Paul Weller

Singer/songwriter/guitarist for The Jam from 1975 until its demise in 1982, releasing six studio albums from 1977 to 1982. He then led The Style Council from 1983 until 1990, releasing six more studio albums. He has been a solo artist ever since, releasing the studio albums "Paul Weller" (1992), "Wild Wood" (1994), "Stanley Road" (1995), "Heavy Soul" (1997), "Heliocentric" (2000), "Illumination" (2002) and "As is Now" (2005). In addition to his studio albums, he has released a live album, a greatest hits album and a collection of odds and ends (2004's "Fly on the Wall").
Weller publicly opposed Paul Simon's decision to record his album Graceland in apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. When Simon played the first of six nights at London's Royal Albert Hall on April 7 1987, Weller joined Jerry Dammers and Billy Bragg in protesting outside and delivered a letter demanding that Simon give a "complete and heartfelt apology to the UN General Assembly".
Performed at the anti-war "One Big No" concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
A fan of soul music. "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" is one of his favorite albums.
A member of Red Wedge, an association of left-wing celebrities who campaigned for the Labour Party in the 1987 British general election.

Unfortunately these days, if you don't get a hit single and your first album doesn't sell one point whatever million you don't get a chance to make your second one. Pop Idol (2001), Popstars (2001), Fame Academy (2002), the rest of them - I don't think they are causing any problems whatsoever - they are coming up with acts that people do like and they are going out and buying a lot of their product.
[speaking in 2006] There are more important things in my life now to write about than politics.
[on Sting] Horrible man. Not my cup of tea at all. Rubbish. No edge, no attitude, no nothing.
[on David Bowie] I like about three records of his. The rest of it's pish.
We can't stop a baby in Africa from starving to death... but we can afford enough technology and weaponry to blow the world up a million times over.