Weller exclusive

Modfather on album and why Jam won't reform

01 June 08 - Paul Weller spoke to The Music Week for a special programme to mark his 50th birthday and new album 22 Dreams, released 2 June.

The Independent gave the album five stars, praising the "sheer breadth of musical vision" of the 21 tracks, and Noel Gallagher told 6 Music "it's easily the best one since Heavy Soul".

However, Weller has refused to resort to the trends in the music industry for marketing a new album with free downloads, with many bands giving away tracks and Radiohead allowing fans to decide what they wanted to pay for In Rainbows.

"I'd like to charge people double the price for my record if I could," said Weller. "But I don't know if I'll get away with it. I don't see all this giving music away for nothing, I'm not having it. It lessens the art and cheapens the art."

He added: "I don't agree with it (download giveaways). I think why shouldn't an artist be paid for what they're doing? It's not for free."

"Why shouldn't an artist be paid for what they're doing?"
Paul Weller

Weller also dismissed rumours that the ambitious new album would be his last. "If anything, I'm looking forward to making the next record," he said.

As well as being unhappy about music being given away, Weller also expressed his lack of interest in reunions - "those times are gone, you should be happy remembering what you've heard but I'm obviously in a minority on that" - and he said he wasn't too happy to see his former band mates touring a Jam live show.

"Cabaret"

"I'm not mad about the idea," said Weller. "I think it's a bit cabaret. I thought we were against all that, what we stood for. I can see that people are trying to make a buck or make a living, but there's other ways of doing it, I think."

Noel Gallagher, who guests on the single Echoes Round The Sun, said the Modfather has been a constant inspiration.

"He makes music for himself," he said. "I know that's a cliché, but he makes music for himself and if anybody else gets it, good for them. If people don't get it then God help them, if they ever meet him. I find him inspirational as a character, as a person that's 10 years in front of me for what we both do. I find him really really inspirational."

Other guests on the album including Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Cradock, Graham Coxon, Little Barrie, Oasis guitarist Gem Archer and former Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim.

You can watch the interview with Paul Weller in full here

Andre Paine