In this conversation for my book, Richard Ogden - former Head of International Marketing and later Managing Director at Polydor Records - shares the inside track on the extraordinary career of Paul Weller from a label perspective. Already immersed in the music industry when The Jam exploded in 1977, Richard’s role took off in the early '80s, working directly with Polydor’s most important acts as the sound of British pop was going global. He was the architect behind international campaigns for The Style Council, traveling with the band, advocating for bigger creative ambition, and helping to broker a million-pound contract for Weller after the global success of Our Favourite Shop.

Richard recounts the challenges - and occasional frustrations - of trying to make The Style Council a truly international success, working alongside Paul and John Weller, Polydor affiliates, and US label Geffen, while always championing Paul’s right to artistic independence. He reflects on “fandom and friction” - from late-night poker games in Japan, to heated discussions about producers, tour plans, and the difficult moments when the band’s determination to follow their own path clashed with label push for bigger global hits. Richard’s story also covers the aftermath: becoming Managing Director just as contracts were up for renewal, believing in Weller’s “Springsteen-like” importance to Polydor, and sticking by him - even through commercial Risk (“the Orange album”) and shifting politics.

Throughout, Richard offers candid industry context on the ever-evolving relationship between artists and their record labels - the fine balance between creative loyalty, business risk, and the pursuit of international acclaim. He’s honest about his wins and losses, why Weller’s music endures, and why artists with true vision should always be backed - no matter where their path leads.

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In this conversation for my book, John Lewis - respected music journalist and critic - shares a fan’s journey that became a professional one. He recalls being a teenager during The Jam’s “imperial phase,” with a mod next-door neighbour and a copy of Snap! on repeat, and traces his path to writing in-depth features, retrospectives, and Q&As for Uncut, Time Out, the Metro, and more. Over the years, John has interviewed Paul Weller around a dozen times since 2004, capturing candid reflections on everything from The Jam’s final days to Weller’s experiments with new sounds on 22 Dreams, Sonik Kicks, and beyond.

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In this episode, recorded for my book, Jim Cook shares his inside perspective from his years as Head of A&R at Polydor Records (1975-1984) during one of British music’s most exciting eras.

As the man who signed The Jam and oversaw their rise, Jim reflects on the real-life stories behind the deals, the challenges of the music business in the punk and new wave era, and what it was like to work alongside one of the sharpest British bands of the time (in fact, change that to all time!)

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In this episode, Erica Echenberg, one of the pioneering female photographers of the UK punk explosion, joins the podcast to share vivid memories from the very heart of late ‘70s London. Starting in 1976, Erica was everywhere - camera in hand at legendary venues like the Roxy and the Nashville, capturing the wild energy of acts like The Damned, Generation X, and, crucially, an emerging band called The Jam.

Known for going where the action was (often straight to the front, dodging pogoing punks, flying bottles, and chairs), Erica not only photographed the bands, but also spotlighted the fans - punkettes and pogoers who gave the movement its edge and attitude.

Erica’s unflinching lens documented both the grit and the style of the scene, forming the visual backbone for fanzines like Sniffin’ Glue, music weeklies, and numerous now-classic books on punk. From her first time seeing The Jam at the Roxy - “three chords, quick songs, and as sharp as they come” - to intimate shoots like the Paul Weller rooftop session at Air Studios and candid gig moments, she reflects on the connection she built with Paul Weller and the band, the creative and physical intensity of capturing these formative moments.

We also discuss the crucial role of women (including herself) behind the scenes at a time when female photographers were nearly nonexistent.

Erica's work didn’t just document the music, but helped define the scene’s visual language - her images appearing everywhere from fanzines and album covers to tabloids and collector’s editions. Erica offers unique stories of parties, legendary gigs, creative collaborations, and punk’s lasting influence on how music looks as much as how it sounds.

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Craig McLean joins the podcast to share his reflections on interviewing Paul Weller across several pivotal moments, offering an insider’s look at a music icon through the eyes of a veteran journalist. With bylines for The Face, The Word, The Observer, and The Telegraph, Craig has had rare, in-depth access to Weller - riding tour buses, joining late-night escapades, and catching candid conversations that reveal the wit, vulnerability, and creative drive behind his public persona. From the Isle of Wight to Black Barn studio, Craig paints a vivid picture of Weller at work and at play, uncovering surprising moments and honest insights into his life, career, and constant artistic restlessness.

Through stories that move from the euphoria of the stage to quiet moments of reflection, Craig explores Paul Weller’s shifting outlook on fame, songwriting, family, and the demands of a changing industry. Whether discussing the emotional aftermath of John Weller’s passing, the creative ruts and rediscoveries, or Weller’s relentless support for new artists, this episode offers a rich and revealing portrait of an artist in constant motion.

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This podcast episode is living proof that sometimes your teenage music heroes really do come full circle. Richard Engler grew up in Manchester, a diehard Jam fan who could recite Paul Weller’s lyrics and remember the row and seat number of his first gig. Fast forward a couple of decades, and Richard found himself working directly with Weller as Marketing Director at V2 Records - helping to steer the campaign for the Studio 150 album and seeing firsthand what it’s like to support one of Britain’s most enduring and restless musicians.

In this episode, Richard shares what it was like to go from fan club member to trusted label team member, reveals the inside stories of marketing a covers album in the pre-social era, and reflects on the surreal joy and unique challenges of helping Paul Weller reach new milestones while staying true to his roots.

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Jamie Telford joins the podcast to take us behind the scenes of The Jam’s frenetic final days. As a Scottish musician brought in on keyboards for their last run of shows and the farewell single 'Beat Surrender,' Jamie experienced firsthand the thrill of playing with one of the UK’s biggest bands just as internal tensions and creative restlessness threatened to pull them apart. He shares candid stories of wild gigs, backstage chaos, life on the road, and the unique energy of touring with The Jam during their dramatic curtain call in 1982.

Now best known as the songwriter and performer behind My Glass World, Jamie looks back at his own career evolution and lasting admiration for Paul Weller’s songwriting craft. This is a rare glimpse into a turning point of British pop history, told by someone who lived it from the wings - full of wit, insight, and a few hard-earned lessons about creativity, band life, and moving forward as an artist.

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Detail Magazine - Guest Editor, Paul Weller ... the full story from Claire Mahoney.

In this special episode, we explore Paul Weller’s personal take on modernism.

If you’ve followed this podcast from the beginning, you’ll know it started back in 2020 with one simple ambition: to interview Paul Weller. That ambition became Desperately Seeking Paul, and after 180 episodes, we finally reached that goal. What began as fandom grew into something far bigger, eventually leading to my book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire – The Authorised Oral History.

But this episode isn’t about my story.

Instead, it focuses on another journey rooted in admiration for Paul Weller’s work, as we dive into Issue 20 of the consistently exceptional Detail Magazine, guest edited by Paul himself ... and an incredible story from editor, Claire Mahoney.

At more than 90 pages, it’s the magazine’s most expansive edition so far - packed with insight, inspiration and the unmistakable style perspective of Paul Weller. From the records that inspire him to the clothes that define his look, he opens up about the enduring spirit of Mod. Hand-picked interviews, topics and sounds that inform his world as he takes the reins of one of his favourite magazines.

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