Paul Weller

Paul Weller, born John William Weller, was born in the town of Woking in a working class family. Since childhood, he loved pop music and at age ten, he dreamt of playing in his own band. At age twelve, Weller was presented with a guitar by his parents - he learned how to play it with easiness. At age fourteen, he started to perform in local pubs with his friend Steve Brooks, with whom he later formed The Jam. The Jam also included drummer Rick Buckler and rhythm-guitarist Bruce Foxton. At first, they played in their hometown, but went to conquer the London scene in 1977. Later Brooks left the band. In London, The Jam overshadowed such stars as The Clash ? Sex Pistols and became one of the most popular rock bands in Britain ever. They positioned themselves highly with the single In The City and became the stars by 1979. Such eternal compositions by The Jam as Girl On The Phone, That's The Entertainment and Town Called Malice with piercing lyrics became the classics of the British rock.

However, in 1983, Weller lost interest in his prodigy and created a new band titled The Style Council, which played music of different genres - from jazz and R&B to slow folk ballads. Although The Style Council did not reach the success of The Jam, it was popular in the native country and moderately famous in the USA and Australia. During the active years, The Style Council produced about forty popular singles, including My Ever Changing Moods, You're The Best Thing and Shout To The Top. In 1989, the label refused to release the last album by the band - Modernism: A New Decade (nevertheless, it was limitedly issued later), and Weller disbanded the collective. The artist himself disappeared from the public eye for a couple of years. He came back soon as the solo artist - at first as The Paul Weller Movement and later simply as Paul Weller. He immediately took one of the leading positions in the Britpop scene and recommended himself in the circle of acid jazz players. In 1992, the debut Paul Weller was released. It was the return of Weller to the raw guitar sound of The Jam's times, but with the use of samples and flavored with funk elements.

The next disc by Weller, titled Wild Wood, is considered as one of his best works. The record of this album was lead in the deep countryside and got a significant folk influence. The listeners also took a special notice that Weller became a family man and got more serious. In total, he has five children: two from his marriage to The Style Council backing vocalist Dee C. Lee, one from a brief romance and two from his second serious relations. With the disc Stanley Road, called in the honor of the street in Woking on which the artist grew up, Weller got back his fame in the Great Britain. In 1997, the Heavy Soul saw new change of style by Paul - the sound was rawer than in its predecessor. The rock hit Peacock Suit crowned the long-play. The Heliocentric disc, according to some rumours, was to be the last work by the singer, but in 2002, its brilliant follow-up Illumination with the eponymous rock single saw light. In 2004, Weller released the covers collection Studio 150. In 2005, he finished the studio work As Is Now with a number of excellent singles - The Floorboards Up, Come On, Let's Go and Here's The Good News. In 2006, restless Weller combined his solo singles and hits of the times of The Jam and The Style Council under the cover of Hit Parade disc. In 2008, the artist unpredictably came back to English folk and soul on the gorgeous long play 22 Dreams. Feeling such an enthusiasm, Paul prepared another studio attempt Wake Up The Nation, released in 2010. The record was acclaimed by numerous critics, and many musical issues gave it the highest marks. Moreover, Wake Up The Nation was very well received by the music lovers, who were pleased by Weller’s traditionally atmospheric work.