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After 25 years working in local radio, Dan Jennings’s biggest disappointment was not being able to interview his idol, Paul Weller. With his new job in project management, it seemed unlikely that the 47-year-old former broadcaster would have another opportunity to make this dream a reality.
During the lockdown, Jennings had some free time and decided to start a podcast for fellow fans of Weller. The podcast, called Desperately Seeking Paul, turned out to be quite popular and has now reached 180 episodes. After a fortunate encounter with Weller at a bar near the Guardian’s offices in King’s Cross, London, Jennings was able to finally have a conversation with the Modfather after three years.
On December 19th, the outcome of a three-hour long interview with Weller at his studio in Ripley, Surrey will be broadcasted. The discussion will touch upon various topics, including the star’s upbringing in Woking, his interest in fashion, reflections on religion, and ongoing concerns about performing.
Jennings had modest hopes for his pastime when he began in December 2020, but it quickly gained momentum. Thanks to a plethora of intriguing insights that appeal to Weller enthusiasts (the 65-year-old still gets nervous before performances, sends musical voice messages to friends at 3am, and frets about artificial additives in his food), the podcast has consistently ranked at the top of the music history charts on Apple and Spotify.
The individuals interviewed have varied from members of Weller’s band, both past and present, to the producers and designers of his albums with the Jam and Style Council. David Cracknell, a former political editor for the Sunday Times, was interviewed about his experience playing keyboards on one of Weller’s tracks. He described the podcast as a “biographical Kama Sutra” for diehard Weller fans, with the most exciting discussions being with Weller’s sister Nicky and mother Ann. Ann fondly (or not so fondly) remembered ironing “all their damn suits and shirts” when her son and his childhood friend, Jam co-founder Steve Brooks, started playing their music outside of Paul’s bedroom. However, an interview with Weller himself, also known as the Modfather for his influence in the mod revival of the 1970s and 80s, had proven to be elusive.
I met the singer-songwriter in the Rotunda bar at Kings Place in King’s Cross and he finally confessed to occasionally listening to my podcast. He agreed to be a guest on the final episode of Desperately Seeking Paul, the Paul Weller Fan Podcast.
“I attended a concert at Kings Place and afterwards went for a drink outside. I grabbed a beer and sat by the canal,” Jennings shared. “I ran into Jacko Peake, who is now in Paul’s band as a flute and sax player, and Tom Van Heel, who plays keys for Paul. They have both been guests on the podcast. As I approached, we exchanged greetings and Paul Weller emerged from behind a pillar. He recognized me and said, ‘Oh, hi Dan!'”
“We chatted for a little bit and he said, ‘I have listened to a few of the podcasts, it’s a bit weird to listen to a podcast all about me but what you’re doing is brilliant, you should do a book’. And I was like, ‘Well, yeah, we need you to come on’. So, he says, ‘OK, yeah, well, I’m gonna think about it’. I was thinking, ‘Think about it? Bloody hell.”
Following the event, Jennings was on his phone trying to figure out his transportation home. Suddenly, Weller approached him once more to discuss the gig. He greeted Jennings and then walked away. However, just as he was about to leave, he returned and offered a handshake with both hands, saying, “Let’s do it. A Christmas special would be fantastic.”
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The upcoming 180th podcast featuring Weller will be the final one. Jennings shared that his most beloved interview was with Annajoy David, who, along with Billy Bragg and Weller, was involved in Red Wedge – a movement that utilized music to garner support for Labour during the 1980s.
Jennings, who previously hosted the drive-time show for Radio 2-Ten FM (now known as Heart Thames Valley), expressed a sense of relief that the subject of his attention and hard work was down-to-earth and authentic. He explained that the person in question is not preoccupied with fame or caught up in the glamour of showbiz. Instead, he is a highly skilled and dedicated individual with an approachable personality. When it came time to work together, it felt like a casual conversation with a genuinely talented and humble person.
Source: theguardian.com
