Paul Weller - The Changing Man [Hardcover]

 

 

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This books took me completely by surprise and was so compelling I read it straight through. For anyone interested in the man behind Paul Weller the artist, this is a fascinating read. Once Weller and Hewitt were fast friends, but now - and this makes for a more revealing and better read - they have gone their separate ways. The book is tinged with sadness, yet Hewitt tells all with honesty and fairness, and how friendship with Weller is akin to living on the sea, with all its unpredictableness. The portrait he gives is that of a domineering, self-centred, neurotic, paranoid, generous, talented, hugely attractive and at times unpleasant person, the bottom line being that you either buy into his game-plan, or you don't take to the field. In looking for a framework to hang his book, Hewitt has used sixty-eight of Weller's songs whose titles preclude each piece. Some of the pieces are only a page long and read like snapshots of some greater picture, and often leave you wanting more. Throughout Hewitt sticks to his own perceptions of Weller and never looks beyond. For example he talks of Mick Talbot as a man of consummate ability and taste, yet there is nothing on his relationship with Weller. Steve White too hardly gets a mention. What does become clear is that Weller is very intolerant of anyone who does not agree with his vision, and one is left wondering how Talbot and White got on with him over the years. Needless to say Weller is often right. In one very funny snapshot Hewitt runs through some of the musicians Weller has slagged off and the way he tells it is hilarious. Weller even spits on a picture of Sting (a ***t of the highest rank to be sure!) in the Albert Hall. No matter what Hewitt says about Weller the person, however, the quality of the mans music remains undiminished, something which Hewitt goes some way to acknowledge. Few musicians have had Weller's longevity and success, and one struggles to name a musician whose music is still vital and authentic, whilst remaining steadfastly independent of the music industry (unless it's Graham Day of course).

All the subjects Hewitt has written about, The Jam, The Small Faces, Marriot, the Mod scene, Northern Soul are fascinating, yet something in his style is left wanting. There is never quite enough meat on the bones, not enough depth in his thinking, and no sooner has he started one thought when he is beginning another. In this book he brings in Anthony Storr - as clear thinking a philosopher as you could ever hope to read - to help explain the creative personality. Herbert Spencer even gets a mention, yet both these inclusions sit uneasily in the writing, which is often light and lacking penetration. Even more annoying are Hewitt's referrals, in brackets within the text, to certain songs (or is it the chapters in the book - who knows!) by Weller, so as to better understand the point he is trying to make. Some of these left me totally baffled. Yet for all this, Hewitt's book should be read, if only to get a sense of the man behind the music. You learn for example that Weller likes to write in the kitchen after midnight; that after a nasty bust up with Gill, his first serious girlfriend, his only concern was for his rare Small Faces 45's (too right mate!) that were still at their flat, and that he once gave Hewitt a years salary as a Christmas present when he was starting up as a freelance journalist. All in all then this is a good read and Weller fans will find much here to fascinate them. 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.

Just finished reading this book, not bad but no major revalations. I think we all knew about PW's personal side anyway as it comes across in interviews and on the few occasions I met him (which kind of put me off meeting my "heroes" in future so as not to be disappointed- like PW with Marriot I suppose). Hewitt doesn't really bring anything new to the table as regards fresh insight on the man, just a few personal anecdotes about various drinking sessions and temper tantrums. I really expected more from the writer considering his closeness to his subject over the past 26 years.
Anyway not a bad book but I noticed some glaring inaccuracies: Waiting released in 1986??? Have you Ever Had It Blue was a re-write of With Everything To Lose??? He helped to write We Are The World and not Do They Know It's Christmas?!?!?
Ok for the casual fan (post- Stanley Road) but nothing really of interest to an "anorak" like myself......... 5/10

Note to author: The TSC years are probably Weller's best documented years available in print via Iain Munn's "Mr. Cools Dream". At the very least you should have used this book as a reference and got the facts right.

Paul Weller: The Changing Man
If all require from a biography about Paul Weller is a cobbled together collection of interviews, reviews & hearsays about him, then this is perfect for you.
I would love to say I couldn't put it down, but I truthfully couldn't wait to put it down. So much so I only managed to get to page 112 before growing tired of Paolo Hewitts he said, she said style of writing.
Non swimmers will also love this book, it's so shallow you'll barely get your feet wet. If Mr Hewitt were to write a Weller style song, it would surely be called "Skimming Stones".
So, in answer to my heading Compost? this book is definitly being added to the garden compost.

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3.0 out of 5 stars paul weller-the changing man
I bought this book a few years ago being a long term Weller fan. Even though I knew that Paolo Hewitt and Weller were no longer friends, I was quite surprised at how acidic the... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Gary Sd Law

4.0 out of 5 stars Neither one thing nor the other - but a good read
Read this book a couple of times now having been a Weller fan since the Jam days. It is well written. It is interesting. Read more

Published 8 months ago by BluJaam

5.0 out of 5 stars it all makes sense now .....
As a long time fan of the jam, and a fan of some of solo weller's music, I've never had the blind, tunnel visioned adoration of weller like so many. Read more

Published 12 months ago by linda

1.0 out of 5 stars Bitter, twisted, badly written
You never find out what caused the end of Paul Weller & Paolo Hewitt's 30 year friendship and by the end of this book (if you make it that far) it's unlikely you'll care... Read more

Published on 4 Feb 2010 by M. Algie

1.0 out of 5 stars Wah! Wah! Wah! There There - Give Him His Dummy Back Wilya...!
Now, I must admit that I`d pre-judged Hewitt [or as he is known in some circles, Paolo "I was just talkin to Noel the other day" Hewitt] some time ago as someone who may be a... Read more

Published on 26 May 2009 by A. Foss

2.0 out of 5 stars Anyone else left asking why.....
Hewitt doesnt reveal why the hell him an Weller don't talk anymore???

Basically, according to Hewitt, Most of Wellers tunes are rip offs and he doesnt like Weller... Read more

Published on 23 Dec 2008 by J. J. Greenhorn

4.0 out of 5 stars The Changing Book
First off, the main mood I get from this book is sadness. Whatever Hewitt and Weller fell out about we'll probably never know. But one thing's for sure. Read more

Published on 15 Dec 2008 by Kieran Byrne

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Really
Up until a few years ago, any Weller fan would have probably put money on any official biography of Paul Weller being written by Paolo Hewitt. Read more

Published on 6 Nov 2008 by Mr. I. Clarke

1.0 out of 5 stars what BOLLOCKS !!!!
get your kleenex tissues out for mr hewitt, he has had a rift with paul weller and he wants us all to shed a few tears. what BOLLOCKS. Read more

Published on 19 Aug 2008 by MOD.

1.0 out of 5 stars The Bitterest Pill
This book is as much a bitter and twisted account of the demise of Paolo Hewitt's friendship with Paul Weller as it is about the songs he alleges he's discussing. Read more

Published on 23 July 2008 by Johnnie Kovacevich

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