The Fire and Dee has been kind enough to let me share this as a podcast episode. What better timing than the release week for the new Café Bleu Deluxe Edition boxset!
From her early breakthrough as a backing singer with Wham! to Paul Weller inviting her to Solid Bond Studios, Dee recalls how she became part of a new band without fully realising the shadow The Jam cast - and how quickly she found her place at the heart of it.
She reflects on life inside The Style Council: the collaborative atmosphere at Solid Bond, the camaraderie and chaos of touring, muddy misadventures at Glastonbury, nerves at Live Aid, and the confidence she developed performing her own material alongside the band.
She also speaks candidly about creativity, motherhood, stepping away from the spotlight, and finding her way back to music on her own terms.
Find podcast show notes and sign up for regular information at PaulWellerFanPodcast.com
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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.