Why not go down the pub? A guy once came up to me at a gig and asked me if I had MySpace. I said, 'This is my space, and you're invading it.' Paul Weller More Quotes by Paul Weller More Quotes From Paul Weller I think you have to satisfy yourself first and foremost. Paul Weller firsts thinking When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood Mac - the original Peter Green Fleetwood Mac, Saveloy Brown - like British blues interpretations of it,' which then, when I started the liner notes and seeing all these names, I was like, 'Who's Willie Dixon?' Then I go to the record store and ask the guy there and he goes, 'Oh, you don't know anything.' And so, to me, that's the root of most of it anyway. Paul Weller roots names years I think the world is really small today, and fashion, from that end of it, it's instantaneous everywhere. Paul Weller fashion world thinking I don't like the royal family, I don't like the establishment, I don't like the civil service. Paul Weller civil-service royal establishment I'm always looking forward to what I'm doing now, and what's ahead. Paul Weller always-looking-forward looking-forward I was always taught as a kid that if there's anything you want in life, you've got to work towards it. I guess that sort of stayed with me, really. But also, for me, from the time I was like 10 years old, all I ever wanted to do was be in a band and make music. So to get the chance to do that, to live your dreams or wishes, I just seize it and try and run with it. I never sort of think, oh, the pressure, or it's too much. You're lucky to be doing it. It's a great gift to have, and I appreciate it. Paul Weller dream running kids Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going Underground", the Jam song, on his breakfast show. Then he got a text from some young kid asking if was a new band. I think a lot of people these days, younger people as well, are aware of all sorts of music, really. If you're into the Libertines you probably also have to be aware of the Beatles, or the Kinks. I think there's a better, possibly greater appreciation for all music, of all eras, I think. Paul Weller song appreciation kids I'd like to think that what I've written over the years and what I'm doing now means something to people. People in the street all the time are saying "love the new record" or "I love that record," this tune or that tune. It means an awful lot, or it's been a big part of their lives. As a songwriter, what else would you really want? You're trying to connect with people, people's emotions, and maybe say something about their lives or feelings. That's probably a good enough compliment to receive, really. Paul Weller mean people thinking Worldwide, most people dress more casually these days, don't they? They have done for the last 20 or 30 years, I suppose. So, every place that I go to, the majority of people really wear jeans, trainers, T-shirt - everybody seems to dress more for comfort. Whereas, even in my lifetime, even up to the early-'70s, there was still that thing of dressing up. Paul Weller dressing-up jeans years I could write songs about politics, but I'm conscious of not writing songs that sound the same as the ones I wrote 30 years ago. Paul Weller writing song years I had a total belief in The Style Council. I meant every word and felt every action. Paul Weller style belief action I've always liked my clothes, even before I could properly afford them. Clothes for me were never a cloak, a cover. They were how I chose to express myself. Paul Weller cloaks clothes My own personal theory is that all popular music, in whatever form it is, to me, it all comes from Africa. Whether it's filtered through America or whatever - African-American. But I still think there's something in that roots music that's very, very African, and I think that's what unites people. Paul Weller roots america thinking There's always something in most world folk musics that always seems connected; whether it's a bagpipe or a tambura, there's always some sort of drone instrument, and there's always percussion. Paul Weller bagpipes drones world I really enjoy playing America. I like the audiences there. It's the home of a lot of music I grew up with. Paul Weller grew-up home america There have been records I've been really, really pleased with that haven't connected with people. But I felt good about them. Paul Weller records connected people I get labelled as just being about one thing, but there's lots of layers to what I do. Paul Weller layers one-thing just-being In the past we used to come over to see what was going on in London or Paris or Milan or wherever - it's pretty much the same stuff everywhere [now], and people are wearing the same things, because it's all instantaneous with the Internet. Paul Weller paris people past For me, my entry point, when I was old enough, was the skinhead/suedehead thing, sort of like '70/'71. People didn't have much money - they would save up, or whatever - but everyone always dressed up. You'd go to a dance at the football club on a Thursday night and all of us kids - all of us from maybe like 12 to 16 - were all dressed up. Paul Weller football night kids I never, ever wanted to be the Rolling Stones. Bless their hearts, but I dont necessarily want to go on doing the same old thing for the next 10, 20 years... I could see how easy it is to get into that rut, the whole touring mindset. Paul Weller old-things heart years
