PAUL WELLER

Paul Weller, born John William Weller on 25 May 1958, is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He gained prominence in the late 1970s as the guitarist and lead singer of the band the Jam, which included Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. The band achieved significant critical and commercial success in the United Kingdom and was influential in the mod revival movement of that era. After the Jam disbanded at the end of 1982, Weller formed the Style Council with Mick Talbot. The band explored various musical styles, including pop, jazz, soul, hip hop, folk, and classical. The Style Council experienced initial success but declined in popularity during the late 1980s, leading to their breakup in 1989. Weller launched a solo career in the early 1990s, releasing albums such as 'Paul Weller' (1992), 'Wild Wood' (1993), 'Stanley Road' (1995), and 'Heavy Soul' (1997). While he has received international critical recognition as a singer, lyricist, and guitarist, he is most well-known in the UK for his songwriting rooted in English society, with many of his songs with the Jam addressing working-class life.