Music blog

This month sees the mighty Modfather Paul Weller embark on another major UK Tour. What a legend. Discussions with some of my mates have recently seen Weller cast aside as a has-been and a parody - someone not deserving of particular respect from the youth of today and that The Jam were nothing on The Sex Pistols. Well that is lies, damn lies I tell thee, and the record needs to be set straight. Weller led one of the most important and successful British bands of all time in The Jam and reinvented himself as an experimental maverick with The Style Council before embarking on his unbelievably successful and critically acclaimed solo career. But why has he managed to stand the test of time? There are clearly only two explanations:

Explanation 1 - He’s a musical genius with a nice haircut.

You don’t have four number ones and 18 consecutive Top 40 singles being just a little bit talented. Ok, you can have chart success by just being a singer in a boy band, but only a band like The Jam can match chart success with biting social commentary and musical distinction. The Jam took the energy of punk and applied the melodies of The Beatles and The Kinks and wrote the definitive soundtrack to a disaffected Britain living in the early years of Thatcher’s government. Their songs laid the foundations for so many recent musical successes, from Blur, Pulp and Oasis during the glory days of Britpop to bands like Dirty Pretty Things, The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys. And solo albums like “Stanley Road” and “As Is Now” prove that Weller has still got it.

Or…

Explanation 2 - His hair is genius and he’s written some nice tunes.

Weller has constantly had a good look but at the root of that has always been his hair. The man has a seriously good Barnet. It may have turned a little grey but it still has all the body, depth and spunk of a haircut that has guided the man from modster to Modfather. Now before you declare Explanation 1 the winner let’s just lay down some supporting evidence by looking at some other bands that have had long and successful careers. Take the wonderfully hair endowed Rolling Stones. With an average age of approximately 97, The Rolling Stones shouldn’t really be allowed out without a carer, but still they are rocking all over the world (much to the displeasure of Status Quo’s follicly challenged Francis Rossi). Why? Wonderful hair. Look at Led Zeppelin - reformed after nearly thirty years for a reunion gig last year, they walked on the stage at the o2 armed with some of the most luscious locks ever seen in a band. What about Oasis? A band largely derided as well past it’s sell by date by many, but still they are successful. Their secret? They’ve actually copied Weller’s hair! And don’t forget the Arctic Monkeys - a band that are already looking to the future as proven by the fact that their original balding bassist was asked to leave.

It’s a compelling argument either way. But some things are certain - Weller is still awesome, still relevant and still making music. And what about his contemporary Johnny Rotten? He’s advertising butter.