In a roof garden, high above central London, stands Paul Weller, reed-slim in a pale mac, black trousers and shades. Silver hair slicked back, slight smile, lord of all he surveys. He looks so cool, it’s almost funny. Why hasn’t he put on weight? Why hasn’t he lost his hair? How come he can wear those sunglasses and not look like he’s trying too hard? Because he’s Paul Weller, that’s why. Being cool is one of Weller’s USPs, and it has been ever since the Jam’s first Top of the Pops appearance, in 1977, for In The City. He, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler all wore the same outfit: white shirt, skinny tie, buttoned-up black jacket, black trousers. But Weller’s haircut was better, his jacket tighter, he wore it all more convincingly. He’s had so many style iterations over the years. There are few heterosexual men who’ve tried, at different times, a slicked-back flicka, plus denim cutoffs and espadrilles, as well as a chop-fringe feather cut with sports shirt and mum slacks, and managed to look good in both. (You only have to glance at Weller’s longtime fanbase to see how tricky his looks can be to carry off.)
The other Weller USP is, of course, his music. He’s had No 1 albums in five consecutive decades, as the Jam, the Style Council and as a solo act; made scratchy R&B, punchy pop, tuneful Euro-soul, as well as house music, folk, psychedelia… In his youth, his creativity was hidebound by tight rules handed down by an unseen Mod God, but since 2008’s 22 Dreams, he’s pretty much done what he likes. He works hard and he works a lot.
