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In Review

21 November 2008 19:53 BST

Paul Weller: The Changing Man – Paolo Hewitt

Published by Bantam Press, out now, 280 pages, £18.99.

In a nutshell...

Honest, insightful, close, perceptive, frank

What it's all about?

This is an honest and revealing biography of one of British music's biggest stars. After 30 years in the music industry, Paul Weller has seen it all. His best mate, author Paolo Hewitt, has been there from the start, when they were growing up together in Woking.

The Modfather's reinvention over the years has been impressive and Paul Weller: The Changing Man is an apt title, playing on one of his most well-known songs. The book charts his rise to fame and the reasons behind his longevity in the industry. It also, for the first time in a music biography, examines the musician through his lyrics by selecting key songs from throughout Weller's career.

Who's it by?

Paolo Hewitt is a 49-year-old author who grew up with Paul Weller in Woking in the 1960s and 70s. A former music journalist, Hewitt has worked for Melody Maker and NME. After a successful journalism career, Hewitt became an author and wrote his first novel, Heaven's Promise, in the early 90s. Since then, Hewitt has written over a dozen books including The Robin Friday Story and The Football of Fashion. He has also written biographies on Oasis and Weller's former band, the Jam.

As an example

"This was Paul's first song about fame, about its pitfalls and what it can do to those seduced by it. Subsequent songs adopted a far more personal stance, this tune was more of a manifesto, a curt reminder of the dangers that success brings, and a bitter attack on rock stars in general, to boot." (p58)

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood Blockbuster

I doubt a Hollywood blockbuster but, on the crest of the current Joy Division film, a Paul Weller or the Jam British-made film is a possibility.

What the others say

"It's said to be a twist on the typical biography (thankfully - there's plenty of those around about PW), mixing Hewitt's knowledge of Weller and his music making with an examination of Weller's lyrics - selecting the key songs as a tool to explore the man's character, as well as a few personal anecdotes to add a bit more depth and uniqueness to the book." - Modculture

So is it any good?

The life and times of Paul Weller, in his many guises, have been written about time and time again. In fact, along with the Beatles and probably the punk movement, the Jam and the scene that they brought along, are probably one of the most written about bands in British music history.

In The Changing Man, one of Weller's best mates, Paolo Hewitt, charts the rise of the the Jam, the trials and tribulations of the Style Council and the creative freedom gained from being a solo artist.

From reading this version of Weller's life, one can get the image of a tough and determined soul – one which knows of his obvious talents and that will not be defeatist at any time. Hewitt describes the meaning behind the heartfelt, uplifting and affirming song lyrics – meaning that, at times, are not always obvious to the casual fan.
However, The Changing Man contains a lot of bitterness and resentment. Hewitt and Weller, to cut a lot story short, had their disagreements and it shows from his tone. This is the fundamental problem with this book - it has the feel of a spurned lover lifting the lid on Paul and all I can guess is that whatever the falling out was about.

Despite this though, reading The Changing Man is incredibly insightful. It took me by surprise how honest and forthright Hewitt is. As an author, whether personal feelings are involved or not, he tells it like it is. Throughout Hewitt sticks to his own perceptions of Weller and never looks beyond. What does become clear is that Weller is very intolerant of anyone who does not agree with his vision.

No matter what Hewitt says about Weller the person, however, the quality of the man's music remains undiminished, something which Hewitt goes some way to acknowledge. It is not, however, a definitive biography and does not attempt to be. To really do Weller justice you need a writer of large talent and insight, one who is able to go beyond the confines of pop music and look at Weller as part of a wider, romantic tradition that is unique to England.

8/10

Richard Fox

"An excellent review. Mirrored my own feelings exactly. Being a lifelong Weller fan, I soaked up the info, but felt it was bitter and also, I don't need to know all of the 'family' stuff with regard to Weller - that could have stayed private. However, overall a good read." - Adrian Rogers